WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

A big victory was seen at the California Coastal Commission meeting Feb. 6 at Del Mar.

About 3,000 supporters of Save Trestles showed their support of shutting down the proposed Transportation Corridor Agency’s 241 Toll Road that would cut through San Onofre State Park.

The toll road would’ve also gone over the San Mateo Creek which lets out at one of the most famous surf breaks on the West Coast, Trestles. The pollution would definitely jeopardize the best southwest point break in California, endangered natural wild life and taken away part of the San-O campgrounds at one of the few places that still seems away from urban civilization. The Coastal Commission ruled 8-2, a decisive rejection against the T.C.A. toll road.

Special thanks goes out to the Surfrider Foundation, Sierra Club, California State Parks Foundation, Endangered Habitats League, S.I.M.A., and Wild Coast. Huntington Beach resident and former world champ Peter Townend was present along with the East Coast’s former world surfing champ C.J. Hobgood and top 10 world standout brother Damien who both won national titles at Lowers in their amateur careers. Also former publisher of Surfing Magazine Bob Mignona was seen there giving his support. The fight is not over yet as the T.C.A. will try to take the case to the U.S. Department of Commerce next to try to reverse the decision. But all in all this was great for the cause and a big step in the right direction.

The Billabong Free Wave Challenge results are in, and it looks like Surf City’s Timmy Reyes was the winner of the best barrel ride on the North Shore from October to December. The footage had to be free surfing and not in a surf contest and was open to any one. Reyes caught a 20-foot bomb set at Off the Wall, Pipeline, Nov. 29, set it up, with a late take-off, a super deep tube, gone from view for 10 seconds then pops out dry. He said he waited three hours for the perfect wave.

Second was Garrett McNamara, who got shacked on a stand-up paddle board at Pipe; third was Sunny Garcia, who got a sick double barrel right; and fourth was South Africa’s Jordy Smith, who also had an insane barrel at Gums and came out throwing a big carve. Best Performance was Jamie O’Brien, who got first and second with a rodeo flip, a back side air, inverted 360, which he pulled, and a huge forward flip half twist air he made as well racking up some big bucks. 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.