Surf Shots: Surfing America USA Championships

A surf contest that showcases some of the best amateur surfers from around the nation is going down in Huntington Beach this week, where competitors are trying to nab the USA championship title.

The 2009 SIMA Surfing America USA Championships presented by Verizon Wireless kicked off Tuesday south of the Huntington Beach pier, and runs through Sunday.

There’s 18 divisions in the contest, everything from young groms to seniors, longboarders and shortboarders.

CHECK OUT SLIDESHOW OF PHOTOS FROM TODAY'S EVENT.

I chatted with Rockin’ Fig Fignetti out on the sand, where he was getting pumped up for his heat in the Legends division. He’s come in second-place for two years in a row.

“For some people, it might be for fun. For me, I’ve always wanted the title,” he said.

The conditions were better than he expected, with 3-to-5-foot waves coming through.

“I’m stoked because it’s a bit more peaky today,” he said. “It’s a good size, the sun is out, and the wind isn’t too bad.”

The surfers in the contest come from several surfing associations scattered around the country, including: National Scholastic Surfing Association, Western Surfing Association, Eastern Surfing Association, Hawaii Surfing Association, and the Texas Gulf Surfing Association.

“They are the best of the best,” said Executive Director of Surfing America Mike Gerard.

This event is a big one for the young up-and-coming surfers who are trying to nab a spot on the 2010 PacSun USA Surf Team. A committee will look at surfers with best results from this contest, as well as standing results from other contests, to determine who will have a chance to compete in New Zealand in January. The team selection will be announced on Sunday at the contest.

“They represent our country,” Gerard said of junior team. “It’s a great experience for them, they get to travel the world. They just develop so much in terms of being an athlete, and being a human being. The experience is priceless.”

Surfing America was just awarded a contract to hold next year’s USA Championships at Trestles. The move helps continue the momentum Surfing America has had in developing the USA surf team – which has both a pro and juniors team - in the past few years. Just a few weeks ago, the USA surf team took home gold at the World Games held in Costa Rica, the first time in 13 years for such an accomplishment.