Reef rider Bobby Martinez claimed his second victory on the Men’s WCT on Friday, as he defeated Kelly Slater in the final of the Billabong Pro Mundaka. Bobby proved he was a forced to be reckoned with as he took down World Champ Andy Irons in the quarter finals and world ranked #10 Dean Morrison in the semis, only to be faced up against World Champ Kelly Slater in the main event.

It was evident that Bobby had a favour to return to Slater, who beat Martinez in the main event in the first event of the 2006 WCT season. This time Bobby came out of the gates with a charge, nagging a score of 8.83 on his first wave as he laid down numerous signature gouges on a football field length wave. From there Slater could only play catch up but was unable to find the scores he needed to defeat the potential ASP rookie of the year, Martinez.

Martinez’s final point total of 16.40 (out of a possible 20) over Slater’s 14.60, secured the Billabong Mundaka victory for the young rookie. Fresh off his victory, 24-year-old Martinez remarked: “”I don’t know what to say, it’s been an amazing year for me. This year I came in just happy to be here after struggling on the World Qualifying Series for so long. I just wanted to give it my all at every contest and just try and requalify and to win two events… it’s just crazy for me. I never got ahead of myself thinking I’m going to win this event. I just can’t believe it!”

Needless to say, this is a sweet victory for Bobby coming off a 33rd result at the Quiksilver Pro France and will only boost his confidence heading into the final two events on this year’s tour – the Nova Schin Festival, which takes place in Brazil, and the Pipe Masters, on the North Shore of Hawaii.

Final Results of the Billabong Pro Mundaka

1st: Bobby Martinez, 16.40

2nd: Kelly Slater, 14.27

Slater and Martinez Celebrating their Victories

Images: ASP Covered Images, Photographers: Karen Wilson and Peter Hamblin