An American surfer won her first world championship tour event Sunday during a "magical" ride on a wave she shared with a pod of dolphins off the southwestern tip of Australia.
Gabriela Bryan, 22, gushed that the experience was "insane" after beating rookie fellow American Sawyer Lindblad, 18, at the Western Australia Margaret River Pro tournament.
"When I kicked out, I was just, 'Wow!' That wave was sent to me by someone, the dolphins in it," Bryan said. "It was magical."
The play-by-play announcer also sounded stunned as the surprising event unfolded during the World Surf League contest.
"Clean bottom turn -- with the dolphins!" the announcer exclaimed. "Enjoying the ride in front of her. Belts it it off the lip again. Two major moves, with the magic of the local sea life putting her in the right spot at the right time."
Another announcer said, "That wave just had such a good feel about it."
"As soon as you saw the dolphins, it just felt like it was meant to be," the second announcer said.
