Turner in serious condition

Have to start on a sad note.

Surf City filmmaker, Indo traveler, ripper and all-around nice guy Timmy Turner is in serious condition in the hospital right now. Timmy contracted a severe staph infection that spread to his brain.

He had brain surgery and is in a coma. All our thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family in these tough times, with the hope of total recovery.

*

There was more big action from the North Shore of Hawaii as the 2005 surfing season come to a close with the conclusion of the $270,000 Rip Curl Pipeline Masters.

The surf again was barreling in the 6- to 10-foot range as the former three-time world champ “A.I.” Andy Irons squared off with Aussie Mick Fanning, his brother Bruce and wild-card ripper Kalani Chapman.

It was close at the start, but about halfway through the final, two-time Masters champ A.I. found a freak double-up set and pulled into a deep barrel for an insane tube ride to score a perfect 10. Fanning and Brucey battled, neck and neck, placing second and third, respectively, with Chapman placing an incredible fourth against the big boys.

New world-champ Kelly Slater, winning the title for the seventh time, lost in the semis, as did Hawaiian Sonny Boy Garcia, but both were looking unstoppable in the earlier heats.

Huntington Beach wonder kid Timmy Reyes went down in round three after blowing up in the previous round, and also losing out was San Clemente veteran Shane Beschen in what might be his last year on tour.

Here are the final World Championship Tour standings: Slates, first; A.I., second; and Fanning, third.

The final Triple Crown standings: A.I., first; Fanning, second; Pancho Sullivan, third; Jake Patterson, fourth; and Garcia, fifth, in a tough battle in the big surf.

At the Billabong Pro in Maui for the gals, in 8-foot-plus surf at Honolua Bay, 22-year-old Australian Chelsea Georgeson led the charge under pressure. The defending champ slammed the door, winning the event, the Triple Crown title and the world title all in one day.

Georgeson defeated Jacqueline Silva for the win. But Georgeson could thank Silva for coming from behind in the quarter finals, taking out former world champ from Peru Sofia Mulanovich and ending her chances of a repeat championship run.

Equal thirds were South Africa’s Heather Clark and Australian Melanie Redman Carr.

The final WCT standings: Georgeson, first; Mulanovich, second; Carr, third; Megan Abubo, fourth; and six-time world champ Layne Beachley, fifth.

The local resorts have opened up for you skiers and snowboarders, as Bear, Summit, Snow Valley and Mountain High have anywhere from 1 to 2 feet of base with machine-groomed packed powder surface conditions; they are opening more terrain daily. All roads are open, but they could definitely use a snow storm.

*

The biggest northwest swells in a while have been hammering the West Coast, with 10- to 15- to 20-feet surf at the biggest spots.

There’ve been some mean barrels at the pier on north side, with veteran John Davis pulling in; “J.D.” Jeff Deffenbaugh getting deep; even the Figster logging some tube time; longboard Rocky picking off the sets; “Misko” busting; Duane Toole going ballistic; and on the south side, long-hair Mark getting some sick deep lefts through the crowded zone, with Big Chandler nailing a few too.

That’s it for now. Happy holidays.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a nine-time West Coast champion and has announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 12 years. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.

20051222gzcyauke(LA)