Action up and down the coast

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG

Here are some more surf action updates on Surf City residents who’ve

been traveling the coastline. The National Scholastic Surfing Assn.

had a couple of surf contests in the last couple weeks. The Explorer

No. 7 event was held at the San Clemente pier in some 1 to 3-foot

plus surf two weeks ago. The were some small workable reforms on the

north side, which was the site of the contest.

Starting out with the little guys, menehunes, Newport’s Ford

Archibald was going off, and came in second. Ford’s dad, surf legend

Matt “Archie” Archibald was on hand checking it out undercover. It

wasn’t that far back when Archie would fill up the beach and pier

with spectators with his radical style of surfing, back in the day of

the Bud Surf Tour. Finishing fourth was Quinn McCrystral and in sixth

was Kyle Kennelly. In the boys’ division Huntington Beach’s Marty

Weinstein was ripping it up and took first place. Marty’s been on a

roll this year, holding down first in the overall standings, too.

Also having some nice rides and finishing fifth was Tommy Steury.

Mens’ division was looking good. They were busting some moves with

Todd Hutton second, Justin Hugron third and Dan Fennell fourth. Dan

is still holding down the ship in the ratings at first. Seal Beach’s

surfer/shaper Chas Wickwire took second in seniors. While super

seniors saw the battle again, ending in Figster first and the U.S.

champ Pat Schlick second.

On a sad note, while in Makaha, Hawaii at the Assn. Of Surfing

Professionals World Championships at the Masters in huge surf, Surf

City resident and former World Champ, “PT” Peter Townend tore some

ligaments in his arm while being pulled out of the impact zone on a

jet ski and is out of action for awhile. PT was on a roll this

season, making all the finals. Hopefully he’ll be back for the

Nationals in June with that new bionic arm he’s been talking about.

More paddling power!

In longboarding, Justin Hugron, looking stylish, placed second.

And in the women’s, Newport’s Erica Hosseini, who is having a great

run, took second. Huntington Beach’s Alison Arvizu took third.

Last weekend at the NSSA at Ponto in Carlsbad at the Open Season

No. 9 surf event in the minigroms, Newport Beach’s unstoppable Andrew

Doheny notched up another win -- that’s nine straight -- and

Huntington’s Jessie Steelman came in second. Kyle Kennelly slashed

his way to third in boys. Longboarding saw Justin Hugron come in

third with some good rides and in the women’s, first was Erica

Hosseini, who’s pulling a double, double, first in the overall of

Open and Explorer ratings. Rounding out the top four was Eva

Lewington who was tearing it up as well.

Did I hear that Huntington Beach’s top-ranked amateur, Brett

Simpson, has turned pro? I hear he had to make a quick decision, and

decided to go for the gusto on the start of the 2003 World Qualifying

Season ASP tour. I’ll keep ya posted. That’s it for now.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a seven-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last nine years and has been

the KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 17 years where he’s done morning

surf reports. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him

at (714) 536-1058.