Huntington Beach’s Fignetti Rides a Wave to Nationals

After winning three consecutive titles, you would think Rick Fignetti would be used to the pressure.

But before the start of Sunday’s championship final in the United States Surfing Federation Western Region senior men’s open, Fignetti looked as if he was waiting to see the principal instead of going surfing.

“If it wasn’t that I’m down in the point total, it wouldn’t be so bad,” said the Huntington Beach surfer. “But I need to make up some ground in this heat and I’m really nervous.”

Fignetti, who also spends his time as an announcer for professional and amateur surfing events, is a local favorite and spends most of his surfing time on the north side of the pier.

Despite Fignetti’s local knowledge, he couldn’t hold off Hermosa Beach’s Scott Daley, who won the final heat. However, the points that Fignetti scored in his second-place finish gave him enough points to win the overall title and advance to the next month’s national championship in Oceanside.

In Sunday’s competition, which was on the south side, the surf was about three to five feet with the waves providing some great rights and lefts for the competitors.

Said Fignetti: “I was thinking about maybe retiring this year, and I hadn’t surfed all the events I should have. But I decided to come back and try to regain some ground and I’ve been inching my way back to the top ever since.”

In the Grand Master’s division (45-54 years old), former world champion Peter Townend came up the winner.

“People asked me why I would enter this event,” Townend said. “They seem to think I would have no problem winning this. But let me tell you, there’s some competition out here, and it gets harder and harder every year.”

While Townend seemed to downplay his surfing because of his age, it was apparent that the Australian champion still had a lot of fight in him.

In an earlier semifinal heat, Townend pulled an excellent ride that had him catch a five-footer, then connect to another set that took him to the shorebreak.

Each heat was 20 minutes long and the top three waves were scored by the judges.

Travis Mellem continued to perform well in the 13-14 age group division as the San Clemente surfer was in top form, winning his second consecutive Western Region title.

“I was inspired,” Mellem said. “I sat out there next to the pier and picked up the rights. They got me some good scores.”