Perfect water and perfect scores at Tavarua

RICK FIGNETTI

How nice would it be if your boss told you your next assignment would

be in tropical paradise with perfect waves -- that you’re going to

Fiji?

Well, that’s pretty much what the World Championship Tour laid out

for the top 44 surfers in the world last week. The site was the

island of Tavarua, and the contest at perfect 8-to-10-foot Cloudbreak

with crystal clear aqua blue water.

Having the time of his life was part of the brother combo, this

time Damien Hobgood of Florida who scored some perfect waves. In a

final that featured the world champ Andy Irons, Hobgood beat the

odds, catching

bigger bomb sets and pulling into some deep hollow pits, earning

him a 10- point ride, or a perfection score from the judges. Hobgood

felt as if Irons would come back and get him. But by notching another

score of 9.9 he posted the highest-ever tour final for points, total

of two waves, 19.9 out of a possible 20.

Last event, his brother, C.J. Hobgood, the world champ in 200 won

at Teahupoo, so its back-to-back wins for the Hobgoods.

Irons was surfing incredible too, and took out C.J. in the semis,

when he nailed a 10 score to stop and all-Hobgood final. Irons

increases his points

lead quite a bit with his second placing, to solidly hold down

number one in the overall standings.

So, equal thirds, C.J. and Oxnard’s Timmy Curran, who had his best

result in five years, surfing insane, equal fifths Mark “Occy”

Occhilipo, the 2000 Fiji winner Luke Egan, Aussie Dean Morrison and

Hawaiian wildcard Fred Patacchia, who knocked six-time world champ

Kelly Slater out of the event in an earlier heat. And some ninth

placings were: the Hawaiian power master Sunny Garcia, Carlsbad’s

shredder Taylor Knox, and Floridian transplant to San Clemente Corey

Lopez.

Current standings after event number four, “A.I.” first, “C.J.”

second, “Slates” third, “Occy” fourth and now in fifth, Damien

Hobgood. Perfect surf, perfect weather; what more could ya ask for!

This weekend is a big one for the gals as the “Queen of Surf”

all-women surf contest will be coming up Saturday and Sunday at

Crystal Pier, Pacific Beach in San Diego. A World Qualifying Series,

four-star points, and $20,000 in prize money event will be going on,

with all age brackets, including amateur and pro divisions.

It’s one of the largest events of its kind on the mainland, with

top guns flying in, like, Kauai’s Kealla Kennelly, a 2003 Triple

Crown champ and runner-up in the tour standings last season. Plus,

look for another explosive Hawaiian veteran, Megan Abubo, who’s made

a lotta finals in her career; up-and-coming Hawaiian Melanie Bartels,

who made the semis of the U.S. Open last summer; and Australian Prue

Jeffries, a two-time Queen of the Surf winner. Plus all of the other

hotties from the East and West coasts of the United States. So, lots

of big women’s action scheduled. Plus, they are trying to raise some

awareness and money for a breast cancer research program, a worthy

cause, too. Huntington Beach High School’s surfing and pitching ace,

Colin Balester is heading to the big leagues in baseball, to

Montreal, after getting drafted in the top 100 players. Congrats!

Could be another “Big Unit.” Dad’s pretty big too, and used to go by

the nickname the “Baddest Animal”. Tom’s also been shaping and

glassing boards here in Huntington since way back when, and still

shreds it up in the surf when it’s big.

And before I forget, Timmy Turner’s latest surf flick, “Second

Thoughts,” will premiere tonight at 7 p.m. at Mann Pierside theater

with sick footage of Indo. See ya.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an nine-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 18 years, doing morning surf

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

(714) 536-1058.