Wet ‘n’ Wild with Rockin Fig:

The 2008 Association of Surfing Professional World Championship Tour is ready to kick off this weekend. The Quiksilver Pro waiting period starts Saturday at Snapper Rocks in Australia. If the surf’s up and there’s not a two-week waiting period, they’ll start. If the waves aren’t that good at Snapper they can go to other spots like Kirra, Duranbah, or that killer point break, Burleigh Heads. Last year’s world champ, Aussie Mick Fanning, is all pumped up to get a good start, along with runner up Taj Burrow, who knows a great showing could lead into a title campaign. Hawaiian Andy Irons is looking to regain that form that netted him three world titles a few years back.

The big question mark is, will eight-time world champ Kelly Slater do selected events or will he go full out? A good placing will probably decide his fate.

New talent this year includes South African Jordy Smith and Ventura’s Dane Reynolds, who could shake up the standings. Getting the a.s.p. wild card injury spot was Surf City ripper Timmy Reyes, who looks fit and healthy back from a knee injury in 2007. Also it looks like two other wild cards for Snapper are hot: Aussie Julian Wilson and Tahiti’s Michel Bourez. So the top 44 best surfers in the world are ready to get it going, 17 Australians, 14 Americans, six Brazilians, and four South African and Euro surfers. The gals will start with the Roxy Pro at Snapper too. Stephanie Gilmore, last year’s world champ, looks like she’ll be trying to make it two titles this year. She definitely has the talent, and the question is, who can stop her?

At the U.S. Kneeboard Championships in Oceanside last week, Huntington had some shredders placing in the finals. In the big-time Open division Tom Backer, a former N.S.S.A. champ, was in top form taking the win with an assortment of moves and lip bashes. Backer also got an invite to the World Kneeboard Championships in New Zealand in April 2009 for his effort. In the three AAA division, Huntington Beach’s Mike Butler ripped to first and Paul Devoy was third. In AA action Kelly Farnsworth of Anaheim won and Huntington’s Zack Smith placed third. And in the juniors, San Diego’s Taylor Chapatte had some nice rides to win while Huntington’s Matt Pierce rounded out the top four spots. Orange County took first in the overall team points too.

Looks like more stormy weather and probably disorganized surf this week, we’ll see. And maybe another shot of snowfall at our local mountains.

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.