EIGHT days of surfing on Siargao Island off Cloud and it all comes down to Indonesian Bronson Meydi and Australian Ziggy Aloha Mackenzie lifting the biggest prizes and the precious ranking points in the World Surf League (WSL) QS6000 in General Luna town.
“I can’t believe it … wow! That was a crazy final,” said Meydi, only 20 and last year’s WSL world junior champion. “The waves went slow and just in my favor, so it was lucky. So lucky that the big one came and stoked to get an 8.8 on that one.”
Meydi scored a remarkable 15.33 total score after four waves in the final round on Thursday to grab the top of the podium over Australia’s Ben Loretson, who ranked second with 14.70 after seven waves.
Mackenzie rides momentum
Mackenzie, on the other hand, made 12.73 points to bring down fellow Aussie Isla Huppatz’s 11.60 points after 11 waves for a total of 19 waves in the women’s competition of the event supported by the Philippines Sports Commission (PSC).
Only 16, MacKenzie averaged 11.09 in heat scores and 3.43 in wave scores through the round of 48 where she was never intimidated by the competition despite her age.
“I came into this event trying to look at it in a fun way and just enjoy surfing Cloud 9 with no one else out and I'm so shocked and happy and stoked right now,” Mackenzie said.
“Isla [Huppatz] is one of my best mates and she absolutely ripped so I knew I had to bring my best surfing,” she said. “It was a bit shaky there at the start, but I am glad I ended up getting that little barrel, and yeah, going into the lead.”
Another Aussie and one of the pre-tournament favorites, Dane Henry, had a remarkable run with 17.7 points in the Round of 16 where he led, but Meydi couldn’t be denied in their quarterfinals with 16.17 points against Henry’s 15.03 in 18 waves to reach the semifinals.
Meydi beat another Aussie, Harley Walters, with a 16.57 score over 13.40 in total of 17 waves for the final ticket while Loretson defeated fellow Australian Tom Whitpaine with 16.50 score over 12.13 to meet Meydi in the championship round.
The pro surfer from Lakey Peak in Sumbawa in Indonesia was outstanding from the round of 64 averaging 14.16 in heat score, 3.97 in wave score to garner 6,000 points after winning the event also backed by General Luna Mayor Johnson Sajulga and Vice Mayor Romina Rusillon-Sajulga and Surigao Del Norte Governor Robert Lyndon Barbers.
“Every time I win, it is in the Philippines. It is great, I love this place,” said Meydi to close out the WSL’s Siargao leg of the series which has Presidential son William Vincent Araneta Marcos as head of the local organizing committee that includes PSC chairman Patrick “Patò” Gregorio, Isabela 5th District and House Committee on Youth and Sports chairman Rep. Mike Dy, and Aurora Lone District Rep. Rommel Angara.
WSL Asia Pacific (APAC) president Andrew Stark and Tour Director Ty Sorati, as well as John Carby, Sports Technical Director of SDMI Sports, the official Philippine license holder and event operator, were on hand to guarantee the success of the event.
After Siargao, the WSL goes to Sabang Beach in Baler from November 17 to 23 and La Union from January 11 to 16 and 20 to 26.
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