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The
usually reserved Ryan ‘Hippo’ Hipwood (Gold Coast, Australia) was left
speechless today after narrowly taking victory over more fancied rivals at the
Quiksilver Open Cloud Nine held in the Philippines. 
Siagaro Island (Surigao Del Norte, Philippines); a jungle-drenched
jewel with its virgin beaches and warm island waters dished up spectacular waves
for the world-class field of international competitors for the entirety of competition.
With high scoring barrel rides the norm, it was Hipwood
who rode the awe-inspiring waves formed by Typhoon Melenyo to glory. 
Hipwood defeated Australian counterpart Dave-Reardon-Smith
(Sunshine Coast, Australia), tube ace Ryan Augenstein (Santa Cruz, California,
USA) and big-wave hell-man Mark Mathews (Maroubra, Sydney, Australia) in well
overhead 5ft Cloud Nine barrels. 
In doing so, Hipwood not only won the prestigious title but
a healthy USD $4000 winner’s cheque. Backdooring
the somewhat mutant barrels with a virtual ease, Hipwood ducked and weaved his
stocky frame with sheer grace from beginning to end. 
The 22-year-old Mermaid beach surfer was the in-form surfer
of the event posting some of the highest individual wave scores as well as combined
totals in earlier rounds. 
Using professional tactics, Hipwood got off to a good start
in the final, posting a scintillating 8.4 for a cavernous tube ride on his second
scoring ride. 
Keeping his opponents at arms length throughout the final,
Hipwood unwearyingly waited for a bomb set. Hanging in the belly of a Cloud Nine
monster, Hipwood shut-the-gate on his opponents, posting a near-perfect 9.6 in
the dying stages of the one-hour final. 
Hipwood’s combined total of 17.9 (9.6 & 8.3) was
just .2 of a point ahead of Reardon-Smith on a total of 17.7 (9.5 & 8.2).
“I’m so stoked, I can’t believe it,” said
Hipwood. 
“I saw Reardo (Reardon-Smith) catch the first bomb wave
and I thought the heat was over.” “I sat
out the back thinking that was it. But I just kept on waiting and a good wave
ended up coming through,” added a delighted Hipwood. 
For Reardon-Smith, his runner-up placing behind eventual winner
Hipwood backs up his stellar performance in this year’s Queensland Championship
Circuit (QCC). “I’m over the moon,”
said Reardon-Smith. “I knew I had that one wave
and I just had to hang in there.” “I thought
Ryan was way too deep, but he came out. He totally deserves the win.” 
When asked what he thought about the Philippines most famous
wave a confident Hipwood said, “By far the best wave I have ever surfed –
epic actually!” 
Similarly, Reardon-Smith said, “The best waves I have
had in a comp, that’s for sure.” “You just stand and pull in, it’s
unbelievable,” added Reardon-Smith.” Former
Quiksilver Open Cloud Nine champions Augenstein (17.4) and Matthews (15) were
not far behind, clinching the minor placings. The
’06 Quiksilver Open Cloud Nine culminates with a bikini contest and closing
ceremony on Friday 29th September, 2006. | 
