Hawaiian surfer Freddy Patacchia has retired from the world championship tour in style, scoring a perfect 10 in a first-round heat then quitting.
Patacchia combined his perfect score with an 8.90 for his first wave to overcome reigning world champion Gabriel Medina (17.50) and Australian Bede Durbridge (16.20) at the Hurley Pro in Trestles, California.
The 33-year-old then announced he would take no further part in the tournament or the tour.
"I knew this day was going to come where I was going to have to walk away from surfing and I never thought it would end like this," Patacchia said.
"This is just the perfect scenario for me.
"I want to still walk away hot, I want to walk away on my own terms."
Patacchia even attempted to get himself disqualified from the heat, saying afterwards he felt Medina had priority on the wave.
"I don't want to interfere with anyone's world title implications or even qualifying implications," Patacchia said.
"I was actually trying to lose that heat because that will be the last heat I surf, I'm not going to surf round two or round three."
Patacchia said he was looking forward to spending time with his young family.
"It's taken me a while to get to this point, but I'm happy with my decision," he said.
A tour wildcard will replace him in the tournament.
Patacchia's 12th place season finish in 2008 was his best in 10 and half years on the tour, having been rookie of the year in 2005.
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