07.04.01
by: Jesse Faen
ASP World Tour

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - World #41 Trent Munro today made history by defeating fellow Australian and 1999 ASP world champion Mark Occhilupo to win the final of the Rio Surf International. In only his third event on the World Championship Tour (WCT), he became the fastest rookie to claim victory, collecting US$30,000 and 13th position on the current ratings.

Competition again took place at Arpoador in 2-3 foot (1m) peeling lefthanders, with the semifinals commencing at 9:30am (local time), followed by the decider.

Trent Munro celebrates his victory as Occy (back left) looks on

Munro, 22, began his maiden WCT season with two second round losses this year, placing him equal 37th on the ratings heading into Brazil. By eliminating many of the top rated surfers during earlier rounds, including world #6 Taj Burrow (Aus) and #16 Andy Irons (Haw), and then fellow Aussie rookie Nathan Hedge in the quarterfinals yesterday, he paved the way for glory today.

The final against Occhilupo was never going to be easy, but Munro played it like a seasoned professional, taking his time to wait for the superior waves and unleashing his vicious backhand attack to full effect. By half-way through the 35-minute decider he'd created a strong lead, but when 'Occy' used priority on a small ride with five minutes remaining, the younger opponent capitalized by posting the day's best ride, a 9.0, to leave him needing a combination of rides worth 13.26 points.

"I can't believe it," began Munro, with media fighting to get within hearing distance. "It's unbelievable, I couldn't feel any better. It's the day of my life I think. I love Brazil.

"I knew 'Occ' had that first wave and I was just trying to stay calm and relaxed and wait for the good waves," he continued. "There wasn't many waves, but I was luckily enough to get them all (laughs). When he did lose priority I just paddled as hard as I could to try and go out there and get it, and stick with the game plan and finish it off. It's good to beat everybody, but especially when it comes to the final and you're surfing against somebody like Occy. It's just the best feeling in the world.

"All of us rookies have just had a good event and I think there's a lot more events we're going to be doing good at," he added. "I've had two 33rd's now, so I've gone from one extreme to the other. Hopefully it all gets better from now. I've never been to J-Bay (next WCT in South Africa), so it's going to be great. I've wanted to surf it for years."

Rookie Trent Munro

Occhilupo, 35, who clinched his 1999 world title during the Rio Surf International, was at a disadvantage in the small surf, but never showed it. His speed and power more than compensated for his size, even landing him an aerial on one ride against Munro. Though hoping for his first win in Brazil, the result still shot up him into number two on the ratings and added plenty of confidence to his campaign.

"I am a bit disappointed," admitted Occhilupo afterward. "Mainly because I haven't won here in Brazil before, but on the other hand I was really pleased to make the final having had to battle against small waves the past couple days. So it's been like a bonus going into South Africa. I really want to do well at Jeffreys (Bay). I haven't won there either. But it's just great to make the final here. Trent was surfing so good. His backhand was par to none, so I take my hat off to him.

"I'm so stoked for the kid," he continued. "As soon as he had me in a combination I had to go up and shake his hand (laughs). Trent is a really nice guy and I've seen him surfing for a long time, so I knew he was going to come real good, and he has now.

"It's a real confidence boost for sure," added the 1999 world champ. "I feel really good at the moment. I've got a lot of good rhythm and my board is working really well. I don't even feel superstitious like I used to at all the events with people I might be less confident against. It's a really good feeling I've got going this year. I'm looking forward to the rest of it."

Finishing equal third today in the Rio Surf International was current ratings' leader CJ Hobgood (USA) and WCT rookie Joel Parkinson (Aus).

Hobgood, 22, commanded the first half of his semifinal with Occhilupo, but then wrongly used priority to catch a poor wave, allowing his opponent to surf the better one behind it and move back into contention after scoring an 8.0. From there the tide turned, so to speak, and his lead diminished until he was eventually trailing. The Floridian waited patiently, but it proved in vain.

"I don't think I could have made a bigger mistake," said a frustrated Hobgood afterward. "Always seems like when I have a big, big, big opportunity to do something I kind of blow it. I had priority and was two waves up on him, but then I took off on a wave and it wasn't that good. I should have just held my ground. I took off on a stupid wave and he got the bomb behind it and got the score he needed. Then I held priority again and just sat waiting for what seemed like forever. The wave just didn't come in. I was asking God to send me one, as I knew I could do it. It never came though, so it all boils down to that one mistake I made earlier in the heat. It might not have seemed so significant at the time, but it ended up being the whole heat. I've blown it big time, I think.

"He's still got my number," continued Hobgood, who beat Occhilupo in the semifinals during the WCT in Tahiti last month. "In Tahiti I think we were fair game, but I had a big advantage out here. He's a lot bigger a guy than me, but I wasn't able to take advantage of it. I feel pretty bummed out right now. J-Bay's next and everyone knows how good 'Occ' is at J-Bay. So, I needed to capitalize on that opportunity then, and it didn't happen."

1999 ASP world champion Mark Occhilupo

Parkinson, 20, who actually won the Jeffreys Bay tournament as a wildcard in 1999, had suffered a disappointing start to his rookie WCT season prior to Rio. Sitting in equal 30th position after a 17th and 33rd place finish, today's result signified a huge jump into 16th on the ratings. Although weak from a stomach bug, he contested the highest scoring match of the day with Munro. At one point even managed to claw back from needing a combination of scores to take the lead, thanks largely to a priority mistake by his opponent. Still, Munro had more in reserve and clinched it with another two critical rides within the final two minutes.

"I wanted to get a good start and I thought I did, but then I finished my wave and saw Trent on that next one and get an 8.5," said Parkinson after his loss. "Since I'd been watching it today it didn't seem like there were two wave sets, but I think it's Trent's day, so I can see him going a long way in the final. I'm stoked for him. It's our first year, so it good's to see.

"I knew that was a good thing," he continued, of Trent's paddling mistake. "But I knew Trent still wasn't going to need much and the way he's surfing, it was nothing for him to score a six. I was happy to get back in the lead after being comboed, but then I made the mistake of going that one I thought was going to be a really good one, but it wasn't.

"This has given me a lot more confidence, and I always feel confident at J-Bay, so hopefully I can get a third or better there."

Official Results of the Rio Surf International

Final
1st Trent Munro (Aus) 23.25 - US$30,000
2nd Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 13.75 - US$ 16,000

Semifinals (Losers finish equal third, receive US$10,000)
SF1: Trent Munro (Aus) 23.8 def. Joel Parkinson (Aus) 22.05
SF2: Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 19.0 def. CJ Hobgood (USA) 17.75

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