Hawaiian wildcard Barron Mamiya has bucked the odds to win the WSL event at Sunset Beach, with Australian Ethan Ewing also snaring a breakthrough result.
Mamiya only got a start in the event as an injury replacement and he needed a last-gasp wave in the semi-finals to beat Brazilian Caio Ibelli on Saturday (AEDT).
The 22-year-old was a dominant force in the decider, pulling off a two-wave total of 17.00 to easily account for Japanese star Kanoa Igarashi (12.33).
Mamiya, competing in just his fifth Championship Tour event, broke down in tears after winning in front of a vocal local crowd.
"I literally can't believe it," said Mamiya, who rocked to No.1 in the rankings.
"It doesn't feel real. I feel like I'm in a dream.
"At the end of last year, I was really bummed with my performance.
"In 2021 I didn't make a heat on the QS and was coming off an injury and there were a lot of things that weren't going my way.
"This is - I can't believe it. I wasn't even on tour and I got into Pipeline as a wildcard, and I got another wildcard here, so I'm super stoked."
Igarashi crushed hopes of an Australian winning the event.
The 24-year-old beat Jack Robinson in the quarter-finals, before eliminating Ewing in the semis.
Igarashi pulled off a 9.03 ride to put himself in the box seat against Ewing, boosting his two-wave total to 16.20.
Ewing needed an 8.38 to snare the lead and he came close with an 8.0 ride before time ran out.
It was Ewing's best result on tour, bettering the fifth-placed finishes he achieved at the Narrabeen Classic and the Surf Ranch last year.
In the women's draw, 22-year-old Costa Rican Brisa Hennessy won her maiden WSL event by beating Hawaiian Malia Manuel in the final.
Hennessy's two-wave total of 12.83 was enough to beat Manuel (7.46).
"I have no words," Hennessy told the WSL broadcast straight after the win.
"I've just dreamed about this moment and never thought it was possible.
"To all the people in my life - thank you. That's the reason I did this today."
The tour now shifts to the MEO Pro in Portugal, beginning on March 3.
