Wet and Wild with Rockin’ Fig:H.B. surfers rip at the pier

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn. held its five-day Western Championships on the south side of the Huntington Pier last week. The surf started out small scale, but by the weekend, a combo of southwest and west swells gave the surfers some fun, contestable 2- to 4-foot-plus surf.

In the open mini groms, Surf City’s little mighty might, Kanoa Igarashi, kept his winning streak going, rolling to the win and winning the overall title too. In Explorer Menehunes, San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino took first-place honors, and H.B.’s Johnny Elles ripped to second place. Andino also won the open boys’ competition, putting on quite a show for two titles. The Explorer boys’ and open juniors’ contests saw Newport’s Andrew Doheny killing it for two victories in the two very competitive divisions. Hot H.B. local Quinn McCrystal was getting some super-long rights and tore them up for the win in Explorer men’s.

In the big-time open men’s final, up north’s Mike McCabe couldn’t be stopped, finding a good right where he bashed some solid moves for the win. Even U.S.A. team shredder Cory Arrambide, who led most of it, settled for second, and McCrystal came in fourth. Arrambide did win the air show final, busting a huge reverse for an eight-plus score that delighted those on the beach.

In the open women’s event, Santa Cruz’s Demi Bolsteri took control at the end for the win, with Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue pulling into second. Huntington’s Sara Taylor, who came in third, had some great waves too. Taylor also placed third in the Explorer final and took the overall title as well.

Next up, National at Salt Creek and Lowers at the end of June.

At the Western Surfing Assn.’s West Coast championships at Church’s a week ago, some more of the H.B. surfers were ripping it up. In the super grom gals 12 and under, Paige Ortiz took the big win, even scoring a nine-plus wave in one of her elimination heats. Ortiz took the overall West Coast title too. In girls’ shortboard 15 and under, Huntington’s Tess Lustbaum slashed to victory, while in the men’s division, Danny “Misko” Misken placed third in a tough high-tide heat. Misko lost a close overall title race after leading all season, ending up a close second.

In the grandmasters’ event, former H.B. resident John Silver won, Figster was second and sealed the deal for the overall title (10 titles in sixteen years), and big Pat Schlick rounded out the top four spots. Schlick also was second in the seniors’ longboard event, throwing it around like a shortboard, to end the season.

Next up, United States Championships at the Huntington Pier in October. I’m sure glad we got rid of that red tide that’s been hanging around for the last week. Now if we could get rid of the June gloom, too — and it’s not even June yet.

That’s it for now. Seeya. Fig, over and out.