H.B. Surf Series wraps up with swell

RICK FIGNETTI

The first pretty solid west-northwest swell of the season hit last

weekend as a storm went by up north. The upper-level, low-pressure

system sent some peaks overhead Saturday with good shape and some

pretty fun surf throughout the weekend. There were a couple of

cranking sets, and I did get some reports of a couple busted-in- half

surfboards and a couple bucklers, too.

The Huntington Beach Surf Series held its end of the season 2003

Championships at 9th Street Saturday and Sunday. Again contestants

were stoked to get some 4- to 6-foot plus surf for the final event,

which saw some fierce action.

In the young guns, that’s the super groms, Jared Cassidy took the

win with Clay Crandal second and Billy Hopkins third, showing no fear

out there. Boys saw Alex Guillett busting the moves to win it, while

Bryce Dehaan and Kyle Harvel were second and third respectively.

Juniors, saw a fired-up Korey Lapoint take the win while Huntington

Beach High School shredder Chase Newsome took second and third went

to Shane Steelman who took the overall points race. In men’s Luis

Nikaido took the victory. Also ripping was Ryan Polfer, taking second

and rounding out the top three was Marc Belmonte. Master’s saw big

Mikey Mattison hammering some sections for the win and the overall,

coming from behind with the pressure on. Andres Fernandez took second

and third went to Jason Haughy, both blowing some tail. Grandmaster

flash Phill Lockman took it on some bomb sets, with Mr. Consistent,

Marcel Guinaldo, second, “Fast” Eddie Flores third and “North-side

Slasher” Richard Payne fourth. Women’s saw Mary Jo Northam win,

that’s three in a row and the overall, while Liz Spires and Laura

Marasco got some nice ones and placed second and third.

In the longboard division, that’s 9-foot boards and bigger,

stylin’ to the win was Johnathan Shelton. Brett Hemstra was the

runner-up and following him was Shane Van Herk with some fancy foot

work, as well. To wrap up a great season that was presented by the

big sponsor, special thanks goes out to Del Taco and, of course, Jeff

Deffenbaugh the proud new owner of the H.B. Surf Series in his

inaugural season.

The United States Surfing Federation held its second event down at

Seaside Reef, San Diego, Sunday. A few surfers who made it down there

from the Huntington Beach area had some final placing. In seniors,

San Diego’s Terry Gillard couldn’t be stopped winning it, with San

Diego’s “Rat” surfboard maker Jeff Batisti second, and Surf City’s

last season West Coast champ Jeff Combs, who a had a couple barrels

out there, third. Huntington’s Mike Flister ripped to the semis

placing equal fifth. In Grandmasters two wins in a row for the

“Slickster” Pat Schlick, with the Figster pulling into second in a

hard-fought battle on a couple of those outside to inside reforms.

Then-GOP recall candidate Arnold Schwarzenegger was at the

Huntington Beach Pier on Monday for a rally, where he was presented a

new surfboard. He vowed to end offshore drilling off the coast if

elected, that could mean less oil spills. A Huntington legend, was up

on stage hanging out, Bob “the Greek” Bolen and a pretty good crowd

was on hand to check it out. See ya! Fig over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an eight-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.