A relatively unknown surfer from Sydney's Northern Beaches came second in an international big-wave competition overnight.

Ben Wikinson, who hails from North Narrabeen in Sydney, made the final of the Billabong Pico Alto in Peru which fielded some of the world's best big-wave surfers. Pico Alto is a famed big wave spot that breaks 3 kilometres offshore from Punta Hermosa beach, 43 kilometres south of Lima.  

Wilkinson surfed fearlessly throughout the competition, dominating his heat and semi-final, and was only bettered by legendary big wave rider, Peter Mel, in the final. Mel, from Northern California, began the final with a nine-point ride making the rest of the finalists play catch up in the twenty five feet (thirty five feet faces) surf.

The Billabong Pico Alto big-wave competition is the second stop of the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT), a specialised tour for big wave riders that visits the world's best big wave spots. To find out more about the BWWT click here.

Final results of the Billabong Pico Alto 2011: Peter Mel (USA) Ben Wilkinson (Australia) Felipe Cesarano (Brasil) Joao De Macedo (Portugal) Jamie Sterling (Hawaii) Kodiak Semsch (Perú)