Cristóbal de Col won the Pico Alto International, an event that marked the return of a cosmopolitan tournament to the legendary Peruvian big wave. Chilean Ramón Navarro placed second, Mexican Coco Nogales third, and locals Joaquín Castagnetto, Luis De la Torre and Álvaro Malpartida completed the table in that order. Jaime Venegas also from Peru took the prize for the best wave of the tournament.

The goofy footer was pure class, heart and talent. On a somewhat inconsistent Pico Alto he managed to find the bombs and not only brought them down but he also maneuvered around them. The victory in some way marks a before and after in the life of Cristóbal, a super talented surfer who had not won a major championship for a long time.

Cristóbal had come close at the local event in Pico Alto, but hadn't quite made it, but today it seemed like everything fell into place for him; he wasn't even halfway through the hour-long final series and he already had a 5,6 and an 8,8, which he managed after breaking down a big one and maneuvering in the crit.

Visibly moved, the Peruvian dedicated his victory to his father, Titi de Col, a legendary Peruvian surfer who lost his life in 2013 and who dominated the waves of Pico Alto. Cristóbal said he could not find words to describe what he felt, but his tears reflected the relief of finding victory again.

This may be the kickstart the extremely talented De Col needs to climb his way up to the CT, where his surfing belongs. Of the recent international tournaments held here, this is the first won by a local; in 2014 Makua Rothman won, in 2012 Carlos Burle, in 2011 Peter Mel.

Although several locals commented throughout the day that it was not a very big Pico Alto, the bombs broke, very spaced out, but they were present. A great friend of patience, Ramón Navarro, knew how to wait for them and thanks to that and his nose and good reading of the spot, he placed second.

Speaking of patience, Mexican Coco Nogales surfed two waves in the final and they both added up to him finishing third.

Then, locals Joaquín Castagnetto, Luis De la Torre and Álvaro Malpartida, rode good waves but did not connect with the ones that put them in the grand final, disqualifying the best in the world.

A special mention goes to Castagnetto, who took a hit for being committed to the cause and turned the board into a giant that he could not complete. A few minutes later, after taking the series in his lead, he returned to land a couple of bombs.

The championship had everything a good big wave event should have, there was excitement, there was brotherhood, there was adrenaline, there were dull moments that serve to ignite everyone in the most hectic seconds. And there was a lot of that affection that big wave surfers have for each other, of looking after each other's shoulders and rejoicing in their victory despite the pain of defeat.

At the press conference Gabriel Villaran said that he wants this event to return to the world big wave tour, that it deserves it, and Pico Alto proved, for the umpteenth time, that what he said is true.

Final result
1- Christopher Columbus
2- Ramon Navarro
3- Coco Nogales
4- Joaquin Castagnetto
5- Luis Gomez de la Torre
6- Alvaro Malpartida

Gallery of the latest international champions in Pico Alto
2011- Peter Mel
2012- Carlos Burle
2014- Makua Rothman
2018- Christopher Columbus