The Cruz rides out the storm in opener

RICK FIGNETTI

The boys up north, the Santa Cruz Stormriders, took three out of four

matches in the first round of “The Game” at Steamer Lane last week.

The surf, overhead and lining up through the Slot and Indicator, was

throwing out rippable rights again.

Team surfers were loving it, but the hometown guys proved to be a

little too much, winning three out of four matches.

Santa Cruz met up with Orange County first, taking a 97.75-84.5

win over the Octopus, last season’s overall champ. H.B. had some

representatives up north in Jay “the Larsonator” Larsen, Mike

Hoisington and Danny Nichols. But O.C.’s big gun, Timmy Reyes, wasn’t

there, and that hurt. Even San Clemente’s “Wardo,” Chris Ward,

couldn’t close the gap with his airs.

Next up, Santa Cruz took on the Ventura Pelicanos and decisioned

them, 97-90.5. Oxnard’s World Championship Tour ripper Timmy Curran

put on quite a show, but couldn’t stop the depth of Santa Cruz. In

the third match, it was a total blowout for S.C. over the Los Angeles

Arc Angels, 94.25-75.75 -- nothing like home turf advantage.

But Santa Cruz, who got a 9.0 ride out of Kieran Horn against the

San Diego Sea Lions, couldn’t muster a wave in the fourth quarter,

despite needing something better than a 2.5 and finally lost a close

one, 102.5-100.25.

Santa Cruz’s Homer Henard, Peter Mel, Mavs Big Wave winner Anthony

Tashnick, Jason “Rat Boy” Collins and more were finally beaten.

Still, it took S.D.’s big guns -- Taylor Knox, who’s won a World

Qualifying Series event at the Lane before, and U.S. standout Rob

Machado -- to end the streak.

Next up this week is Leo Carrillo. Go O.C. go!

The Billabong Global XXL Big Wave Awards are coming up later this

month, April 22, at the Grove in Anahiem.

San Clemente’s Greg Long is nominated as one of the paddle-in

candidates for a huge one at Mavericks, along with Santa Cruz’s Shane

Desmond, also nominated from that big swell day. World champ Andy

Irons, brother Bruce Irons and Shane Dorian from the Big Island are

in it too for a couple bombs they caught at the Quicksilver Eddie

Aikau Big Wave Classic at Wiamea Bay last December too. First place

gets $10,000.

In the tow-in category, Hawaiians Garrett McNamara, Dan Moore and

Dorian are nominated for some huge ones at Jaws. Santa Cruz’s Tyler

Smith and Don Curry, in there for some mackers they caught off the

central coast of Cali at a secret spot, are also possible winners.

First place is determined by the size of the wave’s face -- if

it’s 60 feet, then it’s $60,000. Not bad, dad, if ya made it through

the wipeouts on the ones you didn’t make.

Last Monday was the coldest I can ever remember the water in

Huntington Beach getting, as it dropped down to a freezing 50

degrees. All those heavy onshore winds, have been giving us the

upwelling effect and all the super cold water is moving to the

surface. Just when you thought you could put those booties away for

the season, bust ‘em out, one more time.

Don’t forget Big Red Productions’ world premiere tonight at the

Surf Theatre, a surf comedy entitled “Drive Thru Europe,” with Pat

O’Connell, Kelly Slater and more, along with a band and prizes.

See ya, 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.