Kekoa Bacalso Wins In The Maldives
June 16, 2008 – 1:35 pm PT by MeTags: ASP, Dustin Barca, Kekoa Bacalso —
After a smooth and ideal week in the Maldives, Hawaii’s Kekoa Bacalso came out on top at the ASP World Qualifying Series 6-Star Prime Sri Lankan Airlines Pro at Pasta Point. Of the eight quarterfinalist, five of them were Hawaiians but when it was all said and done, it was an all-Hawaiian final with Bacalso going up against Dustin Barca with all their fellow Hawaiian mates cheering both of them on from the shore.
With time running out and only 15 minutes to go in the competition, Barca took his second ride, which let him down allowing him to score only a 5.5 out of a possible 10. Bacalso needed only a 6.68 to take the lead and take the event. In the last five minutes, Bacalso rode his last wave and score himself a 8.87 securing his first ever ASP WQS 6-Star PRIME event.
“So stoked to finally win at ASP WQS level,” Bacalso said. “After winning the ASP World Junior title a few years ago, the pressures been on me to perform at WQS level but it’s been really hard. The competition is so tough and to finally break through is such a relief. The waves have been amazing here and the Hawaiians have ripped every day. It’s a huge party for us here tonight.”
