Strong showings at Surf Series

WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG

It was an awesome weekend for the HB Surf Series, sponsored by Del

Taco, when the new and improved 2003 season kicked off. Huntington

Beach’s Jeff Deffenbaugh, formerly of the top-30 in the world and the

director for the series, had quite an impressive start for the first

event. Mother Nature provided some 4- to 6-foot surf with 8-foot sets

with good shape much of the two days.

Deffenbaugh said it couldn’t have been any better, from the early

rounds all the way through to the finals. He was pumped because some

of the action he saw was potentially world-class from the locals.

Starting with the groms, young-gun Billy Hoprink of Newport took

top honors with Huntington’s Jessie Steelman second and Christian

Saens third. In boys, Marty Weinstein and Matt Mohagen were No. 1 and

2. Juniors had some of the biggest ripping in the event, led by Chase

Newsom who busted out a wave score in the eight range in the final to

win it. Huntington Beach’s Korey Lapoint finished up second, while

transplant from South Africa Dita Saraiva was third. The men saw

quite a show with veteran Ben Will lighting it up, catching a nice

set with a big maneuver out the back and reforming it to the shore

break to pull a solid score to win it. Bo Irvine was second and

surfing up a division, Ian Ekberg was third. Master’s saw Surf City’s

Jason Haughey with some mean lip bashes and a couple connectors to

ice it. Haughey’s going to be a pop soon, and was definitely sporting

the coolest hairdo on the beach with a colored star on it, adding to

the fine scenery. Pete Borrego, Greg Pacilio, “the goat” and big

Mikey Mattison were second, third and fourth respectively. In

grandmaster’s, up from San Diego, Mike Gillard won it with a huge lip

blast in the final. Gillard was the Iron Man also finishing second in

longboard, runner-up to Huntington’s Justin Hugron who was doing some

fancy footwork for the victory. Third was shaper Randy Lewis, who was

stylish, mixing old school and new school moves on his nine-footer.

The women saw mother of three Nately Dix, still ripping for the

win. Vanessa Dautel and Laura Marasco took second and third with some

nice rides, too. In the Prime Source Mortgage final, looking for the

best and biggest one wave score. Winner takes $350 equal second gets

$50 for lunch.

The win went to, Jay “Late Night” Larsen who slashed hard and

threw some buckets of water to earn the win.

Other notables, World Qualifying Series star Timmy Reyes with some

off the lips inside the pilings, making the first, but not the

second, busting his board in half. The rest of the locals Danny

Nichols, Ryan Turner, Mike Hoisington and Brett Simpson all tore it

up. In the rookie final Alex Abad came up with his first win.

The event was full, the waves were great and the competition was

fierce, but it was fun, and that wraps it up till the next one.

Peter Townend, the former world champ living right here in

beautiful Huntington Beach had his 50th birthday bash last week at

Sam’s Seafood across from Surfside. It was a star-studded field with

executives from all over the surf scene there. With Surfing

Magazine’s Vice President Bob Mignogna leading the way. Also in

attendance, “Shoey” Mike Shoemoeller president from Rusty, Benny Bigs

from Billabong and the gals from the National Scholastic Surfing

Assn., Janice Aragon and Gayline Clifford -- who were in rare form --

shapers like Chas Wickwire, big wave rider Mike Parsons, national

champ Pat Schlick and more. Toyota of Orange’s Bob Ballou was manning

the camera. The highlight of the evening was when P.T. was given a

custom Balsa wood hand-shaped pintail surfboard from Shoemoeller

himself. P.T.’s dilemma -- should I ride it or put it up on the wall

of fame. That’s it for now 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, doing morning surf

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

(714) 536-1058.