WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

Newsflash bulletin from South America: 26-year-old Australian ripper Mick Fanning has won the 2007 world title. Mick “White Lightning” Fanning won heat after heat at the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in 4- to 8-foot-plus surf at Imbituba Beach in Brazil.

New champ Fanning solidly beat fellow Aussie Kai Otton, who made his first final in his rookie season where he has incredibly moved up and cracked the top 10 in the standings. Fanning opened up with an eight-point wave with some big arcs off the top on a killer set wave.

But it was earlier, when Taj Burrow, No. 2, lost in the quarterfinals to Tom Whitaker, that Fanning knew he had iced the title. Eight-time world champ Kelly Slater had bowed out in Round 4 to Otton, so the door was open.

In the semis, White Lightning met up with Aussie friend Joel Parkinson and the two were stoked to be out there, living the dream that came true, and were even more surprised as a dolphin swam around them a few times to add to the moment.

It’s been a few years since an Australian has won the overall title — that was “Occy” Mark Occhilupo back in 1999. This century has pretty much been dominated by America’s Slater, battling it out with Andy Irons. Fanning came on strong in the surfing scene in 2001, winning the WQS title and qualifying for the WCT. On his first year on the WCT, 2002, he was rookie of the year, ending up fifth overall and amazing everyone. In 2003 he moved up to fourth, and in the last two years he was third — a definite contender.

This year Fanning showed true determination and focus at all events and even had a trainer follow him on tour for some great results, and it paid off. I’m sure he would like to finish the season off with a strong showing in Hawaii.

On the women’s tour, South America’s Mancora Peru Classic was in 2- to 4-foot surf which was a little windblown toward the end. Hot Aussie rookie Stephanie Gilmore came on strong in the waning seconds of the final, ripping a wave to shreds for an eight-point ride and stealing the victory from seven-time world champ Layne Beachley. Gilmore took out buddy Jessie Miley Dyer in the quarters and former world champ from Peru, Sofia Mulanovich, in the semis (who had everybody cheering and pulling for her in a tight one).

Gilmore is in first place in the standings, 500 points ahead of Brazil’s Silvana Lima, and almost 1,000 points ahead of Mulanovich. Chelsea Hedges is in fourth and Beachley rounds out the top five placings.

That’s it for now; 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.