WET AND WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:Pro events go ‘round the world

We’re not too far away from the start of the Assn. of Surfing Professional’s big show, the World Championship Tour.

The first event is just a couple weeks away with the Quicksilver Pro slated for Feb. 27 through March 11 at Snapper Rocks Australia. There are some nice point breaks there that work on a swell. Last year, Kelly Slater started his roll with a win at this event.

Then it’s off to Bells Beach for the Rip Curl Pro, which usually features bigger waves and cold water, too. Bells is one of the longest-running surf contests, going back to 1973. Former world champs Mark Richards won it four times, Sunny Garcia three times, and Slater and Andy Irons got the Bells Cup twice.

No. 3 on the tour is the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo, Tahiti, May 4-14. It’s a gnarly left that sucks below sea level, over super sharp reef and gets sizable.

Then it’s off to another paradise island, May 20-31. The destination? Fiji, where you have cloud breaks and perfect peaks for the Globe Pro.

South America’s next, June 20-July 1. Exactly where that’s going to be is top secret, but it’ll be somewhere in Chile for the Rip Curl Search. Last year, the “Search” blew everybody’s minds with killer surf in Mexico at the La Jolla break. It had perfect 10-foot barreling offshore shreddable rights off the point, possibly the best on the 2006 tour! The only thing we know for sure is the water will definitely be colder.

Then it’s time for Jeffrey’s Bay South Africa, July 11-22 for the Billabong Pro. Another right-hand point break that’s petal to the metal, super fast, gets good size and is kind of sharky. The Aussie speedster Mick Fanning won last year, but can he make it two in a row?

The it’s back to Cali, for the Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley at Trestles. Mark these dates on the calendar because it’s worth the hike, Sept. 11 through Sept. 15 at Lower’s. The top-44 will be ready to rip up a wave that’s like a skate park for surfers. Then the focus turns to France, to those classic beach breaks like Hossegor for the Quicksilver Pro Sept. 21 through Sept. 30. Over the last few years there’s been overhead barreling surf and hot action out in the water — and on the sand, too, since the beaches are topless.

Next door in Spain plays host for event No. 9 in Mundaka, the reeling sand bar left Oct. 1-14.

Then it’s back to South America again to beautiful Brazil for the Nova Schin Surf Festival Oct. 30 through Nov. 7.

The final event of the year is in the Banzai Pipeline. The Billabong Pipe Masters is Dec. 8 through Dec. 20 at one of the hollowest breaks on the planet. It features shallow reef, it’s super hollow, and it’s known for its barreling lefts and bowl-driving rights, too. Looks like another good year for the dream tour, with killer spots and perfect waves.

It’s a tough life these pros have.

See ya. Fig, over and out.