WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:Aussie grabs big prize in Hawaii

The North shore of Hawaii is still the focal point for the surfing world, with good size surf and big-time competitions.

The O’Neill World Cup of Surfing wrapped up Dec. 6 at Sunset Beach in some 8-to 10-foot-plus surf for the final day. It was Australian Joel Parkinson who was on fire in the final, winning by almost six points over 18-year-old South African Jordy Smith.

Parkinson has won the World Cup twice in the last five years, thanks to his power surfing style that makes him perfect for the big rights off the point.

Placing third was three-time Vans Triple Crown and world champ Andy Irons, who just couldn’t get it going after tearing things up in previous heats. Local backside shredder Fred Patacchia rounded out the top-four spots.

Pancho Sullivan and Neco Padaratz lost out in the semifinals, with the Brazilian Padaratz getting injured.

In seventh place was Hawaiian ian Walsh and Australian Mich Fanning was eighth.

Bam, right into the next event, the $280,000 Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters, the final jewel in the Vans Triple Crown. The surf at the Banzai Pipeline has already been pumping 8 to 12 feet and the boys have been pulling into some mean surf. The usual suspects have been winning their heats, like eight-time world champ Kelly Slater, Fanning, Taj Burrow, Rob Machado and C.J. Hobgood.

The locals have been smoking through some big time heats and winning, too, like, Makua Rothman, Walsh and Dustin Barca.

Of course, there were some upsets along the way, which meant the end of the 2006 season for some prominent surfers. Parkinson, coming off his impressive victory at Sunset Beach in the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing, busted his board in half in his heat. Fellow Aussie Mark Occhilupo went down, as did Dean Morrison and Carlsbad’s Taylor Knox, to name a few.

On the South Side of the Huntington Pier on Wednesday, the annual Sunset League Surfing All-Star meet was held.

Huntington Beach High, Edison High, Fountain Valley High, Marina High and Long Beach Millikan High all participated in the event. The surf’s been up all week — in the 3-to 7-foot-plus range — so there was some great action going down.

Going in, the favorite was Huntington Beach, which was 10-0 this season in league play.

I spoke to Coach Andy Verdone before the contest and he said he has a strong team again this year, starting out with three surfers who were voted Sunset League Most Valuable Players.

Senior boys’ short-boarder Logan Strook (team captain), junior girls’ body boarder Sarah Taylor (member of U.S. National team) and senior Chris Welpman are those MVPs, and they spearhead an Oiler squad that also features National Scholastic Surfing Assn. standout Quinn McCrystral.

Others who contribute are power surfer Colton Larsen, sophomore Eddie Elles, short-boarders A.J. Collins, Taylor Pai and Drew Poff. Long-boarders Billy Hopkins and Shane McDole and girls’ standout Jenna Balestar round out the squad.

More results are headed your way next week from all the big events, and for you snow boarders out there, check out the 3-to-5 inches of snow that fell last week.

See ya, Fig over and out! Happy Holidays to everyone.