The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Oxbow World Longboard Tour Maldives event crowned two champions on October 29, 2009 – Harley Ingeby (Australia) as the 2009 ASP World Longboard Champion and Kai Sallas (Hawaii) as the inaugural Oxbow Maldives event champion.
Sallas (Oahu, Hawaii) won the event, surfing clean three feet (1 metre) surf at Pasta Point, defeating Australasia’s Harley Ingelby in a high-scoring Final that saw Sallas take the win with a combined two-wave tally of 15.65 to Ingelby on 14.00.
Ingeby’s second placing in today’s final event on the two-event 2009 ASP World Longboard Tour secured him the ASP World Longboard Title.
“I’m so stoked to win this event,” Sallas said. “The waves have been super fun all week and to beat Harley in the final capped off a perfect week for me. “I started well with 7.65 on my first ride and felt confident that I could back that ride up and take the win, Ingelby came at me hard in the final few minutes but my best ride was my final one and it’s great to win and actually beat the current world champion as well!”
The ASP World Longboard Champion is decided across the ratings from two events and Ingelby’s 1st placing in the season’s opening event in Japan along with his 2nd place here in the Maldives earned him his inaugural ASP World Title.
“It’s the best day of my life,” Ingelby said. “I’ve been close to winning in the past and always felt I could win the title but I’ve also seen many great surfers not win world titles and I was wary that the opportunity could slip – It’s a huge weight off my shoulders and right now the feeling is unbelievable.”
With excellent surf throughout the event all surfers enjoyed a great week and it was a fitting finale to the ASP Oxbow Longboard World Tour for 2009.
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