ABW Dec 2019 -1

ctorious at at
Words &
Photographs by
TIM HAIN
John-Mark Tokong
F
The 23-year-old posted
a total of nine excellent
scores in three heats on
Finals Day.
ilipino superstar John Mark Tokong has taken
out the 25th annual Siargao Cloud 9 Surfing Cup
Qualifying Series (QS) 1,500 event. Tokong won
the thrilling final against Hawaiian prodigy Noah
Beschen in pumping four-to-six foot
surf at Cloud 9.
In his third Final at his home
event, John-Mark Tokong looked
destined to take his second victory
at Cloud 9, posting near-perfect
totals in his Quarterfinal and Semifinal
appearances (18.75 and 19.05 out of a possible 20
respectively). Tokong’s knowledge of his home break
never looked more on-song than today with the electric
young natural footer getting deeper in the tube than what
seemed humanly possible, then coming out and launching
flawless air-reverses. The 23-year-old posted a total of nine
excellent scores in three heats on Finals Day.
“I’m so stoked right now I can’t even believe it,” Tokong
said. “Last year I got second here and I’ve spent the last
year working so hard to make sure I would win - that just
makes this feel so sweet. I want to say a special thanks to
the late Mayor of General Luna, Jaime Rusillon. We would
not be here today if it wasn’t for all of the work he has done
for surfing in the Philippines. I’ll always be thankful for his
work and have so much respect for him.”
In the Final, as the wind began to turn slightly onshore,
Tokong and his opponent Noah Beschen began to look
more to the air for scores as the classic Cloud 9 tubes
became harder and harder to find. The two went blow for
blow with Tokong holding the upper hand for the majority
of the 40-minute matchup. With only two minutes left,
Beschen took off on a set and lined up for a tube that never
eventuated which forced him to launch a massive straight
air slob grab. Beschen landed the air smoothly and posted
an 8.60 to take the lead and what looked to be his first QS
victory. That was until Tokong swung on a set wave with 45
seconds and pulled into a deep tube, come out and bashed
the lip, posting a 7.80 and taking the final by just 0.05 of
a point.
“In the end, I almost gave up because there was no time
left and then when that wave came I knew exactly what I
had to do,” Tokong continued. “Noah is such a crazy surfer
-- he does so many airs and is so good in these kinds of
waves so it was sick to have a final with him. Being from
Hawaii he’s so good in the barrel and at hitting big sections
so I loved surfing with him at Cloud 9. I hope that he is back
here next year and we can go again in the final.”
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