Wet and Wild with Rockin Fig

It’s that time of year again when the surfscene switches over to the

North Shore of Oahu,Hawaii. The north swells hit over there big-time,

andit’s common place to see surf in the 15- to 25-footrange.

Big surf, with good shape, is the proving ground for the top pros in

the world to show what they’ve got.

For the men, there are four events. The first, is the Xcell Pro, which

was just held at Sunset. It’s kind of a warmup for the big three, known

as the Triple Crown of Surfing. They keep pointsto see who is the best

overall, during the series.

World champ Sunny Garcia has won that title a fewtimes, as has fellow

Hawaiian and former world champDerek Ho.

The first event has just finished up. The two-star Xcell Pro was won

by Californian Gavin Beschen. Beschen won $4,000 dollars for shredding up

the classic right-hand reefbreak. Second was Aussie veteran Paul

Paterson, thirdHawaiian ripper Bruce Irons and fourth Australian Matt

Tompson.

Up now is the $100,000, six-starG-Shock Hawaiian Pro at Haliewa Beach

Park. This event has been running, but right now it’s on hold ‘cause the

surf at press time was 25 feet and a bit out of control. Iheard a bunch

of boards have been snapped in half, anda few surfers have had to be

rescued and towed out ofthe rip current.

The contest is down to the semifinalswith the USA’s Corey Lopez and

Damien Hobgood,Hawaiian Andy Irons and Aussie Richard Lovett in onesemi,

and Aussies Mick Fanning, Jake Paterson, SteveClements and Hawaiian, from

da big island, MylesPadaca in the other. For the first jewel of the

TripleCrown.

After the first jewel of the Triple Crown will be the biggie this

year, the World Championship Tour event at Sunset,Nov. 26 to Dec. 7. It’s

worth more than $250,000and will determine our 2001 World Champ.

Current ratings going into it: USA’sC.J. Hobgood first, Australian

Mark Occhilupo second,Lopez third, USA’s Taylor Knoxfourth and Garcia

fifth.It’s close enough that all of these surfers have a goodshot at the

title. Three goofy foots and two regularfooters.

Then, from Dec. 8-21, at thePipe, will be the X-Box Pipeline Masters.

It’s a $150,000 event.

It’s invite only with this year’s World Championship Tour event

winners,eight previous Pipe Masters winners and the best ofthe local

shredders. Sounds like some toughcompetition for the fierce barrel-riding

contestover the sharp jagged coral reef.

In the Assn. of Surfing Professionals, World Qualifying Series,

ratings,Australian’s Taj Burrow and Mick Fanning are one andtwo, New

Zealand’s Maz Quinn third and Aussie NathanWebster fourth.

The USA’s Pat O’Connell is15th, Damien Hobgood 22nd, Tim Curran36th,

Shane Beschen 37th, Bobby Martinez50th and Ryan Simmons at 55th.

Warm water, tropical weather, great surf -- sounds good, doesn’t?

I’ll keep ya posted on what happens over there. That’sit for now.

Rockin Fig over and out.

* RICK FIGNETTI is a six-time West Coast champion, has announced the

U.S. Open of Surfing the last eight years and has been the KROQ-FM

surfologist for the last 15 years where he’s done morning surf reports.

He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.