Episode 4 - Aussies Get a Brazilian Waxing

fran-derham
Swellnet Dispatch

Congratulations Raoni Monteiro!! For the first time in 20 years a Brazilian Surfer has taken out the O'Neill World Cup at Sunset Beach.  

"It means a lot to me because I've been trying to do good in Hawaii for so long," said Monteiro, who is from Rio de Janeiro.

The 28 year old dedicated the win to his wife and daughter and took home a $20,000 cheque after battling it out with Aussies Julian Wilson, Josh Kerr and North Shore Local Granger Larson. It was hard to tell if Monteiro was on the verge of tears or if the shake in his voice was just his accent, but nevertheless it was an proud moment for Brazil, and one for their history books.

The thirty minute final was the fourth time out in the water for all competitors today. The rounds were so tightly packed that Larson and Monteiro were sent straight back out after their Semi to compete in the final. Sunset's crowd had to crane their necks and squint to see the surfers, the afternoon wind leaving Val's Reef useless sent the Men's final surfing from the inside of Backyards across to behind Boneyards.

With 15 Aussies making it through to the top 32 we'd have to do something seriously wrong not to have at least two in the final. After Julian Wilson's third place at Haleiwa and his consistently standout performance in the heats everyone was banking on him. Lined up against three fellow Aussies, Josh Kerr, Ace Buchan and Ben Dunn in Semi 1, the Rookie Of The Year scored consistently leaving no doubt that he would make it through.

We thought it would be Ace and Julian representing and after enduring some indecent puns from the commentators - ‘It's Kerr-azy to think that after this Josh and Ben will be Dunn' - jack in a box Josh Kerr shot up and managed to nail one of the last waves taking 2nd place at the last minute. Epic.

Despite being eliminated in the quarter finals, Parko still leads the Vans Triple Crown series ratings ahead of Wilson and Monterio as we head to the final stop of year at Banzai Pipeline for the Billabong Masters. Standby...

Clare Plueckhahn and Fran Derham are ‘CosWeCan' an editorial team and filmmakers. Check out their website here: www.coswecan.com.au

Comments

luiz-castilho's picture
luiz-castilho's picture
luiz-castilho Monday, 6 Dec 2010 at 5:05am

Well done Raoni! Brazil's growing mate!