May he find that perfect wave

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG

Local surfers cleaned up at the Professional Surfing Tour of

America last weekend, taking top spots at the end of the season U.S.

Championships at Ventura.

The surf was pushing in big-time, 4 to 6 foot with bigger sets

with some wedgy rights lining up, and the competition was fierce.

Local standout Dane Reynolds was unbeatable in his home turf and won.

Second was a tie, on the tie break veteran Henry Mills took second

and Huntington Beach ripper Micah Byrne got third, with some

outstanding rides, while former U.S. champ San Clemente’s Dino Andino

was fourth.

Making it to the semifinals were Huntington rippers Timmy Reyes

and Mike Hoisington, placing equal fifth. Equal seventh went to Seal

Beach’s Ryan Simmons, who aced his second year in a row overall No. 1

U.S. title. Congrats! And another good placing for Huntington’s Shawn

Ward, making it to the quarters.

In women’s, Australian standout Pru Jeffries was throwing the

moves and racking the scores to take the win over Seal Beach’s Jodie

Nelson who was ripping he whole contest. Making another final though,

Jodie picked up some big points to take the overall title race.

In longboarding, Huntington Beach style-master Josh Mohr was

ripping it up, getting some nice rides and again returning to the

victory platform with a win at the event and the U.S. champ in

overall points, too. San Clemente’s Josh Baxter came in second,

losing a tight one by less than a point. In the juniors, Surf City’s

Ian Ekberg was tearing it up and placed third, while Seal Beach’s

Chris Waring rounded out the top four to finish the season off for

the PSTA.

On the world tour, Hawaii’s Andy Irons won another contest, this

time in Spain at the Billabong Pro. Another Champion Tour victory for

him. The win put Irons over 1,000 points ahead in the standings over

Aussie Luke Egan in second. Brazilian Neco Padaratz, an Edison High

alumnus, was second and tearing up the small waves. The tour now

shifts to Padaratz’s homeland for the Rio Surf International contest

at Saquarema.

On a sad note, Huntington Beach lost one of its surfer bros,

Steven Webster, in the bomb blast over in Bali last week. Another

Newport Beach surfer was injured too, Steven “Crabbie” Cabler. Both

were at a popular night club celebrating Webster’s birthday that

night. Our prayers go out to all that were there and their families,

too.

There was a paddle out over the weekend at Newport’s 52nd Street,

and lots of his friends turned up for it. A memorial fund has been

set up by the nonprofit Surfrider Foundation, in honor of Webster,

supporting what he believed in -- the conservation of oceans and

beaches. May he find that perfect wave we’re all looking for.

* 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 (106.7) 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.