WET ‘N’ WILD WITH ROCKIN’ FIG:

What a great start for summer, maybe the best in years, with a heat wave that sent air temperatures at our Surf City beaches into the ’80s.

Southwest swells had been sending over head surf for more than two weeks straight. Sure beats last summer when it was microd. Some days waves were breaking 8-foot plus and barreling.

The local boys were taking advantage of it, with pro long boarder Josh Mohr pulling into some macking barrels, a.s.p. star Timmy Reyes throwing some big tail out airs, J.D. getting the big sets, and “Misko” Danny Misken getting that air shot in last week’s column.

More high fives, former world long board champ Joey Hawkins mixing it up, Duane Toole just overall ripping, shaper Richard Payne getting totally shacked, with the big boy “Junga” Ralph Rodriguez throwing some power cutties and even the Figster slashing away too.

Sorry, too many more rippas to name.

Down south, Trestles was all time, eight-time world champ Kelly Slater made an phenomenal appearance busting some huge tail sliding slashes and airs; the style master, three-time world champ Tom Curren was carving some mean turns on some sets, as well as local boy “Wardo” Chris Ward going airborne, a.s.p. rookie Jordy Smith was throwing a couple 360 reverses, and former c.t. vet Cory Lopez was going off too.

Coming up this weekend at the Huntington Beach Pier is the Nike 6.0 Pier Pressure surf contest presented by Jack’s Surf Shop. That’s Sunday and Monday right after the amateur National Championships at Lowers this week, so all the young, hot junior prospects are in town. And this is a special year for Jack’s Surf Shop, celebrating its 50th year in business and making a major statement to the surfing community putting money back in the surf scene, with surf contests, team riders and the Surfing Walk of Fame.

This juniors’ surf event will feature East Coast standouts Travis Beckman, the current points leader, last year’s over all North America winner Adam Wickwire, junior champ Eric Geiselman from New Smyrna Beach, and Ventura’s ripping Cory Arrambide. Newport’s Andrew Doheny, Santa Cruz’s Nat Young and San Clemente’s Riley Metcalf are all seeded in the latter rounds.

And the shredders, Hawaiians Granger Larsen, Kai Barger, Dusty Payne and Keanu Asing, also look to put on strong performances on the south side of the pier. A $20,000 purse, $3,500 for first and 1,500 valuable ratings points are on the line. Don’t forget NSSA Nationals at Lower Trestles going till Saturday’s finals.

See ya there. I’ll be announcing all week. 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.