WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:Surf Series has an epic start

The Huntington Beach Surf Series started its first event of the year with some pretty epic 3- to 6-foot surf, setting up some big ripping down at the Huntington Pier.

The weather was pretty nice, too, with some overcast mornings giving way to sunny skies.

Not only did former Assn. of Surfing Professionals championship tour ripper and current contest director Jeff Deffenbaugh score some great surf, but the ante was upped this year with computer scoring and $40 for heat winners in the pro-am division.

In the heated pro-am final battle, Brazilian junior shredder Bruno Rodrigues had two solid scoring rides to win it, slashing the reform to the inside and winning $1,500. Newport Beach’s Richie Collins, a veteran surfer who’s had a few wins at the pier over the years, placed second and Ventura’s Adam Virs pulled into third with a couple of nice rides.

Fourth was former world champ, Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, who was throwing some mean power gouges through the event, even earning a nine-plus scoring wave in an earlier heat, but he couldn’t find the good waves in the final.

In the amateurs, taking the win in the boys division was up-and-coming Jesse Steelman. Chase Brady busted some turns to win both juniors and men’s, while Chris Munsterman won masters and Shelby Detmer took the women’s title. Local big Shane Van Herk couldn’t be stopped in the longboard, taking the victory.

Next up is July 7-8 at Golden West Street, then Aug. 11-12 at 9th Street (Taco Bell Reef), and back to the Huntington Beach Pier Sept. 29-30.

Guy Takayama, the man who put on the big longboard contest a month ago at the pier was the guest bartender at Dukes Wednesday night for Surf Night.

Takayama is hosting the next event in Oceanside in August and back to the pier in October. Congratulations to the Huntington Beach High School surf team for taking down San Clemente High in the closest “Game” of all time, 71 to 70.

The Oilers were led by Colton Larson, the MVP, Quinn McCrystal going big, Logan Strook and A.J. Collins all ripping to pull it off, which was kind of an upset as San Clemente was favored to win. Finals are at San Onofre Trails June 18-19. Coach Verdone and B.D. had to have been happy!

Those funny-looking cubicles on the beach on the north side will be lit up this week. It’s the Red Bull Illume Photo Exhibit, featuring action sports photography. The top surf shots and other groovy pictures were picked from over 7,000 shots that were turned in. Check it out. That’s it for now.