Morgan will be missed

RICK FIGNETTI

Tragedy has struck again in our Surf City surfing community. Local

surfer Mike “Morganator” Morgan -- a top-gun surf announcer, TV host,

ambassador of goodwill in the surfing scene and ripper in the water

over a span of generations -- passed away last weekend.

This hits hard in my heart as I remember Mike as a chubby kid from

Long Beach (or as he preferred, Seal Beach) who was tearing it up,

throwing the power moves back in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. Mike’s

surfing got noticed: He made the prestigious National Scholastic

Surfing Assn. national team and traveled to Peru, Panama and

Australia, taking on their national surf teams at their breaks and

putting in some outstanding performances.

Surfing was one thing, but Mike also served our country, joining

the Army and putting in some quality time helping others as a medic.

When he got out of the service, he went back to the beach, but this

time it was in the longboard scene.

In the early years of the longboard circuit, he was a standout,

making a few finals up and down the coast. The most memorable one for

me was Seaside Reef in good-size surf. He placed in the final,

finishing off one ride with the “cockroach,” a move he thought up

where you lay on your back and shake your arms and legs.

The finishing move, on the inside, was hysterical to spectators.

In fact, even in recent years, longboarders would do the move as a

tribute to him.

As time rolled on, Mike started announcing the longboard tour and

did it for years because he did have the natural gift of gab. He was

also a fixture downtown, selling surfboards in the ‘90s at Chuck

Dent, where friends, customers, groms and traveling surfers would get

a chance to talk to him in person, ‘cuz he always had a story to

tell.

The “Morganator” switched it up again before too long. He had

gained some weight, but shed it off and, in super shape, went back to

short board surfing. A new pro surfing tour started, and he was the

voice of the Professional Surfing Tour of America in the late ‘90s.

Still, there was nothing like checking out the new talent, as Mike

announced the top event for amateurs, the NSSA nationals at Lowers

for years, seeing some of the kids turn into superstars, like the

Hobgoods -- C.J. and Damien, Kalani Robb and the Irons clan -- Andy

and Bruce.

At those events, Mike always had some special aloha for the

Hawaiian surfers, as he lived a few years in the islands, had

relatives there, and actually looked like a big local boy himself

with his dark summer tans.

Paying his dues with humor and wit, Mike hit the big time when he

announced the biggest surf contest in the world, the U.S. Open of

Surfing, right in his own backyard. The event set a record with more

than over 400,000 in attendance.

In the announcers’ booth, I once caught him off guard and said,

“Morgan, Morgan, I see one of your old chicks on the beach.”

He said, “Where?” And I said, “Right over there,” and it was the

Waterman wearing a two-piece bikini. Ouch, that was the only time

I’ve ever seen Mike Morgan speechless.

Mike worked the World Championship Tour events at Lowers, which

brought good surf for the big boys. He entertained the crowds and

surfers with some great interviews, jokes and commentating over the

last decade.

More recently, he’d been with Huntington Surf and Sport, running

the boardroom and helping out with the induction ceremonies.

He was in his mid-40s, still shredding and young at heart. All I

can say is, he’ll definitely be missed and will go down in my books

as another true legend in our sport of surfing. At the H.B. Surf

Series on Saturday at 11:30 a.m., there will be a paddle out for

M.M., one last time.

The centennial celebration for Huntington Beach High School

athletics is gonna be at the Hilton on Friday night. That will

include members of the 17-time national surfing champ Huntington

Beach squad.

I hear current coach Andy Verdone is giving a speech, ‘70s coach

Bruce Gabrielson is flying in and football star Tony Gonzalez will be

there.

See ya ...

* RICK FIGNETTI is a 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, doing morning surf reports. He

owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.