Locals roll in Orlando

Some Huntington Beach surfers are rolling through their early heats at the kickoff of the 2006 Assn. of Surfing Professional’s event of the year here in the United States.

The four-star World Qualifying Series Globe Sebastian Inlet Pro in Florida coincides with the big trade show expo in Orlando this week. Pro surfers and buyers from all around the U.S. and the world will be in town to check out both venues. The men’s field will include 224 surfers, with 32 entered in the women’s division.

The H.B. surfers who have been rolling through their heats thus far include Matt Shadbolt, Mike Hoisington and Shaun Ward. Other West Coast hotties who’ve been ripping include Matt King, Nick Rozsa, Jason “Rat Boy” Collins, Mike Losness and Cory Arrambide, to name a few.

In the women’s, standouts thus far have been East Coaster Karina Petroni and Hawaiians Melanie Bartels and Leilani Gryde.

There will also be a “Tow At” surf event, and invitees include Surf City’s “Rad Man” Brett Simpson, Hawaiian Nationals winner Clay Marzo and Aussie air-buster Josh Kerr. The waves have been offshore and good in the 2- to 4-foot-plus range. More is expected soon, so stay posted.

Over at the Billabong Junior Championships in Oz at Narrabeen Beach in windblown 3-foot surf, Hawaiian shredder Kekoa Bacalso defeated Tahitian ripper Michel Bourez, 16.00 to 8.34, in the finals. Bacalso was surfing super fast and bashing the lip precisely to take the junior title, cruising to victory.

Equal thirds went to Hawaiian “G-Man” Hank Gaskell and Brazil’s Jean Da Silva. Look for these guys to blow up on the pro circuit soon.

The women’s was an all-Australian final, with Jessi Miley Dyer taking a close win over her friend Nicola Atherton, 14.00 to 12.40. Atherton had a chance to win, scoring an 8.0 ride late in the final, but she came up short. Dyer racked up the points in the W.Q.S. last season and will debut on the C.T. this year. She looks like a threat to those seasoned pros.

What’s new for 2006? Bob “the Greek” Bolen is coming out with a 5-inch Turbo Tunnel fin for, yes, shorts boards. His revolutionary fin has dominated the longboard scene lately, for better nose rides and acceleration out of your bottom turns.

His test pilots have been seen riding the fins in small and big waves alike, and it looks like the short boards are next up on the list. The prototype is out, and the new fin should be available at finer surf shops soon.

Jet setter Chris Pionessa is headed down to Argentina for the two-star, $15,000 W.Q.S. Reef Brazil contest this week.

Fifteen countries will be represented, and there’s a purse of $5,000 for the winner. I hear the water’s kinda cold this time of year there -- did I mention penguins will be in the line-up? Brrrr.

The H.B. Longboard Crew paddle race that was canceled on Jan. 1 because of the big storm surf has been rescheduled for Super Bowl Sunday, weather permitting.

So there’s your chance to take it, once again. Surfboards only and no paddle boards.

Happy New Year. Fig, over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a nine-time West Coast champion, has announced the U.S. Open of Surfing the last 12 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.

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