WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

This could be it. A big storm swell is hitting the North Shore of Hawaii and expected to pick up the surf 25 feet plus this week. And that’s just what the Quiksilver Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational needs at Waimea Bay.

This extraordinary big wave event has run only seven times in the last 23 years as contest organizers have always waited for the perfect days 20 feet or bigger at the Bay in memory of Eddie. Surfers are alerted when such conditions can be attained.

Eddie, who was a big wave standout at Wiamea Bay, was also a pioneering lifeguard in Hawaii, when on a 1978 canoeing voyage to Tahiti in stormy seas in the Molokai Channel his dual hull canoe flipped.

Eddie wasted no time and got on his surfboard to paddle for help on a rescue attempt, never to be seen again.

For that sacrifice his life is now legend. And the saying is, when the surf gets giant and scary out there, the boys say, “Eddie would go!”

Former winners include Eddie’s brother Clyde, feeling his brother’s spirit directed him to the biggest sets one year, another Hawaiian Keone Downing charging a few years back, Aussie big wave shredder Ross Clarke Jones taking a victory in macking surf, plus nine-time world champ Kelly Slater showing his versatility in big waves too.

Not to forget the Big Island’s Noah Johnson getting some bombs one year and the last winner, a few year’s back Bruce Irons getting an outside macker set right connecting to the shore break for a massive tube close-out, racking a perfect 10 and a win.

More veteran waterman are entered this year: Brock Little, who goes for massive tubes out there; Michael Ho, a former numerous Triple Crown winner; Sunny Garcia, former world champ; Shane Dorian, last year’s XXL big wave winner; and North Shore standouts Makua Rothman and Rusty Keaulana.

Plus Mavericks winner Greg Long and standout there Peter Mel, South Africa’s Grant Baker and yup even Slater ready to drop in on a few biggies. Total purse $98,000; $55,000 for first, with 28 surfers invited and even more on the alternate list. So we’ll see what happens, the Bay call’s the days!

Sure has been nice weather here at our Surf City beaches this last week. Air temps hitting as high as the 80s with offshore winds a blowing. The only bad news was killer weather conditions and hardly any surf, only in the one to barely 2-foot zone and freezing water lately in the mid-50s.

All our big-time surf pros from Huntington Beach are in Florida for the O’Neill Sebastion Inlet Pro going on until Jan. 18. It’s the first association of surfing professionals world qualifying series event of the 2009 season.

Good luck, 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.