Mega Semadhi wins the Rip Curl Cup, Padang Padang

Last year, Mega Semadhi watched Chris Ward get the wave he needed to beat the Balinese local in the final seconds of the Rip Curl Cup, Padang Padang. And this year the same almost happened: With a minute and forty seconds remaining, Mega pumped through a barrel to jump from third to first. Sixteen-year-old Jacob Wilcox took off and hammered through what would’ve certainly been the 6.7 he needed, but was pinched at the end. And, the trophy was finally Mega’s. The Pecatu local is studying to be a Hindu priest, which has certainly taught him patience:

“This win means so much to me, here at my home and in front of my family, and because of last year too,” Mega said. “In those final minutes I was trying to be patient, thinking that if I could lose in the final minutes like last year, I could also be the one to win in the last minute too. When that last set came in I said not this one, not this one, I gotta pick the right one. And then it was like a fairly tale come true when I heard the score and that I won.”

Highlights and everything else you may want, just here.