Brett Simpson won $100,000 in prize money, and the 25-year-old also got a congratulatory hug from Jordy Smith, a 23-year-old South African who is professional surfing's top-ranked competitor on the World Tour.
Simpson's victory capped off the weeklong event at the municipal pier at /*Huntington Beach*/.
The waves were small – about 3, 4 feet -- but the crowds were big for the weeklong event.
Earlier in the day, Simpson took out nine-time world champ Kelly Slater in a semi-finals heat that put Simpson in the finals. He and he was mobbed by a crowd on the beach when he came out of the water, the Register reported.
"Whatever, man," Slater said as he passed Simpson.
CNS contributed to this report.
