Wet ‘N’ Wild with Rockin’ Fig:

The ringing of the bell — that’s what three-time world champ Stephanie Gilmore did at the Rip Curl Women’s Pro at Bells Beach last week. The 22-year-old made it three wins at Bells in four years with a blistering forehand attack that saw her slash some critical turns on the lined-up rights to earn big scores in the 2- to 4-foot surf.

Gilmore defeated 26-year-old Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich, who had injured her neck in an earlier heat, and it looked like it bothered her performance as she fell on a couple set waves. Mulanovich was happy to make the final, taking a super-close tie-break decision in the semis over Aussie Chelsea Hedges. Gilmore beat hot up-and-coming Sally Fitzgibbons in the other semi, and this win makes it two in a row for a solid lead in the ratings.

On a lay-day break, waiting for the surf to pick up, Victoria and the Huntington Beach High School surf team competed in the Tag Team Challenge. Victoria ended up with a narrow decision over Huntington in the small Bells surf in the friendly rematch.

Back in 2008, some of the Australians were on the Aussie team that surfed against Huntington Beach High at the Huntington Beach Pier.

There was also a Clash of the Icons heat with two former world champs, Santa Barbara’s stylish Tom Curren and Australian power master Mark Occhilupo.

Curren caught a couple nice rides, one with a slicing cut back throwing some mean spray to take the prize, as “Occy” waited out the back for the inconsistent waves that rolled in.

The men at the Rip Curl Pro were up next; they ran the first round in some semi-OK surf, and taking wins were Hawaiian Andy Irons, nine-time world champ Kelly Slater, points leader Taj Burrow, Aussie speedster Mick Fanning and Joel “Parko” Parkinson, in top form. Losing in Round 1 but winning in Round 2 heats for a second chance were Ventura’s Dane Reynolds, Santa Barbara’s Bobby Martinez, Huntington’s Brett Simpson, who pulled a super-rad “alley oop” air 360, and South African Jordy Smith.

They might move the event to another spot if the surf stays small. Contest Director Damien Hardman is checking out different breaks up and down the coastline for better conditions.

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.