Super surf in Mexico

Down south in Mexico at the World Championship Tour event the Rip Curl Search, there was some perfect 3- to 6-foot plus surf for the finals at the classic right point break, La Jolla.

Located near Puerto Escondido, the contest saw surf ranging as big as double overhead with some barreling conditions. Surfers in the event were saying it might have been the best surf on tour so far in 2006, which has already scored some pretty epic surf in Australia, Fiji and Tahiti.

Three-time world champ Andy Irons stepped it up, busting some mean lip slashes and a huge air, at least 6 feet up, that he landed in the final to beat Carlsbad’s Taylor Knox, who was on fire this event, too. A.I. earned a 16.96 to 11.33 solid decision.

He took out H.B.’s Timmy Reyes in the semis, who was going off at the Search and looked like he was going to make the big-time final.

A.I. took the brotherly match-up, defeating Bruce Irons in the quarters, while Knox took out hot Aussie Taj Burrow in the semis and Kelly Slater in the quarters. Slater is back from the injured reserve list and was surfing pretty darn good, too.

The home-town Surf City ripper opened a lot of eyes, beating Aussie speedster Dean Morrison in the quarters, East Coast Tahiti winner Damien Hobgood in round four and Aussie terror Luke Stedman in round three. He got some of the best barrels and scores of the whole event and moved into a top 10 position in the overall standings.

The ratings still see “Slates” in first with 4,233 points, but A.I. is less than 100 points behind now with 4,140 in second ? it’s tightening up. Third is Bobby Martinez with 4,008, equal fourth Taj Burrow and Knox, sixth is Damien Hobgood, seventh Joel Parkinson, eighth C.J. Hobgood and ninth Bruce Irons. Next up is J-Bay in South Africa.

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn. ran three days at Salt Creek last week, doing some of the early rounds of the Explorer and all of the high school, middle school and college divisions.

Rumor has it San Clemente and San Diego highs were in the top spots, but won’t be known till the banquet.

The air show saw Hawaii’s Casey Brown launching some big ones.

The event moved to Lowers on Tuesday, with more rounds of Explorer and Open Season coming up through the week.

Last year’s Governor Cup winner, Clay Marzo from Hawaii, is looking hot again, busting a perfect 10 in one of his earlier heats. Other big notables are: East Coast sensation Eric Geiselman, who’s been ripping; Hawaiians Torrey Meister, Dustin Payne, Chas Chidester, and Casey Brown all with big potential to take this year’s crown; and West Coast wonders Tanner Gudauskas and Corey Arrambide, who have been surfing extremely motivated.

In the women’s, numerous time National Champ Carissa Moore is back and only 13 but looks like a favorite. More hot Hawaiians ? Bethany Hamilton, Alana Blancard and CoCo Ho ? are very much contenders, along with Ventura’s Sage Erickson and H.B.’s Sara Taylor.

Other notables: Hawaii’s John John Florence in juniors and San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino in boys.

The Surfing Huntington Beach High School Cheerleading Squad featured in the nationals program is holding a fundraising concert at 7 p.m., June 30, at the Huntington Beach High auditorium. The band “Pump” is playing. It covers the hits of Aerosmith, Kiss, AC/DC and Van Halen.

A ton of raffles and prizes will be given away by merchants such as Robert August, Jacks, H.B. Wahini, Rockin Fig Surf Shop, Sugar Shack, Makin Waves Hair Salon, and more, even the H.B. lifeguards are giving some T-shirts away, too.

I’ll be down at the Nationals all week calling the action. Come on down ? I hope to see ya there.