East was a beast in X Games surfing

RICK FIGNETTI

The X Games took center stage on Huntington’s southside of the pier

Saturday, with many turning out to support the East vs. West surfing

rivalry.

The high tech equipment of ESPN was quite noticeable in covering

the event, with an over-the-ocean camera taking close-ups, a blimp up

in the sky taking a downward look and many cams on the sand capturing

the action too. What was cool was the giant screen TV on the first

“T” of the pier, where you could see instant replays of the big moves

and interviews with the surfers.

The only thing was the surf was pretty tiny, even though the big

boys still tore it up -- the rising tide didn’t help things.

Both teams were really stacked with talent, but the East made it

two golds in a row, winning 97.03 to 90.02.

The lineup for the West was looking like this; the world champ

from Kauai, Andy Irons made his debut as a wildcard, ripping all the

way through until the last quarter when he was needing a scoring wave

desperately, but was left staring out at an ocean that was looking

more like a lake.

World Championship Tour vets Pat O’Connell from Laguna Beach,

Carlsbad’s Taylor Knox, San Clemente’s Shane Beschen and the “Rubber

Man,” Timmy Curran from Oxnard all surfed for a star studded Cali

field. Hot, young, up-and-comer Dane Reynolds from Ventura busted an

8.2-point ride, with a big lip bash combo, tail reverse in one of the

quarters, for a high score. Also representing were Cardiff’s Rob

Machado, who nailed some solid slashes for some big points; the “Air

Buster” from Santa Cruz, Jason ‘Rat Boy’ Collins; and San Clemente

ripper Mike Losness.

The coach for the West was Mike Parsons, who led the O.C. team to

victory just weeks ago in the Coastal Games, and a close win in the

warmup contest on Friday, giving a real confidence booster.

The East squad was led by six-time world champ Kelly Slater, who

wasn’t exactly on his game Saturday with those weak waves. On Friday,

I saw him get a ride in practice, throwing two big lip bashes and

finishing it off with a 360 air, land it, ride it out and claim it to

the west squad, nice.

Slates was stoked some of his teammates stepped it up. The Hobgood

twins, C.J. and Damien, were both going off, throwing some mean

carves. The wildcard surfer was Aussie Taj Burrow, just off his win

at the U.S. Open.

Cory Lopez, from Indian Rocks Beach, Fla., probably pulled the

hugest air reverse of the day for the East Coasters to up the ante.

The MVP of the Game, though, was New Jersey’s Dean Randazzo, who was

blowing up on all his surfing exchanges with Asher Nolan and Aaron

Cormican all getting water time too. So the East took an early lead

and held it through the four quarters for the win and a two-peat.

The Eastern coach, former pro Matt Keckele from Florida, was

already fueling the fire, saying they plan to make it three in a row,

next year.

Keep shuffling your feet when you head out because there are still

reports of a few stingrays out there.

Locally, the H.B. Surf Series, coming up this weekend, should be a

fun one. Did I hear a swell is on the way? The new season for the

United States Surfing Federation’s Western Region has already begun

with a contest at Trail Six at San Onofre last Sunday. We’ll see how

the locals fared there next week, and if there were any great white

shark sightings.

See ya in the lineup, Fig over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is an nine-time West Coast champion, has

announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 11 years and has been the

KROQ-FM surfologist for the last 18 years, doing morning surf

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

(714) 536-1058.