WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

More big action from Australia, site of the world championship tour’s Rip Curl Pro that was at Bells Beach. As the surf softened they moved the contest down the road to Winkipop, which was picking up the swell better, as it was more lined up and steeper.

The contest has run through Round 3 and the big guns have been going off; the points leader, eight-time world champ Kelly Slater, racked off an alley-oop 360 air in his heat for a solid two-wave total of 18.40 outta 20 points to move on.

Last year’s world champ Mick “the Quick” Fanning was throwing some huge tail slides, taking out air “Master Blaster” Troy Brooks.

Defending champ Taj Burrow advanced with some nice slashes as did “A.I.”, Hawaiian Andy Irons.

Santa Barbara’s Bobby Martinez has been on the back side attack and ripping. New rookie, Ventura’s Dane Reynolds, blew up in his heat, throwing some sick gouges and the highest combo scores of the day, taking out former world champ from Florida, C.J. Hobgood. He now faces the “Flyin’ Hawaiian” Roy Powers next. Huntington Beach’s Timmy Reyes lost a close one to twin Damien Hobgood. And “Parko” Joel Parkinson, whose style is suited to those down the line righty’s, has been ripping too. More results to come.

In the women’s they ran it through to the final in a good 3-to-5-foot surf at Bells. In the final, Peru’s Sofia Mulanovich looked like she had it in the bag, with some great waves and big scores, working those sets all the way across.

Last year’s world champ Stephanie Gilmore needed a big score to win, in the nine zone.

She patiently waited out the back and in the last two minutes a good set rolled in and she destroyed it, with big slashes and some high speed floaters all the way to the inside.

The judges liked it, giving Gilmore a 9.33 to ice the win. That’s two years in a row claiming the victory, the Bells Cup and rocketing up in the standings to second place. Gilmore had a hard-fought battle in the semis with veteran seven-time world champ Layne Beachley who probably would’ve advanced to the final if she hadn’t fallen on a couple critical exchanges.

Mulanovich easily defeated Aussie Amee Donohoe to advance on in her semi-final. U.S. talent, East Coaster Karina Patroni, lost out in Round 3 to Gilmore, tough draw, and Julia De La Rosa, formerly Julia Christain of Carlsbad who just got married, went down in Round 2 action.

Current standings: Mulanovich with the early big lead 2,172, Gilmore with 1,560, Samantha Cornish with 1,524 and Donohoe with 1,512 points. The battle is on.

In case you’re thinking it’s been more crowded at the beach’s lately, you’re right.

It’s spring break. The local middle and high schools are out, plus the junior colleges.

How was that record-breaking heat wave over Easter, love 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.