Mr Price Pro Champion!

Congratulations to Ricky Basnett, your 2006 Mr Price Pro Champion!

South African Ricky Basnett has just won the Final of the 2006 Mr Price Pro, claiming $15,000 as well as 2500 valuable ratings points for his 2006 WCT aspirations!

Basnett started the action off literally on the buzzer, launching into a big air reverse which he just didn�t pull off, but gave both judges and viewers a sign of things to come.

On a small left with a number of backhand turns, surfing very quickly and ending off with a nice rebound off the whitewater, Basnett was looking smooth, stylish and confident in front of the stacked beach, and scored a 5.67.

At this point in the heat, Neve caught his first wave which he worked a clean off the top, then a powerful carve throwing heaps of spray, a third snap for good measure and then pulled off scoring a 5.50.

On Ricky�s fourth wave he opened up with a clean carve, but then blew everyone away as he launched into a clean air reverse, landing it with style as the beach erupted into applause. He did another small carve and flicked his board into the air clearly as stoked with his performance as the onlookers on the beach! The commentator announced the score: an 8.50, again the beach rupted into applause, super stoked with the performance of their local boy.

On his next scoring ride, Ricky then backed this up with a great front-side boost, a stylish single grab which he landed cleanly and again exciting the crowd as he rode it out, scoring a 7.10 for his efforts.

With 20 minutes remaining, Basnett�s awesome total of 15.60 left Neve in a combination situation. Neve sat patiently waiting for a wave which would allow him to get to work, but the ocean seemed to be favouring Basnett, and Neve only managed some minor scores over the next few minutes.

On the ten minute mark, Neve scratched into a good right which he blasted a great off the top, racing the section for a powerful carve and ending off with two more snaps. Neve�s power and flow were not enough, scoring only a 5.07, not enough to get out of the combo.

Basnett hung on to priority for the majority of the last half of the final, putting the pressure on Neve throughout. With just over five minutes to go, Neve caught a small left, catching a rail as he landed his opening floater, the move doing nothing to help his situation.

With one minute on the clock, Basnett started slapping the water, his stoke clearly evident as Neve clapped his hands above his head, a great show of sportsmaniship as he applauded his opponent.

Ricky left the water $15,000 richer and with a great boost to his 2006 WQS charge, met on the way out by his friends already pouring the victory champagne over your 2006 Mr Price Pro champion!