WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

Coming up this weekend is the annual Catalina Classic Paddleboard Race — 32 miles from Avalon to the Manhattan Beach Pier, if you’re following the exact course.

A buddy of mine, Tom Jones, a world-class kickboxing champ, surfer and all-around nice guy, is in it and has been training for it for months. He’s been paddling from Huntington Harbor to the Huntington Pier and back again, getting ready for the big challenge this Sunday.

Jones is hoping to do well, but has other stuff on the agenda that is even heavier: He’s planning on paddling from Oregon to Mexico to bring awareness of all the problems our oceans are being plagued by today.

On the way, he’ll be taking water samples and getting them checked out by some leading scientists. He’s already received some research grants, hooked up with some surf companies interested in the issues and has started up the “Tom Jones Foundation,” trying to determine how long until the unthinkable happens — when the ocean will be too polluted to possibly be in.

Surfers and swimmers at beaches up and down the coastline have already been getting sick from pollution. Toxic chemicals, oil spills, run off, plastic debris, sewage, etc., all seem to make their way into our seas.

All in all, Jones wants the ocean clean, and if he can bring some environmental awareness to the masses, it’s helping the cause. He’ll be looking for some help with a few paddle outs planned at some of major cities.

The legendary Mickey Munoz, an old-school surfer and shaper, will be following him in his boat, and some concerned H.B. residents are in for the long journey: “M.D.” Mike Downey and “Misko” Danny Misken, who’ll be watching for sharks! We’ll keep ya posted.

It’s almost time for the Hello Kitty Board Fest, an all-girls’ surf, skate and snowboard event coming to the Huntington Pier Labor Day weekend, on the south side. It will run from Sept. 2 through Sept. 4.

In the gals’ surfing, top pro and T.V. star from Palos Verdes, Holly Beck, is entered along with hot local talent Erica Hosseini from Newport Beach and Courtney Conlogue from Santa Ana, both off final placings at the U.S. Open. Ventura’s ripping Mary Osborne will be on hand, too.

The gals’ purse is $5,000, with a pro division, amateur division and a tag team event, as well.

In the skating, there’s $1,000 in prizes, with pro and amateur street competitions.

And they are gonna be bringing tons of fresh snow for the three-story-tall run for the snowboarders, with $1,000 being given away for the best trick.

Live entertainment, Polynesian dancers, yoga instruction, a mechanical surfboard, lots of exhibits, a Cosmo Girl booth, Hello Kitty stuff and lots of giveaways should make this a super fun one to end the summer.

Another heat wave this week and another southwest swell should make things nice for the weekend. Have a good one. Figster over and out.