| The Reef Hawaiian Pro kicks off in Haleiwa |
| Friday, 13 November 2009 14:58 |
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Eyes were on the waves but minds were on the money as the $1,000,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink hit the water with day one of the Reef Hawaiian Pro - an ASP men's 6-star prime World Qualifying Series event. Subsequently, few people noticed that the bulk of the 10- to 12-foot NE swell wasn't making it around the corner into Haleiwa, and thousands lived it up in the bikini-strutting weather. Haleiwa leveled the playing field today as visiting and local surfers met somewhere in the middle between international beach break conditions and the Hawaiian power expected here this time of year. Results were as mixed as the waves that ranged from five feet in the morning, to just a couple of feet before the event was halted around 2p.m. at heat 11 of the round of 128 surfers. The earlier heats lucked out with offshore winds and punchier conditions. Maui's Granger Larsen nailed down the best of it, cranking out three powerful snaps to earn a 9.33, the highest scoring wave of the contest so far. Fresh off a win from the XCEL Pro at Sunset Beach in massive surf, Hank Gaskell (Maui) channeled his momentum to push through the crumbly late afternoon conditions in heat nine and took down super-grom Nat Young (Santa Cruz, Ca.) with explosive surfing. He sealed the deal with a frontside air reverse with just a few minutes remaining in the heat. Young answered back with fins-free surfing of his own with one minute remaining, posting a 7.10, but it wasn't enough to overtake second place Alain Riou (PYF). "I'm just going one heat at a time. That's all that I can do," said Gaskell. "I'm not a real favorite to win the Triple Crown. I'm just trying to do my personal best. "I'm stoked on Vans for offering the Triple Threat. Surfers are professional athletes and we all work hard and we're underpaid compared to other sports. I'm not complaining. I was making good money before I got dropped, but hopefully I'll get another sponsor (laughs). Surfing is a great sport and we deserve to get as much as any other professional sport." Last year's Reef Hawaiian Pro Champion Michel Bourez (PYF) powered through his first heat of the day, taking down Richard Christie (NZ), and a pair of former Vans Triple Crown champions in Myles Padaca (HAW) and Kaipo Jaquias (HAW). But his run ended in the next round, losing to Hale'iwa resident Joel Centeio and James Taipan Wood (AUS), who took first and second, respectively. "Last year was barreling, offshore and perfect," said Bourez, assessing today's conditions. "Today was mushy and small and most of the waves were lefts, so it was different. I just tried as hard as I could to score two good ones. "The one million dollar prize purse is good for the sport," said Bourez. "It's the first time ever so everyone is excited to win the Triple Crown." Find out the call for the day, each day, as soon as it's made by Director Randy Rarick by signing up for mobile text alerts at triplecrownofsurfing.com. For the latest surf updates, stay tuned to Surfline.com, the official surf forecaster of the Vans Triple Crown Triple Threat. All the action will be broadcast live on the web at triplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250. Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O'Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future. RESULTS:
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