Kelly Slater has conquered the 2011 US Open of Surfing, after defeating Yadin Nicol in front of a completely packed Huntington Beach Surf City USA.
The 10-time world surfing champion completed a high-fashion performance in California with the help of Hurricane Eugene's lucky one-metre wave (3ft) swell.
In the first 15 minutes of the final, Nicol couldn't surf a wave. Meanwhile, Slater had already secure a combined total heat score of 16.27 points, when he launched a frontside air-reverse and solidified the ride on the reform to earn an 8.50 and backed the ride up with a 7.77.
The surfing champion wanted to reconquer the famous Californian title.
Kelly Slater's last victory at the US Open of Surfing was in 1996. The Floridian beat Shane Beschen and tasted the salted trophy of the iconic West Coast beach.
"I guess Yadin (Nicol) wanted me to win because he didn’t catch any waves,” Slater said. "I was just really frustrated for him because he was sitting out the back waiting for the big sets and the big sets were close outs."
"The small ones he was just two far outside and I got them. I think what happened is I got the 8.50 to start and he was just going to be patient. If he got a good one he would have thrown a big rotator, but it just never came."
Nicol fought hard throughout the entirety of the competition, taking out dangerous South African Royden Bryson and prodigious Californian Kolohe Andino, on the Final day of competition, but struggled to find a wave in the Final against Slater.
“Kelly started off strong with the 8.5 and I thought I’d wait for a good wave and I think I waited too long,” Nicol said. “At the start of this week I wouldn’t have thought that I’d be in the Final with Kelly. I love it. Sometimes things work out and you make the Final and I’m stoked, I’m over the moon.”
Sally Fitzgibbons, from New South Wales, in Australia, beat the young wildcard Lakey Peterson, from USA, in the Women’s competition.
“It’s such an unbelievable feeling to get chaired up the beach,” Fitzgibbons said. “There is just a sea of people and it’s one of my biggest achievements. To get three wins this year, it has been a really special year and although I didn’t get the title, I can’t believe I’ve won this event.”
The ASP Prime tour now heads to the Atlantic Ocean, in Portugal, for the Billabong Azores Island Pro, from September 27th to October 2nd 2011.
2011 US Open of Surfing | Final
Men
Kelly Slater (USA) 16.27
Yadin Nicol (AUS) 2.57
Women
Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.23
Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.40