Surfing into fall season

RICK FIGNETTI

We’re moving into fall with the Autumnal Equinox last week, and the

weather has been pretty darn nice -- I must say. Maybe a little

cooler in the mornings and the evenings, but overall pretty warm.

That has been a key factor in bringing the crowds to our local

beaches on the weekends. That southern hemi swell a few days ago

provided some overhead sets at the south-facing beaches of Huntington

Beach. There’s supposed to be another possible shot of hurricane surf

this week, too -- although the last one was a bust. The water temps

have been fluctuating in the mid to low-60s but, by it looks of

things, it could be a chilly winter, as most are already wearing

their full suits now.

Just a little bit ago, the 33rd annual Huntington Beach City Surf

Contest was held on the south side of the pier. Tearing it up for the

little guys, in the menehunes was Jonathan Koechlin placing first,

with Dane McCrystal second and Connor Lathrope third.

In boys, Logan Strook got a barrel in the final to win it, while

Quinn McCrystal came in second and Jesse Steelman rounded out the top

three.

Juniors saw Huntington Beach High School shredder Ian Ekberg come

up with the victory with Shane Steelman second and Dane Morrissey

third.

Mens had Todd Hutton, Cody Wehrer and Ryan Rosche in the top three

spots. In Master’s, there was quite a show with a Huntington Beach

Lifeguard tearing it up for the win, and taking the Super Heat, too.

Master blaster Jason Bustillow had some good rides to place

second, and Darcy Delao came in third.

Seniors was won by Jason Haughey, who was blowing up. How many

wins is that now for “Soils” in the city contest? Dave O’Toole placed

second and Surf and Sport’s George Lambert, who was busting big,

placed third.

Grand masters saw Guy Spagnoli picking off the sets to win it.

Bill Sharp placed second and Tom Ellis third.

The old guys are still ripping, with Roger Dalot getting the win,

Jack Lundquest pulling into second and Bob Werth, who was the contest

director for this event for 20 years, finally getting to surf in it,

taking third.

Women was won by Liz Speirs. Mellissa Murphy took second, getting

some nice ones, and Cathy Young placed third. Tons of fun! Adios,

until next year to Huntington Beach’s longest-running surf contest.

At the O.P. Newport Classic last weekend, south county’s Eric

McHenry took top honors over the lip-bashing Zack Keenan, who was

runner up.

In the Women, ripper and T.V. star Holly Beck took the win, with

Surfside’s Jodie Nelson fourth and Surf City’s Allison Arvisu sixth.

Newport’s David Giddings took the masters title and Santa Cruz’s

“Rat Boy” Jason Collins with the win in the Air Show. They got lucky,

because that pesky fog was hanging a bit in the morning up and down

the coast, but no delays the there. Good job, I saw a lot of you

folks down there last Saturday picking up trash, on Coastal Cleanup

Day, with full bags. Let’s keep it like that all year!

* RICK FIGNETTI is an eight-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 10 years and has been the

KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 17 years, doing morning surf

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

(714) 536-1058.