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MUNDAKA,
Basque Country, Northern Spain (Friday, October 13, 2006) – After an incredibly
strong performance in one metre (three foot) waves at the famed break of Mundaka,
Bobby Martinez (USA) has won the Billabong Pro ahead of newly crowned eight-time
world champion Kelly Slater (USA). 
Despite
conditions not being brilliant, the entertainment and drama during the day was
at a paramount as alongside Martinez’s stellar win, the contenders for the
Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour title were eliminated one by one in order
for Slater to claim the crown. 
Martinez
however was in no way intimidated by Slater’s dominance of this year’s
tour and powered home with a feverish small-wave attack to claim his second tour
event of the year. 
Getting
down to work from the outset of the final, Martinez set about racking up his wave
count. His best wave came when he pumped out no less than
12 to 15 forehand snaps over a 100 metre distance which earned him a score of
8.83 out of 10 – his total score was 16.40 out of 20 to Slater’s 14.27.
“I don’t know what to say, it’s been an amazing
year for me,” said a beaming Martinez. “This year I came in just happy
to be here after struggling on the World Qualifying Series for so long. I just
wanted to give it my all at every contest and just try and requalify and to win
two events… it’s just crazy for me. I never got ahead of myself thinking
I’m going to win this event. I just can’t believe it!” 
Adding
to the prize was the fact that he had beaten Slater, who has been a hero for Martinez
since he was a youngster. “It’s great, he’s
my favourite, he’s my hero and I’ve looked up to him from the moment
I saw him surf,” said Martinez. “To be out there in the water right
after he won his 8th world title was cool. We were talking and having a good time.
He’s the best surfer to ever step foot into the sport and it was a laugh.
We were just having fun with it. We were talking and goofing around. It was cool.
It didn’t feel real.” 
Martinez
defeated a stellar field on his run to the podium, defeating Dean Morrison (AUS)
in the semifinal, and Andy Irons (HAW) in the quarters. “I
got lucky this event,” said the unassuming Californian. “I’m just
thrilled to be on this tour. I’m so glad to be here traveling and doing what
I’m doing. It’s what I’ve dreamed of and it’s amazing for
me. 
Martinez
has now put himself in the box seat to take out the 2006 Foster’s ASP Men’s
World Tour rookie of the year. “I don’t know, I’m
not thinking about that!” said Martinez. “I’m just living the moment
right now. It’s just crazy and I’m trying to enjoy right here right
now, cause it doesn’t happen for me much. So I’m just enjoying it all.” 
And
could the rookie go on to win a world title of his own? “Nah
I’m not going to say that at all, next year I just hope I qualify!”
said Martinez. “There’s no telling what could happen next year. I hope
I can just qualify and be here again. This is everything I’ve dreamed of.” 
For
Slater his second place was obviously well overshadowed by his semi final result
where he claimed a win over Joel Parkinson (AUS) and in turn created history by
claiming an unprecedented eighth world crown. In the semi,
Slater pulled out all the stops on the smallish waves and perhaps went into the
final too relaxed, as during the 35-minute final decider he was no match for Martinez’s
energy. He was full of praise for his finals rival Martinez
with whom he has been a friend for many moons. “I was
stoked that Bobby started out so strong this year. He got to third and he was
right up there in the ratings, then he had a little rough patch there at the last
few events,” said Slater. “I was just so happy to see him win at Teahupoo,
it was his dad’s birthday that day. To win here again, it just all fits,
I got the title by making the final and Bobby (Martinez) wins it. I’m stoked
for him.” Finishing in equal third, Parkinson, the form
surfer of the European tour leg to date, was obviously dismayed at the result
given that in the loss to Slater he had surrendered his outside chance for claiming
his first ever world title. “It was hard… Three
events ago I wasn’t even in contention and then I was in that position,”
said Parkinson. “So I thought I should be able to hold my head high, whether
I win or lose. “I had the mindset of winning so I was
really angry when I lost. A lot of people said to me after it, ‘hold your
head high’, but for 10 minutes there I was just shattered. I thought the
rest of the 45 are going to be say ‘why didn’t you give it to him’
and blame me for letting him win, but it isn’t all me, there are a lot of
people who could have beat him during the year. But congratulations to him.”
Also finishing in equal third was Parkinson’s good friend Dean Morrison (AUS)
who earlier in the day defeated Burrow in the quarterfinals thus ending his title
aspirations. “Bobby’s grabbed a 9.40 early and that
made it really hard for me to get in front,” said Morrison about his matchup.
“There’s not too many opportunities out there and you really have to
fight for them. We were scuttling around at the start of the heat and he got lucky
and got that one. That was the deciding factor in the heat. That’s the way
it is with the conditions like that. There’s five or 10 minutes in the heat
that change the outcome.” Morrison has now booked a spot
in the top 10 and with two events remaining he indicated he is eager to move further
up the charts. “It’s been a great year learning
wise and I’m getting the ball rolling,” said Morrison. “We’ve
got 10 days off and we go to Brazil and then on to Hawaii. I’m really looking
forward to a big finish this year.” | 
