The 2006 Billabong Pro Mundaka was held at one of the world's best lefts. Mundaka is an illusive, often fickle river-mouth wave in the Spanish Basque Country that lives and dies by some huge tidal swings.
But when it turns on, it is without a doubt one of the best waves in the world. We're reliving this all-time event in this week's episode of The Vault, so here are five reasons to dive into the 2006 Billabong Pro Mundaka.
The Firing Waves
The event scored some clean, barreling lefts. While it was forced to move to the backup location of Bakio due to the big tidal swings that dictate conditions at Mundaka - and led to tough, changing conditions - when it was on, it was really on.
Mundaka WSL / Karen Wilson
Bobby Martinez Takes Down The GOAT
Bobby Martinez won the event as as rookie, in a final against an in-form Kelly Slater. If that wasn't impressive enough, it wasn't even his first CT win that year: He'd also made the surfing world really sit up and take notice after winning the Billabong Pro Teahupoo earlier in the season.
Bobby Martinez WSL / Peter Hamblin
Slater Secures Title Number Eight
Kelly Slater may have lost to Bobby in the final, but he still did enough to secure his eighth World Title. Back in 2006, Kelly had already secured his position as the greatest of all time. But there was still so much more in store for the GOAT.
Kelly Slater WSL / Karen Wilson
A Gold Coast Super Heat
Childhood friends and sparing partners Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson came up against each other in the quarterfinals. Joel took the win, and was later knocked out of the contest by Slater in the semi-finals.
Joel Parkinson WSL / Karen Wilson
A Unique Celebration
Part of the reason Mundaka was such a special stop on the World Tour was the region's rich history and old-world charm. This was on display when the winners of the event were customarily carried down to the harbor and tossed off of the wharf! Since Slater also locked in a World Title, it was only fair to throw him off, too.
Kelly Slater WSL / Peter Hamblin
Five Reasons To Dive Into The 2006 Billabong Pro Mundaka
Ben Collins
The 2006 Billabong Pro Mundaka was held at one of the world's best lefts. Mundaka is an illusive, often fickle river-mouth wave in the Spanish Basque Country that lives and dies by some huge tidal swings.
But when it turns on, it is without a doubt one of the best waves in the world. We're reliving this all-time event in this week's episode of The Vault, so here are five reasons to dive into the 2006 Billabong Pro Mundaka.
The Firing Waves
The event scored some clean, barreling lefts. While it was forced to move to the backup location of Bakio due to the big tidal swings that dictate conditions at Mundaka - and led to tough, changing conditions - when it was on, it was really on.
Bobby Martinez Takes Down The GOAT
Bobby Martinez won the event as as rookie, in a final against an in-form Kelly Slater. If that wasn't impressive enough, it wasn't even his first CT win that year: He'd also made the surfing world really sit up and take notice after winning the Billabong Pro Teahupoo earlier in the season.
Slater Secures Title Number Eight
Kelly Slater may have lost to Bobby in the final, but he still did enough to secure his eighth World Title. Back in 2006, Kelly had already secured his position as the greatest of all time. But there was still so much more in store for the GOAT.
A Gold Coast Super Heat
Childhood friends and sparing partners Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson came up against each other in the quarterfinals. Joel took the win, and was later knocked out of the contest by Slater in the semi-finals.
A Unique Celebration
Part of the reason Mundaka was such a special stop on the World Tour was the region's rich history and old-world charm. This was on display when the winners of the event were customarily carried down to the harbor and tossed off of the wharf! Since Slater also locked in a World Title, it was only fair to throw him off, too.
Mick Fanning
Australia's East Coast has been enjoying a solid run of swell, which continued over the weekend.
Mick Fanning
The Gold Coast has been pumping, and these are just a few of the waves bagged by those lucky enough to call it home.
The Gold Coast switched on just after the Australian leg was switched off, but an all-star cast still made the most of the swell.
Peter "Joli" Wilson has had an unparalleled view of surfing history. Here, he describes some of his favorite images from the 2001 Rip Curl
News
The big wave surfer shares some essential tips for navigating hold downs and heavy surf.
French beach breaks were firing, Gabriel Medina's rise to power, how to win like Carissa Moore, and more.
The GOAT took part in the The King's Celebrity Poker Challenge, which raised $125,000 for World Central Kitchen.
From barrels to boosts, meet young Hughie Vaughn. His surfing is already matured well beyond his years ... and he's only getting better.
With a large swell hitting England's western shores, a lack of lifeguards saw surfers and volunteers patrolling beaches and saving lives.