US Surf Open 50 Year Milestone!

 

World Surf League Celebrates Professional Surfing

 

 Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

The Lexus US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach (July 25 - August 2) is celebrating a major milestone this year – 50 years of professional surfing. Host venue Surf City is feeling the vibe and sharing the stoke. 

 

 

Before the Open SurfWriter Girls Sunny and Patti were excited to see the viewing stands and giant surf shop go up on the sand. People were already gathered in the plaza at Huntington Surf & Sport and street vendor stands to pick out Open T-shirts and memorabilia.

 

The party was just getting started. Over the course of the nine-day event/festival HB is expecting some 500,000 people to come to town. 

 

 

On Friday, the eve of the Open, the celebration began with the World Surfing League: 50 Years of Professional Surfing exhibit grand opening at the Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum's new home in the Main Street Library.

 

So many people turned out.

 

Surfrider Foundation's KC and Beth Fockler said the museum looked beautiful. Local travel agent/lifestyle blogger Cindy Lee, who created National Bucket List Day, was covering the event.

 

The museum’s high ceilings make it ideal for showing off its collection of vintage surfboards and surf art like this painting by Rick Blake, who curated the exhibit.

 

This floor-to-ceiling window creates the perfect California backdrop.  

 

This year’s Open is focused on the history of surfing – growing from a little-known sport into a mega sport with millions of enthusiasts and contributing billions per year to the global economy. 

SurfWriter Girls are glad to see Australian Peter "PT" Townend, the first professional surfing champion (1976) and a Huntington Beach local now, at the center of this year’s activities.

 

 

He was a Grand Marshall for HB's 4th of July parade, helped oversee the surfing museum exhibit, and is MC-ing this week’s Surfing Walk of Fame ceremony. 

The surfing community is honoring him with the Peter Townend Best Performer award. At the surf museum's opening he was presented with a pink surfboard (his trademark color) signed by fellow surfers and community leaders.

 

 

In addition to being a premier stop on the Challenger Series surf tour, the Open is the first stop on the World Longboard Tour. 

Along with the surfing action, festivalgoers have skate and BMX events to see, movies and music on the beach, sponsor booths and workshops, food trucks to try, and more. 

 

There's so much surfing history and stoke to celebrate! Jan and Dean's epic "Surf City" song says it all: "We're goin' to Surf City."

 

 

SurfWriter Girls

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.

 

 

Rockin Fig Legend Lives On!

 

5th Anniversary of Huntington Beach Surfer’s Passing

 

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Huntington Beach local Rick Fignetti – known as Rockin Fig to his friends and fans – was a surfer’s surfer and a hometown legend in Surf City USA. On Saturday, one week before the US Open of Surfing begins (July 25 - August 2), the town came out at the HB Pier to honor his legacy and the 5th anniversary of his passing July 16, 2021.

 

 

In memory of Fig, SurfWriter Girls are reposting an edited version of the following Surfrider Sponsor Story we wrote about him in March 2015:

 

 Huntington Beach's Own Surf Legend.    

Along with multiple surfing championships and a surf board shop on Main Street… 

 

Huntington Beach local Rick (Rockin Fig) Fignetti is in both the Surfers’ Hall of Fame and the Surfing Walk of Fame.

Anyone in earshot of Fig is likely to recognize his voice from his many years on the radio as KROQ’s Surfologist.

Or as the longtime announcer of the U.S. Open of Surfing (19 years in a row).

Fig’s life revolves around surfing whether it’s catching waves on the north side of the HB Pier, hanging out at Rockin Fig Surf Headquarters (316 Main Street), sponsoring the Fig Team Riders surfers, or mentoring the local groms.

Whenever SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel see Fig at beach events he’s always right in the middle of everything, lending a hand and helping to represent the community.

 

 

Fig has made the Rockin Fig surf shop more than a place to find boards and accessories.

It’s a meeting place where everyone from beginning surfers to surfing legends can stop by to share stories and talk about the sport they love. If you’re lucky enough to be in the shop on a day that Fig is there get ready for a warm welcome and a chance to learn a lot about surfing.

Tony Soriano, Surfrider Foundation Huntington/Seal Beach Chapter Chairperson, says, “Fig is a real surf community hero, who supports Surfrider and a clean environment of our oceans, waves and beaches"

In an age when so many celebrities seem superficial and manufactured by the media it’s clear that Rockin Fig is the real deal. 

As this year's US Open of Surfing unfolds in the coming week, Fig's presence will be felt by all who knew him. 

SurfWriter Girls 

Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.