Wet ‘n’ Wild with Rockin’ Fig:Heavy heats at WCT

The big show’s in town: the WCT Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley, which started last Sunday at Lowers, taking advantage of the leftover southwest swells from last week.

Some heavy heats were seen as former world champ from Florida, C.J. Hobgood, blasted some sections and an aerial to take a win in the first round, as did Hawaiian Freddy Boy Patacchia, speed lining some of the lefts.

Also looking good was the current points leader, Aussie Mick Fanning, who slashed a wave right to pieces, throwing some huge water and getting the high-scoring wave of the event thus far, in the mid-9 zone; almost perfection.

In the battle of the fly boys, Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds and Cory Lopez all were busting. The kingpin, Slates ruled, pulling the highest two wave scores of the day — 17.17 for a couple of sick ballistic moves. The Mobster Rob Machado, back after the injured ankle, was tearing it up on his backside to post a win, as did Carlsbad’s Taylor Knox with some straight-up turns, and Hawaiian Bruce Irons, who was lighting up some of the rights too.

The French man Jeremy Flores was looking quick and Australian veteran Mick Campbell threw a couple big hacks on a left to advance. Bobby Martinez got an interference in a battle for position in one heat, as did Taj Burrow with the wonder kid Jordy Smith, who was not backing down, even to the big names.

Sunny Garcia took another wild card slot for injured Damien Hobgood and surfed impressively but still went to the losers’ round for another shot at advancement, as well as former world champ “A.I.” Andy Irons, who’s always a crowd favorite.

The event has been during the first part of the week while they wait for more swell. It looks like some small-scale west and southwest swells will be rolling in during the later part of this week, with the biggest expected Saturday for the finals.

Checking the progress of Tom Jones, the stand-up paddleboarder whose paddle from the Oregon border is helping to bring awareness to pollution problems, is now in Santa Cruz. The northwest current has helped Jones and his crew get ahead of schedule as they make their way down the coast to Mexico.

They’ve run into some large 4- to 12-foot swells and mid-50 degree water, navigated the tricky Año Nuevo straights between an island and a peninsula where great white sharks are plentiful, seals are giant, and pilot whales are to be seen. Surf City’s Jones and Danny Misken, the Jet Ski driver, will take a rest in Santa Cruz until Sunday before tackling the Big Sur coastline.

The news crews will be there too, including channels two, four and Fox TV for some interviews, and there will be a beach cleanup session with the Surfrider Foundation over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the 11th annual Donnie Solomon Memorial Surf contest is Friday, Saturday and Sunday at California Street in Ventura in conjunction with the WSA. The pros surf Friday and the amateurs surf over the weekend. Should be some good competition. See ya. Fig, over and out.