Today is February 23rd. In five days the waiting period for the last Big Wave Tour event of the season will close and when that happens the man at the top of the rankings, Makuakai Rothman, will officially become the 2014 Big Wave World Champion. It's an unlikely but highly deserved world title from the Hawaiian.

When the 12 invitees for 2014 were announced Rothman's name wasn't among them. However, he got a wildcard start into the Billabong Pico Alto where an inspired performance – his daughter Hikianalia was born just hours before he boarded the plane – saw him jag first place.

A second place finish at Punta Galea saw his lead extended, and as the waiting period to the remaining comps ran out the status quo remained: Makuakai Rothman - 1st place.

Swellnet spoke to Makuakai during a short gap between putting his daughter to bed and the WSL calling around to tape a production for the official announcement.

How does 'Makuakai Rothman – World Champion' sound?
Is it official yet?

No, I'm just trying to get a jump on the media that's sure to call.
I thought you must've heard something. Like an announcement. Anyway, I don't believe it yet. The WSL are sending a production crew around right now and maybe when they say it I'll have to start believing it.

It's an unlikely win as you weren't amongst the Top 12 invitees this year.
It is, it is, but I worked really hard for this. I put my life into this.

You won Pico Alto after making a last-minute decision to fly over.
It was so tense, brah. We saw the swell and my daughter wasn't due to the 4th July, but my wife's water broke on the 30th. There were a few complications but after Hikianalia was born I flew to Peru and won, and then I flew back the next day.

                                                                                                *****

It's worth recalling Rothman's speech from atop the winner's dais at Pico Alto as reported by the World Surf League: "I just want to say I love you to my daughter who was born two days ago. I wore her hospital bracelet the whole time and now I can't take it off. I don't even know what to say. I'm happy."

                                                                                                *****

The 9.40 you scored in the final at Pico Alto proved to be a godsend.
Yeah but there was lots of great surfing going on before that. It's a thick and hollow wave. On the good one I paddled hard so hard and got up early, pumped, and it just...I thought 'ohhh, I'm going to go over', but I made it. It was a crazy wave.

Only two contests ran this year out of six, how do you feel about that?
It is what it is. Peter Mel has been making all the right calls. It's a hard job and people will always talk shit from the couch. Chile hasn't broken all season, Dungeons has been dogshit all season.

It would've been good to see Jaws though.
The thing is, it has to be real good Jaws. Real big Jaws. It's a big wave tour not a medium wave tour and people want to see big Jaws.

Are there any changes you'd like to see to the tour next year?
I'd like to see Tavarua on the tour. That'd be something. Or when the contests are on here, when it gets too big for Haleiwa or Sunset I'd like to see them run a Big Wave event. Sunset at 15ft is scary man, it's a scary wave.

You'd like to see some flexibility in the schedule then?
Yeah.

OK, for 2015 you're the top seed: are you gonna chase every contest?
Oh yeah, I wanna win this thing a few times! I want to go in all six contests and smash everyone. Ha ha ha.

Good luck and congratulations.
Thanks brah.