Hawaiian Surfer Wins First Big Wave Surf Competition of the Season in Mexico The Maui News
go to original August 2, 2017

Kai Lenny of Hawaii claimed victory on July 31 at the 2017 Puerto Escondido Challenge after besting a competitive field of 24 of the world's best big wave surfers. (Reuters/News From World)

Kai Lenny of Hawaii escaped out of massive barrel near the end of the finals heat to win the Puerto Escondido Challenge on Monday in Oaxaca, Mexico.

In surf of 20 to 25 feet, Lenny bested the field of 24 in the first event of the World Surf League Big Wave Tour.

In the hour-long final, Lenny was in second until his excellent late ride that gave him a heat-high 8.60 and a 23.53 total for the win. Australia’s Jamie Mitchell (18.64) was second, followed by Britain’s Tom Lowe (12.23), Maui’s Billy Kemper (8.50), Puerto Rico’s Alex Botelho (4.34) and Oahu’s Trevor Carlson (2.46).

“My goal today was to not hold back and — when a good one came — go no matter what,” Lenny said. “It was a pleasure competing with these guys. Any one of them could have won if they got the waves and I was just grateful to get that last one in the end.”

See the original at The Maui News

We invite you to add your charity or supporting organizations' news stories and coming events to PVAngels so we can share them with the world. Do it now!