WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

Surfing America U.S.A. Surfing Championships was presented by Pac Sun this week on the south side of the H.B. Pier.

This contest features live scoring, four-man 20-minute heats, and top judges from the ASP world championship tour and qualifying series.

All the associations sent their top surfers to represent all parts of the U.S., ESA from the East Coast., HSA from Hawaii, NSSA from the whole United States, TGSA from the Gulf Coast and WSA from the West Coast.

Top local rippers, 14-year-old boys champ from San Clemente Kolohe Andino is entered as well as Newport Beach’s 16-year-old champ Andrew Doheny.

Surfing America’s director Mike Gerard is calling for this to be the most competitive U.S.A. Championships to date.

The championships started Tuesday with the top men, master blasters, seniors, legends, and women’s and men’s longboard surfing it up in the small combo of southwest and west swells. Surfline, the official forecaster, is calling for more south west toward the weekend.

During the week, the boys and girls 18 and younger, the boys and gals 16 and younger, and boys and gals 14 and younger all surfed it up too. The quarter finals will start Friday.

Into Saturday more quarters and semis, and Sunday will feature finals most of the day, from 8 a.m. till around 1:30 p.m. Awards will follow afterward.

Following the event they will also pick the Pac Sun U.S.A. 2008/2009 Surf Team. That team will compete in the I.S.A. World Juniors competition in Ecuador next year.

Surfing America’s mission is to promote the growth, competitive success and a positive image of surfing in the United States. It also aims to provide the best possible experience for all the participants by encouraging, advancing and administrating the sport, while producing champions.

Good luck surfers looking for that elusive U.S. title.

Over in France at the Lacanau Pro “Nate Dog” Nathaniel Curran notched up another win on the WQS defeating Aussie surfer Dion Atkinson in the final.

Nate Dog’s big brother Timmy won that event nine years ago when he was on tour. Nathaniel Curran was riding the same board that gave him the big win at the U.S. Open in Huntington Beach. Two for two, not bad. Curran is still numero uno in the WQS standings.

San Clemente’s Mike Losness had a great showing there too, placing equal third, losing in the semis.

That’s it for now. Fig over and out.

RICK FIGNETTI is a 10-time West Coast champion and a longtime KROQ-FM surfologist. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.