Reigning 10-Time ASP World Champion Quiksilver surfer Kelly Slater 39, has won the 2011 ASP PRIME US Open of Surfing for the first time since 1996, defeating Yadin Nicol (AUS), 26, in a dominant final in two-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at the iconic Huntington Beach Pier. Slater quickly asserted his dominance in the Final against Nicol 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 to put the Australian in an early combination-situation and controlled the heat throughout the entirety of the bout.
“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 too 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.”
Slater went on an absolute rampage on the final day of competition and fought his way back into a tough battle to overtake progressive Hawaiian Dusty Payne (Lahaina, HI), 22, by launching a hail-mary, no-grab backside 360 air. The massive punt garnered the highest single-wave score of the competition, 9.77 out of 10, as well as the highest heat-total of 17.94 out of 20.
On the back of an incredibly strong 2011 ASP Women’s World Tour run, Sally Fitzgibbons claims her third win of the season with an amazing performance at the final stop of the tour, the US Open.
With a high score of 14.23, Sally takes the win over Lakey Peterson who also had a strong showing leading up to the finals. Sally ended the 2011 season in the number two spot. It was a well-deserved win for the young Aussie who was the youngest and fastest surfer, male or female, to ever qualify for the ASP World Tour.
“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.”
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