The perfect wave .. almost
MARGARET DEKKER
Tweed Coast surfer Nathan Hedge has cemented his icon status in world surfing after a stunning 9.87 score on arguably the wave of the event at Teahupo’o Tahiti over the weekend.
43-year-old Hedge ‘Hog’ knocked out world’s #1 and #2, Filipe Toledo of Brazil and Australia’s Jack Robinson to reach the quarter-finals before he was pipped by World #8 Caio Ibelli from Brazil in sensational competition that drew hollers of admiration and splashes of joy from the loving crowd.
Hog last competed at ‘Chopes’ in 2014 where he scored a perfect 10 then retired .. until this comeback glory on a very wild card.
Speaking moments after the breathtaking 8-foot drop down the face of a “big and perfect” beast, and sublime recovery from near wipe-out, Nathan said,
“I just got pitted off me head! .. I was in a corner, but I just had to keep believing.”
The 2022 WSL Champion will be decided at Trestles in California next month.
