WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

The National Scholastic Surfing Assn. has been in full swing, and about three quarters of the season is finished.

Some of our Surf City residents are having an exceptional 2008-09 season.

The last Explorer event was at Ocean Beach, San Diego, a couple of weeks ago in some macking 4- to 8-foot surf by the pier.

Huntington’s Colton Larson came up big with another win — that’s three this season, and he is No. 1 in the standings. In the juniors’ H.B’s Shayne Nelson has been on fire too, winning down south and holding the No. 1 spot in the ratings as well.

In menehunes’, the ripping 11-year-old Kanoa Igarashi took second but has an incredible six wins so far, and is way out in front in the standings. He’s second in the boys’ ratings too.

In super seniors, the Figster and Chris Escobosa were fourth and fifth, respectively, getting a workout with the drift and big sets. And in gals, Paige Ortiz is in the top six overall.

Back in mid-January the N.S.S.A. held event seven at Huntington Pier in 2- to 3-foot surf with offshore winds and sizzling beach temperatures.

In the women’s, Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue, a U.S. team member who considers the pier her home break, finished second and is a close second place in the standings, less than 50 points out of the lead.

A record was set by H.B. shredder Igarashi, who won open boys’ — that’s six wins to total 22 wins altogether in all his divisions, breaking Cory Arrambide’s all-time 2002 record of 21 wins when he was 12.

He was carried up the beach on the shoulders of friends pro tour style!

Igarashi also placed third in juniors and is fifth in the ratings there.

In longboard, Shaun Tompson did some fancy footwork to place fifth and is fourth in the standings.

In the end of December, Huntington’s Christian Saenz placed second at Seaside Reef in a tough open men’s final. Saenz also won events four and five, and is currently holding down first place in the overall standings with only a couple of surf events left, looking for an overall open season title.

Huntington’s Vance Smith is rated eighth and Eddie Ellis 11th.

Big dates coming up include: N.S.S.A. Interscholastic State Championships March 6 to 8 at Church’s in San Clemente; N.S.S.A. West Coast Championships at H.B. Pier May 13 to 17; N.S.S.A. National, Interscholastic, Air Show and Explorer Championships at Salt Creek June 17 to 20; and N.S.S.A. National Open and Explorer Championships at Lower Trestles June 23 to 27.

So big stuff slated as we keep on rolling.

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.