WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

Just down the road over the weekend they finished up ASP two-star Newport Pro in some fun 3- to 5-foot-plus surf.

The defending champ Nathan Yeomans was in trouble after Ventura’s Adam Virs scored a 9.25-point wave with three big vertical snaps starting behind one of the jetties. Yeomans was feeling the pressure, but with two minutes remaining he caught a set wave, pumped hard for a lot of speed and hit the launch pad section, boosting a huge air. Yeomans received an 8.5 from the judges to come from behind and take the win.

Never say never to the disbelief of Virs who’s No. 1 in the Macy’s Trifecta series, which heads up to the chilly waters of Steamer Lane in Santa Cruz next for the Cold Water Classic.

The WCT that was just here a couple of weeks ago at lower Trestles is in France now, for the Quiksilver Pro at Hossegor. The surf started out unbelievable in the 4- to 8-foot range at the beach break, with lots of super-hollow barrels.

Taking some Round 1 wins included Santa Barbara’s Bobby Martinez slashing away; Kelly Slater just off that win at the Boost Mobile Pro, who got a sick shack at the end of his heat; and Mick Fanning the points leader, who scored an amazing 19.43 outta 20 points in his heat, saying afterward, it’s on, the battle for the points race with Slates who has eight world titles and is eyeing his ninth.

Round 2 winners included some big guns: three-time world champ Andy Irons; No. 3 in the world standings Taj Burrow; Joel Parkinson the &Speedster;” Occy the vet; and the local boy Frenchman Jeremy Flores, who has surfed Hossegor since he was a kid.

Some losers were San Clemente’s Chris Ward, who was killing it in the free surf sessions all week, Hawaii’s barrel master Bruce Irons and Aussie Mick Campbell.

Currently the event is on hold due to the weather. A storm has hit with rain squalls and windy conditions.

The women’s championship tour just finished up at the Rip Curl Girls Festival in Spain. Taking the win was former world champ Sofia Mulanovich from Peru over Brazil’s Silvana Lima, who has now moved up to second in the world standings at the halfway point.

It’s super tight right now in the ratings battle, as four gals are less than 200 points apart. Aussie Sam Cornish is first with 3,072, Lima with 3,060, Mulanovich with 2,904, and Aussie super rookie Stephanie Gilmore with 2,868. Last year’s defending champ Layne Beachley is currently equal seventh, but you can never count her out.

The start of fall kicked off with a good southwest swell during first part of the week. Point breaks like Trestles were going off with 4- to 7-foot-plus waves. Malibu was firing too, in the chest- to head-high range with good lined-up rights. A little walled in H.B., although the north side of the pier had some overhead crankers! And the water warmed back up to the upper 60s; I like it! See ya, Fig over and out.

RICK FIGNETTI is a 10-time West Coast champion and a longtime KROQ-FM surfologist. He owns a surf shop on Main Street. You can reach him at (714) 536-1058.