From surf to snow

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG

The $20,000 H2O Surf and Snowboard Classic went off without hitch,

and Surf City Residents were looking good. The surf on the south side

sand bar was a workable 2 to 3 feet on Saturday for the surfing part

of the event. Taking top honors was Huntington Beach ripper, loan

consultant and former top 30 in the world, Jeff Deffenbaugh who

slashed his way to first. Second was up-and- coming pro, Laguna

Beach’s Bron Heusenstamm, the son of Paul, the veteran Mexican

explorer from Newport, who had some good rides too. Third went to

Australian standout Marcus Stocker and rounding out the top four was

Surf City ripper Jesse Marley. In the women’s, Hawaiian transplant

Anastacia Ashley took the win, while Assn. of Surfing Professionals,

World Qualifying Series shredder, Surfside’s Jodie Nelson placed

second. I saw her in the lineup practicing earlier in the week, and

let me tell you, she was going off out there taking most of the guys

out. And third was Huntington’s Allison Arvizu who caught some fun

rides, too.

The event then went over to Mountain High in Wrightwood for the

combo, crossover sport of Snowboarding. San Diego’s Gabe Taylor had

the moves to ice it for the win. Taylor placed seventh in the

surfing, and that was enough to give him the overall victory.

Canada’s Justin Lamoureux was second and third went to “the air man”

San Clemente’s Christian Fletcher in boarding.

So the overall results saw Gabe Taylor first, Bron Heusenstamm

second -- with a second in surfing and a seventh place in boarding --

third was San Diego’s Kyle Knox with a seventh and a fourth, and

fourth place went to “D-Baugh” Jeff Deffenbaugh with a first and an

11th. Honorable mention went to Newport’s Jeff Hurley and

Huntington’s Brett Schwartz equal 11th overall. Brandon Tipton was

19th.

In the women’s snowboard, Carlsbad’s Dresden Howell came up with

the win, second was Santa Cruz speedster Jessica Oswald and rounding

out the top three was Huntington Beach resident Arvizu. Overall went

to Jessica Oswald first, runner-up Arvizu and third was Nelson. Also

in the amateur mens, Ventura’s Ryan McConnel was first winning the

snowboard event, as Huntington’s Mark Austin placed second in surf

and 11th in boarding to place fifth overall. Nice job!

Finally a storm has hit and local resorts have picked up a much

needed snowfall. With the rains, watch out if you’re surfing by storm

drains or river mouths. High bacteria counts and debris are usually

found around for a couple days after a big storm, and that water

could be a little murky, too. High five to O’Neill Clothing, signing

on with the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach this summer. The

event promises to go even bigger this year, and is a showcase of some

of the world’s finest surfing talent at Surf City beach’s. See ya.

* 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.