WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

Happy New Year everyone. Wishing you all good health and good fortune as we roll into another big year. I gotta say, last year did have some ups and downs as far as the swells went. But we did get a couple of pretty huge ones, like that big south swell that hit before summer, that was 15-foot plus, when even the Corona del Mar Jetty was breaking and the biggest northwester in the last few years hit in early December that saw big-wave spots reaching 30-feet plus.

El Niño or La Niña could start January off with some more good surf action. The winds have been more offshore and calm lately than I can remember, which is great for us surfers. Although that water has dropped to 55 degrees, the weather patterns look normal with a storm going by almost once a week and sunny skies thereafter.

Sad news, we lost one of our H.B. bro’s at the end of last year, Brandon McGuinness. Brandon was a talented athlete who excelled in surfing and snowboarding and took it to the pro levels of competition in both sports. He was a well-liked, happy guy, who graduated from Huntington High School with a lot of all the other high-talent surfers of that time era.

Brandon was a certified lifeguard and worked locally right at Dukes restaurant at the pier till the time he was diagnosed with Hodgkins lymphoma in 2004.

The cancer affected his immune system and blood cells, causing him to have three surgeries, tons of tests, six month’s of chemotherapy and a lot of other medical tasks.

But he took it all in stride, tried to stay positive, and said things happen for a reason, so he wanted to spread the word about cancer so there would be more support for other cancer victims.

Brandon passed away at UCLA Medical Center. The boys had a big paddle out for him and spread his ashes at his favorite break, 14th Street.

More than 100 surfers showed up to pay last respects, some of H.B.’s most talented surfers and friends were there: Danny Nichols, Timmy Turner, Brett Swartz, Jessie Marley, Brett Simpson, Jessie Evens, John Parmenter, Todd Aimer and Johnny Grim to name a few.

While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of the light.

Rest in Peace Brandon, we’ll miss ya.

The local resorts Bear Mountain, Snow Summit and Snow Valley over in the San Bernadino Mountains and Mountain High over in the San Gabriels have been blowing the artificial snow with the cold air temps in the teens. Most resorts are almost 100% open. See ya, Fig over and out.

RICK FIGNETTI is a 10-time West Coast champion and a longtime KROQ-FM surfologist. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.