WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:Ones to watch this week

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn.’s 11th annual West Coast Regional Championships is coming up this week at the Huntington Beach pier. More than 600 California surfers in all age brackets are signed up to compete in the event’s Open, Explorer and Air Show divisions.

Past winners have included such greats as Huntington Beach’s top gun and World Qualifying Series surfer Brett Simpson, who took the title in 2002; the Gold Coast’s top world freestylist Dane Reynolds, who won in 2003; and last year Tanner Gudauskas, part of the ripping brother trio, won too.

In the women’s division, Erica Hosseini of Newport Beach won in 2003 and Ventura’s Sage Erickson won back-to-back titles in 2005 and 2006. Some big standouts this year include Cory Arrambide, ranked number one and is ripping big-time, and San Clemente’s Trevor Saunders, who is ranked third and has been on fire, too. McCrystal is also the top-rated surfer in the Explorer men’s rankings and has won three of the double-points events this season, so he should be a huge threat. In the Open Juniors division, Nat Young is the points leader, going large all year, but Newport’s Andrew Doheny is in second, turning on big lately and Dane “Air” Zaun, who is in the top three, is known for his rad moves. Another hot junior to watch for is up north’s Dillon Perillo. Also look for Huntington Beach’s Colton Larsen, second in the Explorers men’s division and fifth in Juniors to excel in home waters. San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino has been dominating the boys division, but he’s coming back from a knee injury. Huntington’s Kanoa Igarashi is ranked third in the boys division and is ripping, but in mini groms Kanoa has won seven of 10 contests. Another local, Johnny Elles, is ranked second in the Explorers division and should do well. In the women’s, Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue is numero uno from the southwest conference, but she’s up against number one from the Gold Coast — Sage Erickson. Huntington Beach’s Sara Taylor is ranked fourth in Open and first in Explorer women’s and has the home-court knowledge. In the Super Seniors division, Mike Gillard from Imperial Beach has won tons of contests this season and looks like the man to beat, but last year’s National Champ, Mike Lamm, will be in top form too, and the Figster is rated number three. I’m trying to make the final, too, but the competition is way tough this year. Best of luck and see ya’ at the event. I’ll be there helping out — emceeing the final Sunday. Fig, over and out.