Taylor Jensen has been crowned the 2012 ASP World Longboard champion after claiming the Shenzhou Peninsula Pro at Wanning Island in China.
The US nose rider defeated Ned Snow, from Hawaii, in crisp and clean 2-3 foot (1-1.5 meter) surf at Riyuewan, Hainan Island. Jensen was still recovering from illness, but he sealed the dream.
"I didn't know how bad my sickness was going to be," Jensen said.
"But it knocked me flat for 48 hours. It was touch and go as to wether I was up to surfing, my first heat was sketchy. It all came together, I got better everyday as the contest went on".
"You hear guys like Kelly Slater talk about building momentum through contests and how the guy with the highest heat total usually loses in the next round."
"So I knew that getting through heats wasn't a bad thing. I felt like I hadn't surfed my best yet and that there was still something left in the tank."
Taylor Jensen reconquered the ASP World Longboard title that he had won last year in Italy.
"It doesn't seem real yet," Jensen said.
"My win in Italy just set in last week. It was always a goal to get more than one ASP World Longboard Title to solidify the first one, but to go back-to-back and now have two is amazing."
"I'm speechless. I haven't even realized it happened yet."
Citi Pacific ShenZhou Peninsula Pro | Final
Taylor Jensen (USA) 17.65 def. Ned Snow (HAW) 9.75