After an incredibly strong performance, in small one metre (three foot) waves at the famed Mundaka break, an elated Bobby Martinez (USA) has won the 2006 Billabong Pro, Mundaka, beating world champion Kelly Slater (USA). Kelly Slater was elated that his second place was enough to earn him an astonishing, eight Foster's ASP Men's World Tour Championship with two events left to run.
Despite uninspiring conditions, the entertainment and drama built to a crescendo during the day, as possible contenders for Kelly's crown were eliminated one by one. First Taj Burrow (AUS) fell to Dean Morrisson (AUS), then in the semis Kelly Slater defeated Joel Parkinson (AUS), to claim the world title.
In the final, Martinez 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. Not bad for his first year on tour; Kelly has tipped Bobby for a place at the top and on the tour he has been given the nickname, the Quiet Assassin, based on the number of top seeded scalps to his name.
Getting down to work right from the beginning of the final, Bobby Martinez set about racking up his wave count. His best wave came when he pumped out 12 to 15 forehand snaps over a 100 metre distance which earned him a score of 8.83 out of 10; Martinez made a total final score, for his best two waves, of 16.40 out of 20 to Slater's 14.27.
The tour will now move around the globe to Imbituba, Brazil, for the Nova Schin Festival presented by Billabong, which kicks off on October 30, 2006, with a waiting period extending until November 8.
