WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

In case you were wondering what the pop-up tents on the beach were for last week on the south side of the Huntington Beach Pier, it was the U.S.A. Surf Team practicing.

It was also the selection of the prestigious U.S. Team that will be competing in Ecuador soon. About 30 surfers who had good showings at the Surfing America U.S.A. Championships last August at the pier have been having rigorous training sessions for the past six months. This was the final meeting that lasted a week with workouts every day. Surfers came as far as the East Coast, Hawaii and up and down the California coast trying to make the team.

Coach Joey Buran, a former top pro, has been getting them in shape, teaching strategy, trying to find the best surfers in hopes of bringing home top medals to the United States. Buran even had USC Head Football Coach Pete Carroll come down to talk with the kids, too. Carroll said the surfers were lucky to have such a dedicated surf coach and wished all the best to the members as they achieve their dreams! After a tough selection process, making the 2009 Pac Sun U.S.A. Team in the 18 and under division is Santa Cruz’s Nat Young, an explosive goofy foot who won the N.S.S.A. Governor’s Cup last season; Evan Thompson, a ripper from Jacksonville Beach on the East Coast who excels in small surf; North Carolina’s Fisher Heverly who has won the ESA Championships; from Newport Beach, Chase Wilson, who made the cut even though he was sick some of the critical days, but was still ripping big time; and New York’s Balaram Stack is the alternate.

In the boys 16 and under: San Clemente’s Kolohe Andino, a repeat to the team, has been surfing insane lately and just off a good showing at the Katin contest against the pros; Conner Coffin from Santa Barbara made it, and he’s usually seen tearing the rights at that classic point break Rincon; Florida’s Evan Geiselman from New Smyrna Beach has been busting the big airs no problem; and hot goofy footer from San Clemente Ian Crane is explosive. Alternates are San Diego’s Jacob Halstead and Costa Mesa’s Colin Moran.

Making the women’s 18 and under was Santa Ana’s Courtney Conlogue, a stand out last year, making tons of finals, even the semis of the U.S. Open two years ago, who calls the H.B. Pier her home break; Santa Barbara’s Lakey Peterson; Newport Beach’s Kaleigh Gilchrist, a WSA Prime standout, who rips on a six one surfboard; and Lani Doherty from Maui who surfs big waves extremely well at spots like Honolua Bay. And in the alternate spot is Laguna Beach’s Taylor Pitz. It looks good, and we’ll see how they go.

Oh my gosh, 3-feet plus of new snow last week, more than a foot this week. It’s all time at our local resorts.

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.