Huntington Beach’s ‘Rockin’ Fig’ remembered with paddle out

Huntington Beach surf personality Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti was remembered with a paddle out and celebration on Saturday at the Huntington Beach Pier.

Fignetti, who was a longtime surf announcer and owned Rockin’ Fig Surf Headquarters on Main Street, died of a heart attack on July 16. He was 64.

Ricky Fignetti, center, stands in the center of a circle during a paddle out for his father and Huntington Beach surfing personality Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti on Saturday morning.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

The memorial on the sand Saturday morning was led by Aaron Pai and Brett Simpson. Pai is a longtime friend of Fignetti and owner of Huntington Surf & Sport who organized the paddle out. Simpson is a local surfer who won the U.S. Open of Surfing twice and now is the USA Surfing coach.

Surfers paddled out to form a circle on the north side of the pier, a spot frequented by Fignetti, a Surfers’ Hall of Fame and Surfing Walk of Fame member who also did the morning surf report on KROQ-FM for 25 years.

A celebration in Fignetti’s honor also took place at Pier Plaza on Saturday afternoon, featuring music from his friend Don Ramsey.

Hundreds of friends and fans honor longtime Huntington Beach surfing personality Rick “Rockin’ Fig” Fignetti with a ceremony and paddle out on Saturday morning.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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