VIRGINIA BEACH, Virginia/USA (Sunday, August 25, 2013) - Patrick Gudauskas (San Clemente, CA), 27, has won the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 4-Star Vans Pro in peaky two-to-four foot waves at 1st Street Jetty in Virginia Beach.
Gudauskas, current alternate on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), led the final from start to finish, opening his campaign with a strong 7 point ride, quickly finding a backup score of a 5. The San Clemente surfer would hold on to the victory despite a late-heat charge by runner-up Deivid Silva (BRA), 18, solidifying the win over additional finalists Keanu Asing (HAW), 20, and Kaito Ohashi (JPN), 21.
“That was so classic,” Gudauskas said. “That was such a fun event. There were good waves and good vibes and I almost didn’t get the win. Deivid nearly got me in the end. Thanks so much to everyone at Vans and my family. I’m really happy to get the win.”
Gudauskas, had struggled to find a big result this season entering the Vans Pro, but today’s victory acts as a major confidence booster heading in to the remainder of the season.
“It’s insane, because I haven’t made a final in so long,” Gudauskas said. “To win is amazing because everyone was surfing great this whole event. The Brazilian contingency and Japanese contingency were on fire the whole time and obviously Keanu (Asing) was ripping. Those guys were pouring it on at the end and I almost didn’t get the win.”
Deivid Silva put in an incredible effort at the Vans Pro, attacking with an impressive aerial game and striking carves in the onshore conditions at 1st Street. Jetty. Silva found a wave just before the final horn while in need of a mid-range score, but fell just shy of the number needed to surpass Gudauskas for the win, taking 2nd overall.
“I’m so happy because Patrick (Gudauskas) surfs on the WCT and it feels good to finish second,” Silva said. “It would have been nice to win and it was so close at the end. Overall, it was a good event for me. Congratulations to Patrick on the win and thanks so much to my family and sponsors.”
In addition to the Men’s Vans Pro Final, Joshua Moniz (Waikiki, HI), 17, won the ASP 4-Star Vans Pro Junior over younger brother Seth, 15, who would finish in second, deadly Japanese standout Hiroto Ohhara (JPN), 16, and the North Shore’s Kalani David (North Shore, HI), 15.
Stop No. 4 of 5 on the 2013 ASP North America Pro Junior Series, the Vans Pro Junior’s ASP 4-Star status plays a crucial role in deciding both qualifiers for the ASP World Junior Championships and the ASP North America Pro Junior Champion.
Joshua Moniz built momentum throughout the Vans Pro Junior, peaking in the final with an impressive combination of progression and power. The young Hawaiian would also dominate the final affair from start to finish, netting one the day’s high heat totals of 15.97 in the process.
“That was a fun final and I was kind of scared because leading up to the final I never really had a good heat,” Moniz said. “I knew I had to get a couple of scores and luckily I found two right off of the bat. I actually really like this wave and I guess we scored. We’ve had fun little peaks. I surf waves like this at home all the time and I felt pretty used to the conditions.”
