Egan Defeats Campbell In Final

Perfect 4-6 ft (1.3-2m) waves were again on offer, though inconsistency of sets played a factor at times. A strong beach crowd arrived early this morning in anticipation for the final match-ups and what proved another amazing day of surfing at Lower Trestles.

Egan, who had previously won WCT’s in the remote locations of G-Land, Indonesia (1997) and then Tavarua Island, Fiji (2000), today stepped onto the podium at Southern California’s premier venue in front of hundreds of cheering fans. The 32-year old surfed a selective 45-minute final, only riding five waves, but enough to secure the highest three-wave total of the entire tournament for 25.15 points. Having lost the previous two man-on-man heats against Campbell, including a 1997 WCT final in Portugal, Egan put his powerful backhand attack into overdrive, opening with an 8.75, locking in another 8.9, and sealing it with a 7.5 ride. After finishing second to Andy Irons (Haw) in Tahiti this year, today’s win was extra sweet since it pushed him well within striking distance of the Hawaiians’ current ratings lead.

« I can’t believe it, I’m just so stoked, » said Egan, after being carried from the waters’ edge by Australian peers Jake Paterson and Joel Parkinson. « I was really tired yesterday afternoon and worried I wouldn’t have any energy left today. I managed to re-group and this morning I felt really good and it all came together. I was getting flash backs to Tahiti with Andy where in the last two minutes he got me, especially since the ocean went flat for so long. I was thinking, ’no, it can’t happen to me again, please.’ »I’ve been wanting to surf contests here for about 15 years and to finally have surf for it and win, I guess it paid off,« he continued. »It’s going to sink in over a couple of beers tonight. I’m just so stoked to have so many friends from Australia who work at Billabong here, and my shaper JS came over as well. I’m so stoked.« Campbell, who fell numerous times at the start of the bout, eventually found form and put the pressure on his opponent toward the end. Securing two eight plus scores, he ultimately required another worth 8.41 points. Nonetheless, the goofy footer made a huge jump from 34th on the ratings into 22nd position and gained plenty of confidence heading into the upcoming European leg of tour. »It was pretty slow out there,« said Campbell. »I kind of frothed out a little at the start and was really keen to get it going. Didn’t wait for the good ones and Luke got one early. Halfway through the heat it went flat for about 15-minutes and then he got another good wave, so I was playing catch up. Well done to him though, he’s surfed really well and has always been one of my favorites to watch. I’ve been through a lot this last year and to make the final now is a really good boost for me."

Finishing equal third today in the Boost Mobile Pro presented by Billabong were six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) and Guilherme Herdy (Brz). Both received US$10,000 and a big boost to their current ratings positions, following poor results earlier in the year.

Slater, 30, chose the wrong strategy against Egan in the first semifinal. Instead of securing quick rides and building on his scores, the Floridian opted to wait for the bigger set waves which where too few and far between. He landed one huge double rail grab aerial maneuver, which won today’s Oakley Over-The-Top Bonus, but at conclusion was still requiring a combination of scores worth 11.76 points.

« I watched for almost an hour before my heat and there was plenty of sets coming in, » explained Slater. « I figured the ocean was going to come alive at some point and I didn’t want to be the one sitting without priority when it happened. Luke played the game I like to play usually, where you get a start and don’t have priority, or the pressure of having to wait for the good ones. Sometimes priority works against you and it did there for me. »It was great to come to the States and have the best south swell we’ve had in California for a long time,« he added. »It’s good to get a roll going with a third, and hopefully a couple more results will follow in the next few events.« Herdy, who adopted similar tactics as Slater and waited with priority against Campbell, ultimately suffered the same fate. The Brazilin failed to find a decent scoring third wave, yet was still pleased with his best result this season. »It was hard since we didn’t have a lot of sets,« said Herdy. »I got a good score in the beginning and then waited for another and tried to surf my hardest.

« Third place is OK for me, » he continued. « I have good points now and will work even harder for next contest to try and make it further. »

The Billabong–Boost Mobile Airshow, the fifth leg of the Vans SMAS series, then took place after the second semifinal. Australian Josh Kerr took out the six-man decider, landing two aerial 360’s and pocketed US$4,000.

« Four grand US is like eight Aussie, » laughed Kerr afterward. « I found a couple of little ramps and stuck a couple of aerial reverses. I tried a few different things as well, but just didn’t make them. I’m stoked. »

Boost Mobile then hosted an Expression Session with a handful of the world’s best, including Australians Taj Burrow, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning and Nathan Webster, Hawaiians Sunny Garcia and brothers Bruce and Andy Irons, and as well as the US’s Shea and Cory Lopez, Shane Beschen and Kelly Slater. The 35-minute extravaganza showcased spectacular surfing, with a cool US$5,000 being award to Mr. Slater for one of the most explosive displays of futuristic surfing ever witnessed. The Floridian executed a huge double rail grab aerial, made a carving 360 through the lip, and then pulled off another two aerial maneuvers – all on the one wave.

« I was just trying to get in the air and grab my rails, » said Slater. « I don’t think I’ve ever done three airs on one wave before (laughs). »

Prior to the event’s climax, a commemorative ceremony was held in honor and respect for those lives lost on September 11, 2001. All surfers from the expression session formed a circle of joined arms in the lineup, and contest director Mike Parsons and Brazilian Flavio Padaratz paddled out with rocks and rubble from the World Trade Center. As these were thrown into the circle, forever becoming part of the Trestles lineup, spectators also threw rocks into the ocean from the shoreline. An emotional minute’s silence then passed, as all present reflected upon the horrific tragedy.

« I know a year ago tomorrow we were all sitting in total disbelief and spent like a week crying about it, » said Slater afterward. « It was a hideous thing to happen and felt like the world turned upside down for us. I think over a hundred countries worth of people died in the buildings, so it really touched the world. It’s nice to be a year down the line and see everybody smiling and enjoying the good surf. A year ago was one of the worst days of our lives and today is one of the best. »

Official results of the Boost Mobile Pro presented by Billabong
 1st Luke Egan (Aus) 25.15 - US$30,000 + Jeep Wrangler SE
 2nd Michael Campbell (Aus) 23.75 – US$16,000 + Ovation MOB Acoustic Electric Guitar

Semifinals (defeated finish =3rd ; receive US$10,000)
 SF1 : Luke Egan (Aus) 16.75 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.4
 SF2 : Michael Campbell (Aus) 16.5 def. Guilherme Herdy (Brz) 14.95

Boost Expression Session winner : Kelly Slater (USA) $5,000

Oakley Over-The-Top Bonus : Kelly Slater (USA) $2,000

Current Top 10 WCT Ratings after Boost Mobile Pro
 1. Andy Irons (Haw) 4,492-points
 2. Luke Egan (Aus) 4,204
 3. Michael Lowe (Aus) 4,000
 4. Danny Wills (Aus) 3,982
 5. Joel Parkinson (Aus) 3,944
 6. Shea Lopez (USA) 3,928
 7. Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 3,772
 8. Cory Lopez (USA) 3,676
 9. Mick Fanning (Aus) 3,620
 10. CJ Hobgood (USA) 3,568