Wet ‘N’ Wild with Rockin’ Fig:

The $400,000 Hurley Pro, the sixth stop out of 10 events on the Assn. of Surfing Professionals world surfing tour, kicked off at Lower Trestles Sunday in some 2- to 4-foot-plus surf. The swell picked up out of the west, which gave some contestable conditions, although a southwest swell generally has the better shape.

The top 45 and three wild cards were on hand, and the world’s best surfers were ripping it up. Some early casualties, though, in Round 2 included Huntington Beach slasher Timmy Reyes, San Clemente’s local favorite Chris Ward and Santa Barbara’s Bobby Martinez, who caught a wave right after the buzzer that would have pushed him through. Australia’s Taj Burrow, a finalist last year, and in a super highly rated position coming into this event — fourth — was also eliminated, quite an upset.

Some big matchups happened in Round 3.

Flowing style master Rob Machado pulled off a huge upset by taking out Aussie Joel Parkinson, who was ranked No. 1 in the ASP standings. Nine-time world champion Kelly Slater got on a roll against Huntington’s Brett Simpson, caught a big-scoring wave and took Simpo out.

Slater finished with a 9.0 on his first countable wave, one of the highest scores of the day.

A southwest swell pulse is scheduled at the end of the week to bring in some fun waves to finish off the contest for the last days of the waiting period.

The Surfers’ Hall of Fame will be inducting the legendary surfer Chris Hawk at 10 a.m. Friday in front of Huntington Surf & Sport.

He’ll be joining a select few of our surfing heroes with footprints and handprints in cement, including Slater, Rabbit Bartholomew, David Nuuhiwa Sr., Tom Curren, Lisa Andersen and Corky Carroll.

Don’t forget Rip Curl’s Surfboards in the Sand on Saturday on the north side of the Huntington Beach Pier. A giant group shot of surfers giving donations to help the environment will be taken, with all proceeds going to Orange County Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation. A picture of the event will be put in Transworld Surf magazine.

Former world champ Peter “PT” Townend is spearheading this fun fundraising event.

Sept. 9 was a great showing for the late Johnny Kissel, a longtime Huntington Beach surfer and ripper.

A big ceremony at St. Mary’s by the Sea Catholic Church was followed by a giant paddle-out at the pier and a “celebration of life” party at the Aloha Grill that rocked.

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.