Bobby Martinez of Santa Barbara was winning heats the whole contest, and with a match up against Slater in the quarters, came up just shy. Likewise, Reynolds went down in the quarters as well, thus ending team California’s hopes for winning the Boost Mobile Pro.
With the final two local surfers out of contention, Slater ripped his way into the final, alongside Taj Burrow from Western Australia. Burrow had the lead for the entire final until the dying minutes, when Slater demolished a set wave and stole the win, making it five wins in seven contests for 2008.