WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

More big action from the North Shore of Hawaii as they finished up the O’Neill World Cup of surfing in 15- to 20-foot plus surf at Sunset Beach. A solid north west ground swell hit and all systems were go.

Not only did it pick up size-wise, but the shape was good and conditions were clean for one of the best final days ever. Lots of big names going off, but the final four saw a goofy footer C.J. Hobgood from Florida taking the early lead with his backside attack. Aussie Tom Whitaker got a nice set and did a big fading carve in the pocket on a good size right to take the lead midway. Hawaiian charger Marcus Hickman who got an insane barrel in an earlier heat caught a couple, but never really found the best waves in the 35-minute final.

And South African Jordy Smith who looked like a candidate for a win, had some troubles, like breaking his board in half while getting caught inside. A mack daddy set came through toward the end, a big peak with Hobgood in position, no holding back, the big vertical drop, a turn in the pocket, then a hard slicing cut back in the pit, as it closed out, making it, with tons of white water churning. The score was 8.5, enough for the first win for a goofy footer in more than 10 years, for Hobgood, with Whitaker a respectable second, just stoked on the killer conditions, Sunset local Hickman third and Smith fourth for his all out effort. Smith did get a perfect 10 for a sick barrel in the round of 32 and in a heat with former world champ Sunny Garcia, who’s trying to requalify this year. Garcia snapped his board in half, Smith had a good size lead, so he gave Sunny his board and swam in, how’s that for good karma! Equal fifth C.T.er Joel Parkinson a former winner of the event and hot up and comer Dusty Payne, who leading the Triple Crown standings.

Equal seventh was last year’s world champ Mick Fanning and hot Hawaiian Ian Walsh. And equal ninth Triple Crown Rookie of the year Aussie Yadin Nicol. Next up, the waiting period for the Billabong Pipeline Masters started Monday and finishes Dec. 20. This is the last w.c.t. contest of the season. The world championship tour surfers are trying to solidify a top 27 position as the rest of the top 45 will get cut. The top 15 surfers from the w.q.s will move up to the c.t plus three wild cards for 2009. Making it from the w.q.s. were: Nathaniel Curran, U.S.; Chris Davidson, Australia; Michel Bourez, Tahiti; Gabe Kling, U.S.; Jihad Khodr, Brazil; Josh Kerr, Australia; Nic Muscroft, Australia; David Weare, South Africa; Kekoa Bacalso, Hawaii; Tim Boal, France; Greg Emslie, South Africa; Dustin Barca, Hawaii; Tiago Pires, Portugal; Phil MacDonald, Australia; and Drew Courtney, Australia.

The women’s Billabong Pro Maui started Monday and ends Dec. 20 at Honolua Bay for the best days of the waiting period. That’s it for now. 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.