Surfing Article!

Hi! I'm a russian copywriter...and some time later I've read article about surfing...and I couldn't understand one sentence...Could you explaind me what the author, whant to say in this sentence (With the lead flip-flopping throughout the man-on-man heat)

part of this news

Californian native Patrick Gudauskas has won the O’Neill SI Pro presented by Ron Jon over fellow finalist Mike Losness in the first all-California Final ever experienced at the venue.

With the lead flip-flopping throughout the man-on-man heat, the powerful Gudauskas (who missed the end of the 2007 season due to injury) sealed the deal with an 8.50 out of a possible 10 for a series of blistering forehand hacks executed with unparalleled speed.

“I’ve been training really hard to get back to form, and to start out the season with a win is just sensational,” Gudauskas said. “I’m really at a loss for words. I knew that if I could stick to my game plan, I would have a shot. I felt like I was building momentum throughout the day and I knew I would have a hard task against Mike (Losness). Fortunately for me, that right wedged up perfectly and I could crack it.”

Hi em_Anton, welcome to the forum. English not being my mothertongue either I would guess it means as much as the lead (being on top) was one time this man and one time the other one and that that was changing all the time.