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BONGA PERKINS WINS OXBOW LONGBOARD CHAMPS
After Extended Absence, Perkins Captures Second ASP Crown at San Onofre
By:
Chasen Marshall
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November 9, 2008
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It had been a long and frustrating 12 years for Bonga Perkins.
Since winning his first world championship at Guethary, France in 1996, Perkins had been the bridesmaid or finished in the top spots at the world contests on more occasions than he cared to remember. But with his fellow Hawaiians roaring from San Onofre's rocky shoreline, Perkins made certain that 2008 would provide a different ending. On oil-slick, head-high waves, Perkins outgunned Frenchman Antoine Delpero in the final of the Oxbow World Longboard Champs and earned himself the champagne shower and became the 2008 ASP World Longboard Champion.
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The world's best longboarders descended on one of Southern California's most historically significant surf breaks for the second and deciding stop on the Oxbow World Longboard Tour. With upsets aplenty from the earliest of heats, ample amounts of swell and sunshine from the first horn blow, the event lodged itself among the most memorable in recent memory. Surfers have been flocking to San O since the 1930s, following the discovery by Lorrin 'Whitey' Harrison and friends, who had ventured south in pursuit of new surf destinations. And while it's no longer a secret refuge, with its dirt roads, bamboo enclosed showers and the same slow rolling surf, it still harks of a bygone era -- which gives the spot more character than all of the concrete-covered and tourist-trap beaches within a 50-mile radius. Hosting an event at San Onofre -- a spot synonymous with longboarding -- in November was a risk, with the potential for a five-day window to see little or no swell to speak of. But Mother Nature provided favorable conditions for the first longboard championship event held in California since 1994. "What I think is really neat, and I hope people realize is that we're finally at a spot that is a longboard spot and look what we're seeing," said three-time world champ Colin McPhillips, of the top-tier talent on display. "Anything that you can do on a longboard, you can do on one wave here." "Anything that you can do on a longboard, you can do on one wave here."
--Colin McPhillips
From the first heat of the fourth and final day of competition, it was apparent that status quo wouldn't be the theme of the remainder of the event. As each round passed, the number of contenders dwindled: McPhillips' heat provided little opportunity to prove his prowess at his local break; points leader Harley Ingleby fell victim to Ned Snow, who put together the highest heat total of the event; and Mathew Moir couldn't find an answer to the experience and ability of 49-year-old Alex 'Picuruta' Salazar. With the enthusiasm practically resonating off the sandstone bluffs, eventually, only Perkins and Delpero were left standing -- with a winner-take-all final heat. Motivated by the support from the French contingent on the sand, Delpero put up a noble effort, but simply could not match the power and precision of Perkins' surfing. Upon reaching the shore after his victorious effort, Perkins was greeted first by Rusty Keaulana. A sense of pride and mutual admiration beamed from both of their demeanors. It's been 15 years since Keulana won his first of three consecutive world longboard championships, a streak that was followed by Perkins first title, and fellow Hawaiian Dino Miranda's only championship. Could Perkins second win signal another era of Hawaiian domination? Da boys would like to think so. Tune in next year. RESULTS Final Results:Final: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.95 def. Antoine Delpero (FRA) 13.90 Semifinals Results: Heat 1: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.20 def. Ned Snow (HAW) 14.00; Heat 2: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 17.65 def. Alex Salazar (BRA) 14.25 Quarterfinals Results:Heat 1: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.75 def. Timothee Creignout (FRA) 13.00; Heat 2: Ned Snow (HAW) 16.35 (HAW) def. Eduardo Bage (BRA) 13.00; Heat 3: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 16.85 def. Josh Baxter (USA) 14.25; Heat 4: Alex Salazar (BRA) 15.65 def. Matthew Moir (ZAF) 14.00 Round 4 Results: Heat 1: Timothee Creignout (FRA) 13.00 def. Colin McPhillips (USA) 9.10; Heat 2: Bonga Perkins (HAW) 16.10 def. Jared Neal (AUS) 10.70; Heat 3: Eduardo Bage (BRA) 16.25 def. Jaime Viudes (BRA) 13.50; Heat 4: Ned Snow (HAW) 18.75 def. Harley Ingleby (AUS) 14.55; Heat 5: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 14.35 def. Bryce Young (AUS) 13.50; Heat 6: Josh Baxter (USA) 13.40 def. Romain Maurin (FRA) 11.30; Heat 7: Alex Salazar (BRA) 14.00 def. Joe Aaron (USA) 10.50; Heat 8: Mathew Moir (ZAF) 16.10 def. Taylor Jensen (USA) 15.85 MORE SURF NEWS SURFLINE HOME PAGE |