Peter Mel wins 2011 Billabong Pico Alto Copa Burn

Peter Mel © Billabong

Billabong Pico Alto Copa Burn
Presented by Sony

Pico Alto Peru
11 Agosto 2011

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc

Pico Alto heaves for Billabong Pico Alto Copa Burn | Slideshow | espanol abajo

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 August, 2011 : - - Lima -- Peru’s monster break Pico Alto demonstrated why it commands the world stage as one of the five stops on the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT). Top international surfers from South Africa, Australia, United States, Chile, Dominican Republic, Portugal and Brazil converged on Pico Alto with 48 hours notice to compete along side the top Peruvian big wave surfers at the Billabong Pico Alto 2011 Copa Burn.

At the end of the contest Peter Mel (United States) secured the first place prize, and his first BWWT victory, followed by Ben Wilkinson (Australia) in second and Felipe Cesarano (Brazil) in third. Adrenaline soared for the competitors and spectators alike, as the contest started with great waves in the 30-foot range and continued to grow throughout the day. The hour long final was held in perfect, 35 to 45 foot conditions, offering the biggest and cleanest surf of the event.

Adrenaline soared for the competitors and spectators alike, as the contest started with great waves in the 30-foot range and continued to grow throughout the day. The hour long final was held in perfect, 35 to 45 foot conditions, offering the biggest and cleanest surf of the event.

Ben Wilkinson (Australia) took command of the heat early, with two excellent scoring waves. Ben’s aggressive approach and progressive power surfing gave him an edge in the extreme conditions. Legendary standout Peter Mel (United States) also started strong with a solid 9 point ride, and waited until the closing minutes of the final to over take Wilkinson and secure his first big wave victory. Other finalists included Felipe Cesarano (Brazil), Joao De Macedo (Portugal), Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) and Kodiac Semch (Peru).

Joao De Macedo © JJ Hernandez

“My mentor, Richard Schmidt, came to Peru in the early 80’s and he told me about this great big wave. I have dreamed about surfing Pico Alto. Today, I feel really proud to have won my first Big Wave World Tour event here in Peru”, said Peter Mel.

Event sponsors included Burn, Sony, Powerade, Mapfre, Volkswagen Amarok, VonZipper, and Nixon, as well as Surfline.com the BWWT official forecaster.

Results: Billabong Pico Alto 2011 – Copa Burn presented by Sony
1. Peter Mel (USA)
2. Ben Wilkinson (Australia)
3. Felipe Cesarano (Brazil)
4. Joao De Macedo (Portugal)
5. Jamie Sterling (Hawaii)
6. Kodiak Semsch (Peru)

www.bigwaveworldtour.com
www.billabong.com/sa/picoalto11

Peter Mel & Felipe Cesarano © JJ Hernandez

espanol

PETER MEL GANA EL BILLABONG PICO ALTO 2011 PRESENTADO POR SONY COPA BURN

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 11 August, 2011 : - - Este Jueves 11 de Agosto, la ola de Pico Alto demostró su bien merecida participación en el Tour Mundial de Ola Grande: El Billabong Pico Alto 2011, copa Burn presentado por Sony .Durante el campeonato se vivió un ambiente de emoción y adrenalina entre los competidores, las condiciones del mar fueron mejorando a medida que avanzaba el evento con olas que superaban los 6 metros de altura.

Los peruanos Gonzalo Velasco, José Gómez, Sebastián de Romaña, Rafael Velarde, Jaime Venegas y Rafael Otero demostraron gran determinación para enfrentar las olas. Sin embargo, el peruano Kodiak Semsch sorprendió a todos siendo el único local en la final.

Después de esperar 10min en la última serie del campeonato, el mar comenzó a bombear las olas más grandes del día que oscilaban entre los 7 y 8 metros de altura. La serie estuvo bien reñida, principalmente entre Peter Mel (USA) y Ben Wilkinson (AUS), ambos con un surfing imponente y gran experiencia en ola grande. El peruano Kodiak Semsch tuvo la mala suerte de ser revolcado por una gran ola y perder su tabla a la mitad de la serie, viéndose obligado a salir antes de terminar su heat.

Pico Alto © Billabong

Al terminar la serie final los resultados ya estaban definidos, teniendo al estadounidense Peter Mel como el ganador absoluto del Billabong Pico Alto 2011.“Mi mentor Richard Smith vino a Perú en los años 80´s y siempre me habló de esta gran ola. Es por eso que desde que escuché sus historias siempre he querido correr en Pico Alto y hoy me siento afortunado de haber ganado este fecha del tour aquí en Perú” fueron las palabras de Peter Mel.

Agradecemos la colaboración de nuestros auspiciadores: Burn, Sony, Powerade, Mapfre, Volkswagen Amarok, lentes VonZipper y relojes Nixon que hicieron posible llevar a cabo este gran evento.

Results
1. Peter Mel (USA)
2. Ben Wilkinson (Australia)
3. Felipe Cesarano (Brazil)
4. Joao De Macedo (Portugal)
5. Jamie Sterling (Hawaii)
6. Kodiak Semsch (Peru)