Wade Goodall : photo Jake White

Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational

Siargaro Islands, Philippines
24 - 30 September 2007

Wade Goodall Finds His Surfing Nirvana on Cloud Nine

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 27 September, 2007 : - - Sunshine Coast surfing star Wade Goodall (Caloundra) has defeated 48 of the world’s best tube riding specialists to win the coveted Billabong Cloud Nine Invitational in the Philippines. The 2006 ASP Australasian Junior Champion defeated close friend and breakthrough performer Nick Vasicek (Coolangatta) in a man on man final in absolutely perfect 1.5-2m tubing waves at the remote right hand reef break located on the island of Siargao.

The third day of competition culminated in another epic day of truly specialist barrel riding. It was a tough road to the final for Goodall who had to overcome dangerous Hawaiian Mikala Jones in the Quarter Final before narrowly defeating fellow Sunshine Coaster Dave Reardon-Smith in the Semi.

The tournament decider against Billabong stable mate Vasicek was a one sided affair in the end.  Scoring a near perfect 9.10 on his opening ride before following up moments later with yet another long draining tube ride which was rewarded with an 8.30, the newly turned 21-year-old led from go to whoa in the 30-minute final.

“It was an amazing day, what more could I ask for,” said Goodall.  “I turned 21 on the barge on the way over and the last three day’s have just been full of perfect barrel rides. “None of my heats were easy the whole way through the draw.  I guess I was just so happy to be getting tubed that I found a way through every heat.”

Wade Goodall : photo Jake White

Goodall’s birthday treat earned him the accolade of 2007 Billabong Cloud Nine Invitational champion and a  $USD 7,500 pay day.  Event beer sponsor San Miguel even donated 20 cases of beer to ensure he celebrated his birthday milestone in true form.

“The Philippino people are the most genuinely nice people and they love surfing,” said Goodall.  “What Billabong and the government have done here is really great, it is one of the best contest I have ever been involved in.”

For 18-year-old Vasicek, the second placed finish was a major breakthrough for his career and his best result in competition to date.  The only “Goofy” footed surfer to make it past round three, the stocky “Occy” impostor threaded backside tubes at Cloud Nine like a seasoned professional despite never surfing the shallow right-hander before.

Having honed his tube riding skills on the long points of the Gold Coast, Vasicek had an equally tough run to the final, defeating white hot favourite Luke Dorrington (Coolangatta) in the Quarters before taking down equal event standout Makua Rotham (Haw) in the Semi. Despite starting the final strongly with an 8.60, Vasicek could not find the 8.81 score he required to pip Goodall for the eventual winners tag and trophy.

“These are the best waves I have ever had in a contest and just to come here was a treat, I’m just over the moon really,” said Vasicek.  “This is a career best result for me and to share that line-up with my good mate Wade was awesome.  Second place is a really good finish, so congratulations to Wade.”

The Hawaiian’s proved a dominant force throughout the Cloud Nine barrel fest with both Rothman and Jones laying everything on the line in their respective losses to the eventual finalists.  The tube riding skills of the seasoned reef break specialists were second to none, evident in Rothman’s narrow loss to Vasicek in the first semi final.

Trailing behind the Australian in a combination situation for much of the 25-minute semi, Rothman fought back with minutes remaining to post a 7.87 followed by an incredible backdoor tube ride which was rewarded with an 8.77.  Falling short of the required 9.21 score, Rothman went dangerously close to toppling Vasicek and booking a spot in the final.

The new guard of local Philippine surfers proved they will be a formidable force in future Cloud Nine events, with a strong series of performers right into round three.  The highest placed local charger was Edito “Peso” Alcala who bowed out on the final day of competition in round four. 

Dave Reardo Smith : photo Jake White

Despite racking up a number of impressive tube rides and a memorable round three heat win over highly touted opponents, the local went down at the hands of Reardon-Smith and the Hawaiian Jones. In a major coup for the sport and the event, the final day of competition was witnessed by the daughter of the president of the Philippines, Lulu Macapagal-Arroyo.

The Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational is proudly supported by the Provincial Government of Surigao Del Norte with Support from Smart Communications, San Miguel, The Department of Tourism Philippines, Asian Spirit and Coca Cola.

Results 

Quarter Finals 
1. Makua Rothman (Haw) 13.37 def Dustin Cuizon (Haw) 13.13
2. Nick Vasicek (Aus) 16.23 def Luke Dorrington (Aus) 13.77
3. Wade Goodall (Aus) 16.77 def Mikala Jones (Haw) 16.67
4. Dave Reardon-Smith (Aus) 15.26 def Clint Kimmins (Aus) 14.43

Semi Finals 
1.  Nick Vasicek (Aus) 17.97 def Makua Rothman (Aus) 16.64
2.  Wade Goodall (Aus) 17.24 def Dave Reardon-Smith (Aus) 16.47

Final 
1. Wade Goodall (Aus) 17.40 def Nick Vasicek (Aus) 14.93

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational set for start in Philippines
# 2 : Australian riders dominate Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational
# 3 : Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational: Top tube guns shoot it out  

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Jake White

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