Big swells bring a nice Boost

RICK FIGNETTI

Here we go, it’s that late Indian summer with warmer air temps,

sunnier skies and even Santa Ana winds this last week. Not to mention

a big combo swell during the first part of it, throwing some

good-sized overhead surf along the California coastline.

The Boost Mobile Pro presented by Quiksilver took advantage of

these conditions, holding the finals Monday at Lower’s in solid 4- to

6-foot swells with 8-foot-plus sets. The 35-minute final came down to

two surfers who were ripping it up to pieces all week long, six-time

world champ Kelly Slater and hot up-and-coming Australian Joel

Parkinson.

Here’s how the action-packed, all-time final went. “Parko” started

off strong on his second ride, bashing the lip five times in row,

throwing an assortment of sprays and scoring an 8.0 ride. Slater

answered back with a right-hander with a couple big bashes, a

weightless floater and another one to boot, racking an 8.4.

Parkinson, in position for another good right, threw a couple of

mean carves in the hook and almost pulled an air at the end, picking

up a 7.17. Slater, only needing a moderate upper six score, went on a

couple waves, but none to his liking. At the end of the final with

time running out -- twenty seconds to go -- Slates went on a mushy

slower right and got a bunch of roundy’s on it.

It was close, but not enough to take “Parko,” who took the victory

and the $30,000 check. Equal thirds were hot East Coaster Cory Lopez

and big Aussie shredder Luke Egan. Equal fifths went to Florida’s

C.J. Hobgood and Aussies Danny Wills, Darren O’Rafferty and Nathan

Hedge, all going off.

Oxnard’s Timmy Curran won the air show, going ballistic, and won

$10,000.

Current world champ Andy Irons was upset early by Ventura wildcard

Dane Reynolds, who was opening up some eyes with his moves, but got

stopped by fellow Quicksilver rider “Slates.”

The standings see A.I. first with 6,036 points, C.J. closing the

gap with 5,376, Slater hot on his heels with 5,316 and Parko with

5,208 and two wins this season -- Bell’s at the beginning and now

Trestles -- so he has a shot at the world title too.

Next up for the big boys is the south coast of France, Sunday to

Oct. 3.

High-fives to the winners at the last Huntington Beach Surf Series

event on Southside. In super groms, Jesse Steelman won it, and he’s

leading the overall ratings too. Boys winner Jess Hallford caught

some nice ones and is also leading the standings, but it’s close with

less than a 100-point lead over Sunset Beach ripper Alex Guilett.

Juniors saw Julian Kelly take the win, while in men’s, Marc

Belmonte was unstoppable for the victory. In masters, Kirk Tice has

two wins in a row, as does Phil Lockman in grand masters.

Claiming her third win of the season was undefeated Cathy Jo

Northam, while in the longboarding, Scotty Stopnik had the moves in a

close one. Locals Michael Jorgenson, Kelly Kraushaar and Stopnik are

1-2-3 in the longboarding standings going into the last event, Oct. 9

and 10 at Ninth Street, H.B. next month.

Timmy Reyes, H.B.’s hopeful to get on the World Championship Tour

just got a little closer after winning the Dan Heritage-Rip Curl Pro

in Atlantic City a few days ago. Reyes is now sitting in the No. 15

spot in the World Qualifying Series standings and, after the good

placing at the six-star U.S. Open of Surfing in H.B., is looking good

to possibly make the cut. An H.B. surfer on the World Championship

Tour -- I like it.

Shaun Ward is No. 104, Brett Simpson is 140th, Mike Hoisington

ranks 157th and Willie Safreed is at No. 260 in a tough battle on the

international surf scene.

That’s it for now, see ya. Fig over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an nine-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 11 years and has been the

KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 18 years. He owns a surf shop on

Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.