Wet and Wild with Rockin’ Fig:Open finals Sunday

The Figster reporting in from the announcers’ booth at the Honda U.S. Open of Surfing.

It’s been going big-time at the largest surf contest in the world this past week.

The action started last Friday and went through the weekend with four different divisions. There were the trials for the men to get in because so many surfers wanted to be in it. Eight got slots to the main event, which started Monday.

In the men’s, the surfing has been solid. Some standouts were Dane Reynolds, throwing some huge airs but getting knocked out in a tough heat, and a few of the locals making some great runs, such as Shaun Ward and Italian transplant to H.B., Pilurzu Federico.

Also looking good have been former world champ Sunny Garcia with some power snaps, former tour star Mick Campbell bashing it, and former Open winners Rob Machado and Shea Lopez ripping.

Mason Ho pulled a double 360 air in one heat, and Dusty Payne has been slashing away. Bobby Martinez, No. 4 in the world, and top six Damien Hobgood were surfing it up in late afternoon Wednesday action.

Some big heats are stacked up for this morning. They include rippers Shaun Ward, still going, and San Clemente’s Pat Gudauskas in heat six; hot local Brett Simpson ready to go big in 11; two former Open winners in the same heat, brothers Shea and Corey Lopez in 12; “the Mobster” Machado in 15; the Fly’n Hawaiian Freddy Patacchia in 17; air man Timmy Curran ready to bust in 18; and H.B.’s one and only, top nine in the world Timmy Reyes and former world champ C.J. Hobgood in heat 24.

Wow!

The juniors was run last weekend and featured some extremely hot surfing in the Lost Pro Junior division, which was run down to the semis. The futuristic moves were insane as more airs were thrown than ever before.

Some standouts who got knocked out in the quarterfinals were Hawaiians Mason Ho and Dustin “Bring the Pain” Payne, West Coasters Alex Gray and H.B.’s Chris Waring.

Just missing out, losing in the semis, were Hawaii’s “Down Town” Casey Brown and T.J. Baron, and San Clemente’s Tanner Gudauskas.

Making the final, ripping it up were Californian Nick Rozsa, Aussies Ben Dunn and James Wood, and Hawaiian standout Torrey Meister.

In the longboarding, some fancy footwork was being done along with some very progressive moves.

Honorable mention goes to Rocky McKinnon, making it to the quarters riding one of his own shapes, and Josh Mohr who was ripping and went down in the semis.

All the way to the final were nine-time Open winner, the stylish Joel Tudor; H.B.’s new sensation Dodger Kremel; three-time world champ Colin McPhillips; and Taylor Jensen.

In the Target Junior Women’s division, Huntington’s Sara Taylor and Hawaii’s Co Co Ho made it as far as the quarter finals. South African ripper Nikita Robb lost in the semis.

Making it to the finals were Lee Ann Curren, daughter of legendary three-time world champ Tom Curren; Newport’s Erica Hosseini; Orange County’s Courtney Conlogue; and South African Rosanne Hodge, who surfed impressively.

In the O’Neill Women’s, the competition has been heavy, with Hawaiians Rochelle Ballard and Melanie Bartels; Aussies Rebecca Woods and Serena Brook; and West Coasters Julia Christian and Holly Beck making a run and trying to make the finals on Saturday, along with the Junior Women’s Pro.

Finals for the juniors, longboard and men’s shortboard are Sunday. The outlook is good. Premier Surfline wave forecaster Sean Collins is calling for some tropical swells for the end of the week; it should be happening. Come on down!

Figster, over and out.