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18/01/2006:// Stocky Hawaiian powerhouse Kekoa Bacalso left it late to secure the biggest victory in his career and win the Billabong World Junior title in Australia.
After getting off to a slow start in the three foot wind-blown conditions, Bacalso finished the final strongly at North Narrabeen, in Sydney to defeat fellow Polynesian Tahitian Michael Bourez.
Locking into a walling left-breaking wave on his backhand with seven minutes to go, Bacalso, executed lightning fast bottom turns and razor sharp top turns to score a 7.33 out of 10.
From there Bourez was "comboed" or put in a position where two good scoring rides are needed to win. Bacalso's tactics of sitting wide of the break and being patient paid off.
"I'm just so stoked," said Bacalso after his victory. "All that work was worth it. I followed the same tactics as my previous heats and sat in the same spots and was patient. Toward the end there, all I needed was one more and I grabbed a nice left. I spent a lot of time concentrating on the conditions and stayed off the party program to focus on my surfing in the event and it paid off."
It was a tiring affair for the finalists as they both had to compete three times in one day before making the final. And with the conditions tricky, with a current running through the middle of the break, it was almost like a biathlon-type endurance event.
"I was really stressed in my semi so when I made the final I was much more relaxed," said Bacalso. "But I was so tired out there and I was trying to run down the beach to the rip to paddle back out and my legs were cramping."
With the win he now follows in the footsteps of another great Hawaiian in three-time Foster's ASP Men's World Tour champion Andy Irons, who claimed this event at the beginning of his pro career back in 1998.
Fellow finalist Bourez turned many heads with his fast and flashy style and many believe he has a huge future in the top ranks.
The Tahitian was also struggling with fatigue after the tiresome day but was very happy with his result.
"I was too tired in the final. I could barely even paddle," said Bourez. "My tactics were wrong and I should have just waited to get the good ones rather than go flat out. Still I'm very excited to get a second against so many great surfers. It's great for Tahiti and it's great for my seeding on the World Qualifying Series next year and I will be able to do much better."
Finishing in equal third place were Hawaiian Hank Gaskell and Brazilian Jean da Silva who both showed plenty of form throughout the event.
Cornwall's Russell Winter has had a superb start at the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal notching up one of the top four heat scores of the competition so far
Cornwall's Ruebyn Ash put in a superb performance to reach his second European Pro Junior final of the season
Skins "King of the Groms" Contest and Spencer Hargraves raise £800
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