WET N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:Pledges pile up at heat

The Western Surfing Assn. kicked off its 2007-08 surf season a couple of weeks ago at Trail No. 6 at San Onofre, in 1- to 3-foot southwest swell. Some of Surf City’s residents did pretty well.

Starting with boys’ (13 and under) longboard, Tony Morelli took third with some nice nose rides. In boys’ short board (ages 15 and 16), H.B.’s Cameron Faris took the win and Newport’s Ian Crane made the top six.

Junior womens’ saw Sheila Huber slashing to fifth while in mens’, H.B. pier local Chad Masri finished sixth in a tough one. In open mens’, Seal Beach’s Chaz Wickwire came out of retirement to score a second-place win, and in grand masters, big Pat Schlick took the win with a super-long left and the Figster pulled a second out of the hat in the first event of the season.

On Saturday they had a Boarding For Breast Cancer surf contest with about 100 contestants in different age brackets, and also high school and middle school divisions trying to raise awareness for the disease. It was also a fundraiser where they sold raffle tickets for a Dewey Weber longboard, a Paul Frank beach cruiser and a ton of other goodies to raise money.

There were also some big donations and pledges given that raised an incredible $15,000. Next up is the 11th annual Donnie Soloman Pro-Am memorial contest in Ventura at California Street Sept. 15 and 16, which could feature some roping long rights.

Surfing America’s Executive Director Mike Gerard has named “California kid” Joey Buran as the next USA Surf Team head coach.

The former Pipe Master and World Master champ was selected about a week ago to spearhead the new, expanded coaching staff and training program. Gerard said Buran has incredible vision, lots of enthusiasm and is very patriotic and should be a great pick to succeed former world champ and coach Peter Townend, who’s helped the team out tremendously and coached them to some top placings in the last few years. The world championship Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley has announced some wildcards into the contest, including Ventura’s rad man Dane Reynolds, South Africa’s Jordy Smith (who just won the six-star Lacanau Pro in France to move into first place in the WQS) and hot goofy-foot Rob Machado, who’s recovering from a busted ankle.

That’s some talent; there won’t be any easy heats, that’s for sure.

Can’t beat the weather lately! Air temps in the upper 70s on the beaches and water in the 70s too, plus a fun south swell that hit at the beginning of the week. See ya in the lineup, 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.