OC Register reporter Fred Swegles just wrote about another amazing display by San Clemente’s Patrick Gudauskas, who pulled off another aerial flip to nearly win the ASP event going down in the Maldives. Here’s a bit about what he wrote:

One history-making move was not enough for pro surfer Patrick Gudauskas this week at the $145,000 Sri Lankan Airlines Pro in the Maldives Islands.

Today the 23-year-old from San Clemente pulled a second aerial flip during the final and – incredibly – it wasn’t enough.

He placed second to Australia’s Owen Wright in what observers described as one of the most exciting Association of Surfing Professionals finals ever.

San Clemente's Patrick Gudauskas, midway through a rodeo clown aerial flip in the final of the SriLankan Airlines Pro today in the Maldive Islands.

Wright scored 19.23 out of a possible 20 on his two scoring rides in the final, Gudauskas 18.93.

The result boosted Wright into the No. 1 position in the ASP’s World Qualifying Series, a worldwide circuit in which hundreds of hopefuls seek ratings points to qualify for next year’s ASP World Championship Tour.

Gudauskas, who was No. 27, leapfrogged 20 spots to No. 7. Brett Simpson of Huntington Beach, who finished 37th of 128 surfers in the event, remains Orange County’s top-ranked WQS hopeful, at No. 5.

Read more about Gudauskas’ incredible surfing during the event.

Pat Gudauskas (and Brett Simpson) is currently nominated for the OC Surfer of the Year contest. To vote, click here.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.