Sunset Beach, Oahu: 19th February 2019: After an incredibly tricky holding period filled with storms, incessant rain, devil winds, thunder and lightening, the APP World Tour was blessed with a pristine final day of action today to wrap what has been, when all is said and done, a spectacular event.

(Press Release)

With clean lines and offshore winds finally contrasting the seemingly neverending onshore pattern of the last few weeks, the World’s very best put on an exciting display of performance surfing at Sunset Beach.

Poenaiki Raioha from Tahiti has looked like the man to beat throughout the holding period, with flawless, and powerful rail surfing that has been turning heads all week, and coming into Finals Day, he seemed focused and ready for the job at hand.

However, through Round 4 and the Quarters, he was looking a little less alive than he has been previously, not able to find the waves he was looking for, but still putting together a solid performance.

In the semi finals, the waves went a little slower, but Poenaiki found enough to win the heat and earn his spot in the final. Once there, the conditions turned on and he put on a performance for the ages, unleashing full power rail turn after rail turn, posting a near perfect score and backing it up with another score in the excellent range, comboing the other 3 athletes in the heat to take his first victory here at the Sunset Beach Pro presented by Local Motion.

Today, Poenaiki once again made Tahiti proud, and also made his intentions for the 2019 season very clear: he wants the World Title and he has the first notch in the belt on his way there with 3 more events to go this year….

Check out the highlights and gallery from today’s action by going to www.appworldtour.com, as well as across social media @appworldtour

All pics: Brian Beilmann / APP World Tour