WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG -- RICK FIGNETTI

Summer’s here, and the weather is getting nice, sunny skies, the water

has warmed up -- upper 60s -- and it’s feelin’ good. The groms are out of

school and the beach’s are getting more packed. It looks like an

action-filled next three months, and here’s what’s coming up.

Lots of stuff this week. The Professional Surfing Tour of America is

hosting the Vans Off the Wall Pro from Thursday through Sunday at the San

Clemente Pier. It’s gonna have 128 competitors in Mens’, Womens’ and

Longboarding contests, with the finals on Sunday.

Pat O’Connel is first in the ratings with Huntington Beach’s Jeff

Deffenbaugh in second, but I think J.D. is in Indonesia right now doing

some free surfing along with Huntington Beach shredders Ryan Turner,

Danny Nichols, Micah Byrne and Brandon Tipton.

Ryan Simmons, a World Qualifying Series standout, is in fourth and

should be a big favorite to make the final, too. Other local surfers who

have been ripping and are in it are Jay Larson, Mike Hoisington and Andy

Hobson.

In Longboarding, just back from a big win in Costa Rica, Colin

McPhillips, who’s numero uno and Huntington’s Josh Mohr, who’s in second,

will be battling it out. Mohr has been surfing the northside of our pier

and looking pretty good. Mohr was the 1999 PSTA champ and is trying to

follow suit again.

Coming up this weekend is the National Scholastic Surfing Assn.’s

National Championships at Salt Creek Beach Park for college, high school

and middle school students.

Heading into the event, Carlsbad is No. 1, San Clemente No. 2, San

Diego No. 3, Hawaii’s Cambell No. 4, Huntington Beach High No. 5 and

Edison No. 8.

Despite the ranking, Huntington’s chances are good with captain Shaun

Ward finishing the Explorer season No. 1, hottie Brad Ettinger ripping it

up, too, plus Brandon Guillmet making the finals for the Nationals in the

Air Show. Willie Safreed has been surfin’ good, and hot up-and-coming

freshman Chase Newsome is ready for action.

The individual part of the National Scholastic Surfing Assn.

Scholastic Championships starts Tuesday and goes until June 30 at Lowers.

In the college division, Mira Costa is first and Long Beach State is

second behind the surfing of two former Huntington Beach High alumni,

Mike Reilly and Ben Will. They also have World Qualifying Series standout

Jodie Nelson from Surfside dominating the Womens’ division. They are in

contention for something big.

And in the middle school contest, Shore Cliff is first, with Dywer and

Sowers tied for third. Look for Dyer standout Ian Ekberg to place high,

as he was the top junior champ this last season. Lots of competitors from

all over the United States will be at the Nationals. Good luck to all

with a chance of becoming a National Champ, and by all means have fun.

***

Taking a closer look at the Surfing Walk of Fame, nominees were picked

for their achievements within the surfing community at least ten years

prior to the 2001 induction ceremony, except for the Surf Pioneers who

have reached the age of 50 or are deceased. We talked about some of the

Pioneers last time, but some of the other categories are Surfing

Champions, Woman of the year, Local Heroes and Surf Culture.

In Surf Champions, you had to have a West Coast or United States

title, a World Title Amateur or Pro, a Smirnoff Pro/Am win or have won a

World Class event in Huntington Beach like the Katin Team Challenge or

O.P. Pro.

The list in this division is pretty stacked up with champs, legends

and shredders from all eras. Already inducted are: Four-time World Champ

Mark Richards; three-time World Champ Tom Curren; Nat Young; Shaun

Tompson; Huntington Beach’s Peter Townend; the first International

Professional Surfing World Champ, Tom Carrol; and Mark Occhilupo, O.P.

winner and World Champ.

Some local residents have a shot in this division, including: David

Nuuhiwa, King of the Noseriders whom some called a World Champ when

ratings weren’t kept; Corky Carrol, numerous time U.S. Champ; Jack and

Mike Haley, also champs; Scott Farnsworth and Janice Aragon, both world

amateur champs; Ritchie Collins from Newport, a Katin winner and O.P.

winner. Other big names include Michael Ho, Larry Bertleman, Wayne

Bartholomew, Ian Cairns, Martin Potter, Joey Buran and Dave Parmenter, to

name a few.

In the Woman of the Year category past winners are Joyce Hoffman,

Margo Oberg, Rell Sun, Linda Benson, Frieda Zamba, Jericho Poppler and

Nancy Katin. Again Janice Aragon is up for nomination -- by the way she’s

been the executive director of the N.S.S.A. for numerous years, giving

kids a chance to prove themselves in amateur surfing. Also greats like

Kim Mearig, Lynn Boyer, Pauline Menczer, Pam Burridge and Alisa

Schwarzstein.

In the Local Heroes category, we have a bunch of famous guys from

here, too: already in are Endless Summer movie star and shaper Robert

August; Herbie Fletcher; Corky Carroll; Gordie Duane; Chuck Dent; Jack

Haley; and Buddy Llamas, one of the best ever to surf the pier.

Up for nomination are: Bob “the Greek” Bolen; Carl Hayward; Chuck

Linnen; “the Ger,” Brad Gerlach; and Randy Lewis.

All these surfers have been around the HB scene forever making their

marks on the community.

And last but not least is the Surfing Culture category for people from

the arts and administration that helped create and define beach life.

Already in are: Bruce Brown; John Severson; Bud Browne; Rick Griffin;

Hobie Alter; Jack O’Neill; Leroy Grannis; and MacGillivary and Freeman.

Up for nominations are: the Beach Boys, Dick Dale, Gordan Clark --

former Edison high coach and my coach on the 1990 World Team that won the

World Amateurs in France -- the late John Rothrock from right here,

Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello and Simon Anderson. And that’s just

throwing a few names out in a star-studded field.

We’ll know what happened Aug. 2 at Pacific Coast Highway and Main

Street. Be there!

* RICK FIGNETTI is a six-time West Coast champion, has announced the

U.S. Open of Surfing the last seven years and has been the KROQ-FM

surfologist for the last 15 years where he’s done morning surf reports.

He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.