Alejo Muniz is your 2013 Vans US Open of Surfing Champion. Credit: ASP/ROWLAND

Brazil’s Alejo Muniz won the Prime Vans US Open of Surfing over Kolohe Andino in peaky one-to-three foot waves at Huntington Beach Pier yesterday.

Muniz would get the best of an opening exchange with Andino, belting a 8.43 for a series of seamless frontside turns. The Brazilian would quickly backup the ride on his backhand, scalping a 7.80 on a left breaking in to the pier to solidify the victory.

“I’m so happy, I can’t believe it,” Muniz said. “Today marks the four-year anniversary of my grandfather’s passing and I’d like to dedicate this win to him. This is the biggest win of my career and it’s the biggest crowd I’ve ever surfed in front of. I knew I had to get scores and the waves were dying a little bit with the high tide and the ocean really cooperated with me today.”

Muniz, who’s struggled to find a big result throughout the first half of his ASP season, jumps to No. 15 on the rankings as a result of his win at Huntington.

“I’ve been really focused because I hadn’t really had big results coming in to this event,” Muniz said. “I was putting everything in to this event and the work paid off. I focused more on myself rather than who I was surfing against and what scores they were getting. I’ve been getting good scores, but losing heats for some reason. I knew inside that I just needed to get the good waves and surf how I could. I’m stoked that I was able to do it this week. I think I surfed smart all week and it’s been amazing.”

Meanwhile in the women’s event, it was Hawaii’s Carissa Moore who managed to overcome local favourite Courtney Conlogue, taking the lead in the title race.

Credit: ASP/ROWLAND

Moore got off to a dominant start in her final clash, earning an 8.17 and 7.83 to launch out to an early lead. The talented Hawaiian would hold on to the win despite a late-heat rampage from Conlogue, solidifying her third ASP Women’s WCT event win this year.

“To be honest I’m a little shocked right now because I thought Courtney (Conlogue) won when the crowd erupted on that last wave,” Moore said. “I let her go and I had priority and it was a bad decision, but I’m stoked that it worked out in my favor. I was happy to be in the final and Courtney’s in the title race and I had fun, but I was definitely nervous at the end of that heat. It’s such an honor to win this event in front of this big crowd. I feel amazing!”

With only two more events to go on the Women’s Tour (France and then Portugal), the women’s title is now sure to be decided in Europe and Moore will be looking for a definite repeat performance from when she won the race in France in 2011.

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S FINAL RESULT:
1 – Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.23
2 – Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.54

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.76
SF 2: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 14.00 def. Matt Banting (AUS) 11.50

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S QUARTERFINALS MATCH UPS:
QF 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.66 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.27
QF 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.50 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.43
QF 3: Matt Banting (AUS) 10.70 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.30
QF 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.64 def. Nat Young (USA) 5.83

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING WOMEN’S FINAL RESULT:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.00
2 – Courtney Conlogue (USA) 15.27

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING WOMEN’S SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Courtney Conlogue (USA) 16.07 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 11.33
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 14.70 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 10.23

ASP Women’s WCT Top 5 Following the Vans US Open:
1 – Carissa Moore (HAW) 48,200 points
2 – Tyler Wright (AUS) 46,500 points
3 – Courtney Conlogue (USA) 40,100 points
4 – Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 39,400 points
5 – Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 30,450 points