Billy Kemper gana el Pe’ahi (Jaws) Challenge! / Billy Kemper wins historic WSL Big Wave Tour event at Pe’ahi Challenge

Billy Kemper gana el Pe’ahi (Jaws) Challenge! /  Billy Kemper wins historic WSL Big Wave Tour event at Pe’ahi

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PE’AHI, Maui / Hawaii (Domingo, diciembre 06 del 2015) – El local Hawaiano Billy Kemper (HAW) ha salido victorioso en un día monumental para el mundo del surf junto a los mejores corredores de olas del planeta, con olas sin precendente de 40 a 50 pies de altura en el Pe’ahi (Jaws) Challenge competencia inaugural del Big Wave Tour (BWT) Mundial de la World Surf League (WSL), celebrada en la isla de Maui.

Desde la captura de la primera ola del evento, el nuevo Líder del Ranking BWT nunca miró hacia atrás y logrando excelentes rides a lo largo del día, mejorando sus puntajes con cada ola corrida. El surfer de 25 años de edad, se destacó con un impresionante surfing.

“Esto es un sueño hecho realidad”, dijo Kemper . “Hemos estado hablando de este momento durante años y de tener un evento como este en mi patio trasero de mi casa, significa todo para mí, un evento con olas sobresalientes de primer nivel mundial. Quiero dedicar este triunfo a mi hermano. Remar en Pe’ahi ha sido un sueño para mí desde hace mucho tiempo y estar allí con algunos de mis surfistas favoritos y mi mejor amigo – me deja sin palabras “.

Billy Kemper (HAW) in the Final at Pe’ahi. – ®WSL / Kelly Cestari

PE’AHI, Maui/Hawaii (Sunday, December 6, 2015) – Local Hawaiian Billy Kemper (HAW) has emerged victorious on a monumental day for the surfing world with the planet’s best big wave riders taking on unprecedented wave heights at Pe’ahi for the maiden World Surf League (WSL) Big Wave Tour (BWT) competition held on the island of Maui.

Hailing from the nearby Maui town of Ho’okipa, near the amphitheater-esque cliffs of the infamous big wave venue at ‘Jaws,’ Kemper has beat out an international field of big wave gladiators to claim the crown as Pe’ahi Challenge champion on a day that saw 40’-to-50’ foot waves contested with no shortage of action, carnage and high drama.

Catching the first wave of the event, the new BWT Rankings Leader never looked back and earned great rides throughout the day, bettering his single-wave scores with each, successive round. The 25-year-old put up a highlight reel of impressive surfing – earning an 8.00 (out of a possible 10) in the Final, which, with the BWT format, equivalates to a 16.00 (out of a possible 20) as a surfer’s top score is scored twice. Backing it up with a 6.77, the Maui native came away with a historic win.

“This is a dream come true,” Kemper said. “We’ve been talking about this moment for years and to have a paddle event in my backyard at, to me, one of the most premier, outstanding waves in the world, means everything to me. I just want to dedicate to this my brother. To paddle Pe’ahi has been a dream of mine for a very long time and to be out there with some of my favorite surfers and best friend – I’m just speechless.”

PE’AHI CHALLENGE FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Billy Kemper (HAW) 22.77

2 – Albee Layer (HAW) 19.33

3 – Greg Long (USA) 16.26

4 – Ian Walsh (HAW) 1.00

5 – Gabriel Villaran (PER) 0.80

6 – Shane Dorian (HAW) 0.00

PE’AHI CHALLENGE SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Greg Long (USA) 21.53, Billy Kemper (HAW) 16.66, Gabriel Villaran (PER) 12.03, Trevor Carlson (HAW) 11.04, Shaun Walsh (HAW) 8.66, Carlos Burle (BRA) 3.34

SF 2: Albee Layer (HAW) 23.60, Ian Walsh (HAW) 19.79, Shane Dorian (HAW) 17.67, Mark Healey (HAW) 14.09, Nic Lamb (USA) 10.07, Kai Lenny (HAW) 9.56

PE’AHI CHALLENGE ROUND 1 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Billy Kemper (HAW) 21.07, Gabriel Villaran (PER) 18.17, Carlos Burle (BRA) 17.27, Nic Vaughan (USA) 16.70, David Wassel (HAW) 8.33, Nathan Fletcher (USA) 6.00

Heat 2: Greg Long (USA) 24.50, Shaun Walsh (HAW) 23.83, Trevor Carlson (HAW) 14.74, Aaron Gold (HAW) 6.00, Makuakai

Heat 3: Albee Layer (HAW) 11.93, Nic Lamb (USA) 10.34, Mark Healey (HAW) 9.63, Yuri Soledade (HAW) 9.27, Tyler Larronde (HAW) 7.61, Grant Baker (ZAF) 5.34

Heat 4: Ian Walsch (HAW) 21.67, Kai Lenny (HAW) 19.21, Shane Dorian (HAW) 18.17, Natxo Gonzalez (EUK) 4.01, Koa Rothman (HAW) 1.20, Anthony Tashnick (USA) 0.20

2015 WSL BIG WAVE TOUR TOP 5 (after two events):

1. Billy Kemper (HAW) 15,625

2. Makuakai Rothman (HAW) 13,156

3. Albee Layer (HAW) 13,020

4. Greg Long (USA) 10,850

5. Nic Lamb (USA) 10,565

Text & Images ®WSL