Sunny Garcia keeps the dream alive in the Vans World Cup of Surfing 2011, after winning his Round 2 heat against Mitchel Coleborn, Carissa Moore and Alain Riou. It was a highly touted heat that drew the largest crowd of the day and more than its fair share of nerves.
In the end, experienced positioning and raw determination saw Garcia stroke his way into the decisive wave of the clash.
Two trademark Sunny power hacks threw the field into disarray, earning an 8.0 and catapulting him to first with a total of 13.93. Coleborn was second with 10 points; Carissa third with 7.83 (4.9, 2.93); and Riou was fourth on 5.6 (1.67, 3.93).
"I think she can compete with the best of the men," said Garcia, who admitted to being a little stressed before the clash.
"I know what she's capable of. I've surfed with her a lot and coached her a bit last year. I got lucky at the end of the heat to get that one wave. Had there been a lot of waves, I think this story might have ended a lot different.
"I think it is important for the women to surf against the men. Women's surfing has come such a long way and I think it's cool that Triple Crown gave her a wildcard into the event. Some of the top women are surfing so incredible that I think they're quite capable of beating the top men. I just think she needed to get a little more aggressive out there. Had I been coaching her today, I would have told her to get out there and apply the pressure!"
Carissa was visibly more pleased with her performance today than she was with her first Triple Crown appearance last week in the Reef Hawaiian Pro.
"On the way out Sunny said to me, 'you know 'Riss, no matter what anyone might say, you deserve to be out here, you're a great surfer', and that really meant a lot," said Carissa.
"I think I can just be stoked to have been invited to do the first two events of the Triple Crown, it was quite an honor. I wish I could have made a heat or two, but I walk away with great experience and it was awesome to get to surf out there with the guys.
"I was in second for a little bit of that heat, then I dropped to third and all I needed was a five before Sunny got that eight. I was like, 'I can do this, all I need is a wave!' But unfortunately not too many came in and I wasn't able to jump on another one. It feels awesome just to come and be welcomed in after that heat. People were stoked. It means a lot to me. If I can walk away today inspiring somebody else to follow their dreams... then mission accomplished."
Sunset is famous for shining the light on emerging performers. Among them today were Vincent Duvignac (France) and Lincoln Taylor (Australia). Duvignac won another heat to show his diversity from yesterday's fearsome conditions to today's fickle lineup.
The highest ranked seeds, including leading Vans Triple Crown contender Taj Burrow (Australia), Jordy Smith (South Africa), Adriano De Souza (Brazil), and Julian Wilson (Australia) will enter the mix on the next day of competition.
Vans World Cup of Surfing 2011 | Round of 96
Heat 1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 12.53pts ; Junior Faria (BRA) 10.33pts ; Romain Cloitre (AUS) 5.27pts ; Perth Standlick (FRA) 3.70pts
Heat 2 : Evan Valiere (HAW) 13.34pts ; Heath Joske (AUS) 13.13pts ; Marcus Hickman (HAW) 11.34 ; Cory Lopez (USA) 8.77pts
Heat 3 : Brent Dorrington (AUS) 13.17pts ; Jesse Mendes (BRA) 9.60pts ; Billy Kemper (HAW) 7.37pts ; Nathan Florence (HAW) 5.67pts
Heat 4 : Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 12.84pts ; Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 9.73pts ; Leonardo Neves (BRA) 9.00pts ; Chris Foster (HAW) 6.90pts
Heat 5 : Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 14.67pts ; Evan Gelselman (USA) 11.66pts ; Brian Toth (PRI) 8.43pts ; Mitch Crews (AUS) 7.06pts
Heat 6 : Daniel Ross (AUS) 14.16pts ; Torrey Meister (HAW) 12.27pts ; Kai Barger (HAW) 11.54pts ; Gavin Gillette (HAW) 10.10pts
Heat 7 : Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 12.90pts ; Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 12.37pts ; Nic Muscroft (AUS) 11.93pts ; Dion Atkinson (AUS) 9.47pts
Heat 8 : Davey Cathels (AUS) 12.93pts ; Nat Young (USA) 9.67pts ; Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 8.86pts ; Tim Reyes (USA) 5.93pts
Heat 9 : Dale Staples (ZAF) 12.27pts ; Joel Centelo (HAW) 8.24pts ; Nathan Yeomans (USA) 7.66pts ; Dylan Graves (PRI) 7.46pts ;
Heat 10 : Ian Walsh (HAW) 13.50pts ; Tonino Benson (HAW) 8.83pts ; Tom Whitaker (AUS) 7.76pts ; Adam Robertson (AUS) 7.00pts
Heat 11 : Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 11.87pts ; Keanu Asing (HAW) 10.10pts ; Sean Moody (HAW) 6.03pts ; Richard Christie (NZL) 3.73pts
Heat 12 : Adrien Toyon (REU) 9.57pts ; Gabe King (USA) 9.03pts ; Austin Ware (USA) 8.47pts ; Royden Bryson (ZAF) 7.90pts
Heat 13 : Glenn Hall (IRL) 13.83pts ; Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 10.47pts ; Makuakai Rothman (HAW) 8.43pts ; Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 3.64pts
Heat 14 : Sunny Garcia (HAW) 13.93pts ; Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 10.00pts ; Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.83pts ; Alain Riou (PYF) 5.60pts
Heat 15 : Ian Gentil (HAW) 10.47pts ; Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.06pts ; Marc Lacomare (FRA) 8.14pts ; Myles Padaca (HAW) 7.83pts
Heat 16 : Tomas Hermes (BRA) 10.14pts; Mason Ho (HAW) 10.07pts; Ricardo Dos Santos (BRA) 8.37pts ; Granger Larsen (HAW) 6.43pts