For Slater, the Pipe Pro final between Barron Mamiya and Leo Fioravanti “was a close series, it’s not a scam in any sense”; in fact, the 11-time champion is inclined to say that Mamiya won fairly.

In a comment on Instagram he starts by saying: “Riding the tube from behind compared to braking into it. The amount of time is not a huge factor on an inconsequential wave,” he wrote, giving Mamiya the right in this point of view in comparing the two best waves.

“It seemed like Leo won, but I thought more about the story of the high support rather than comparing the best waves. It was a close series, it’s not a one-off in any sense. A comeback at the end of the series puts everyone emotionally at a thousand miles an hour,” Kelly added.

“I was happy to see Leo fight his battle. It is perhaps the first draw in history in a final at Pipe,” he concluded.

The American contrasts with what Medina said last night, who explained that for him the winner was Fioravanti, justifying his first appearance by analyzing competition series.