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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- Garrett Parkes of Australia bested his rivals to prevail in the 2009 Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational held in Siargao Island, Surigao del Norte last week.

Parkes won over Hawaiian Makua Rothman with a total of 10.17 in the extended 35-minute final, the event’s website noted. Rothman finished with 2.66.

The Australian surfer won the top prize of $7,500 while Rothman got $4,500 as the runner-up.

“It wasn’t exactly the real cloud 9, not many barrels,” Parkes said in Billabong online article.

“But I made do with what I had. I managed to get through a few heats this morning and just keep it going through to the final. I’m stoked,” he added.

Parkes reached the final by beating Filipino Carlito Nogalo in the semifinals and Joel Nantes in the quarterfinals.

The 2009 Billabong Cloud 9 Invitational was held from Oct. 21 to Oct. 27.

The competition was held at Siargao’s 'Cloud 9', described as a “powerful, hollow right-hander that has been frequently compared to the renowned surf of Hawaii and Indonesia.”