Irons wins big in France

The World Championship Tour ran into some spectacular waves in France

again -- six to 10 feet for the final day, with double-overhead-plus

surf throughout the event.

Three-time world champ Andy Irons rose to the occasion, taking

another win at the Quiksilver Pro France in an actionpacked 35-minute

final. A.I. was working the hollow peeling lefts, getting some good

scores, but he went to town on one set, bashing on his backside to

score a 9.33-point ride and putting it out of reach.

The fast start left East Coaster Damien Hobgood way behind, just

looking to catch a wave and get his rhythm going. Hobgood did score a

deep barrel, but it was too late and he settled for second place.

On stage afterward, Irons proclaimed, “I love this event, love the

people, the waves and the food here.” He has won this event the last

couple of years.

Irons took out Aussie ripper Taj Burrow in the semis and his

brother Brucey in the quarters, and he also had a barrel fest in

round four against Aussie vet Mark Occhilupo, who’s looking to retire

at the end of the season. Hobgood beat hot Brazilian Victor Ribas in

the semis and fellow East Coaster Kelly Slater in the quarters.

So Slates is gonna have to wait a little longer to pop the

champagne cork in his quest for a seventh world title, although he

did win best air in the expression-session final.

Current standings have Slater with 7,896, Irons with 7,128, and

Aussie Phil MacDonald in third with 5,870. Fourth place is Australian

ripper Mick Fanning with 5,838, and fifth is Oz’s Trent Munro with

5,618, followed by Burrow with 5,512. Next are the Hobgood brothers,

with C.J. in 7th with 4,873 and Damien moving up to 8th with 4,851.

Another Floridian, Cory Lopez, is in 9th place with two to go --

Brazil and Hawaii.

The Western Surfing Assn. headed up to the chilly waters of Santa

Cruz last weekend to the Hook in Pleasure Point. The surf was on the

small side, dropping fast from the previous days when it was overhead

as the storm went by. But it did set up for some nice sunny skies,

warm air temps and no fog.

Some of Huntington’s surfers made the long trek up the coastline.

In the boys’ super grom division, Cameron Farris placed second and

then came back to place second again in the boys’ 13-and-under

bracket. In the 12-and-under girls’ grom division, Jordyn De La Vega

finished in second place, while Madi Swayne placed fifth in the gals’

12-and-under longboard.

In the open women’s short board, Nicole Jenderko ripped to second

place, Swayne made another final and finished fifth, and Shannon

Petrie got sixth. Surf City’s Cody Bertrand was fourth in juniors,

and senior men’s short board had Bryan Stanley finishing fourth and

Jeff “Combsey” Combs sixth.

In senior longboard -- the guys that ride the nine-footers -- Big

Pat Schlick came in second, Jay Boldt was fifth with some fancy

footwork, and Stanley -- doing double duty -- placed sixth. In the

grandmasters short board, the Schlickster got another second, and the

Figster -- just back from the injured reserve list -- got a close

third. Next up is Oceanside Harbor on Nov. 6.

That’s it for now, see ya.

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

the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 12 years and has been the KROQ-FM

surfologist for the last 18 years, doing morning surf reports. He and

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