Billabong Surfing Cloud 9 Invitational in the Philippines

PHILIPPINES surfer Edito ‘Peso’ Alcala is the new king of Cloud 9 after defeating the world’s best tube riders to win the prestigious Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational at the remote island of Siargao in the Philippines. Cloud 9, an ultra perfect right hand reef break, lived up to expectation, serving out epic 2-2.5 metre barrelling waves for the final day of competition surfing. Local ace Alcala, who learned to surf at the revered break, rode barrel after perfect barrel to beat defending title holder Wade Goodall (Caloundra, Qld, Aus) in a tight 35-minute man-on-man final. But 20-year-old Alcala didn’t have it all his own way in the final, having to fight back from a slow start to take home a last-minute victory over Goodall in front of a vocal Philippines crowd. Sitting in second with two minutes to go and with priority, Alcala jagged a set wave before weaving through the belly of a Cloud 9 cavern to jag a heat-winning 9.43 ride. Alcala finishing on a final two wave combined total of 18.16-points to Goodall’s 17.77. Sunshine Coast star Goodall, who heads home with $4,500 (USD) for his runner-up placing today, couldn’t replicate the barrel riding performance that saw him take out last year’s event.