Round one of the Vans World Cup of Surfing

Sunset roared and bore its fangs today. Event organisers were calling swell size for the Vans World Cup of Surfing 10-12 feet. Which made for an interesting opening day of the Triple Crown’s second stop. Today saw the largest crowd on the beach in the event’s 38-year history. Did y’know the event is the same age as local Pancho Sullivan? His experience certainly showed today when he won his round one heat: “Every time you think you’ve got this wave figured out, it humbles you,” he said. “It takes a lot of time and dedication to the break and your equipment to surf well here.” Pancho also had some theories on why the heat results today looked the way they did: “All the power’s in the top two thirds of the wave out here and I think the younger guys make the mistake of going all the way to the bottom before they set that bottom turn. And there’s just no energy down there. If you add the fact that they’re riding really narrow, pin boards, they just can’t get the drive to really get up off the top and down the line.”

Men who call Hawaii home tasted the most success today: Outta the 16 heats that ran, 11 were won by Hawaiians. Those not from Hawaii who won heats included Mitch Coleborn, who stormed through a churning backside tunnel: “I paddled out there and had a lot of fun, and I’m stoked to get round one out of the road,” Mitch said. “I haven’t surfed here at all, really. I’m staying down at Pipe and have just been surfing out front of the house, but I surfed the last few days with Dusty Payne and he’s kinda shown me the ropes and set me up with a couple of markers and it worked for me. I’d like to get a good result. I’ve had a bit of a rough year. I’ve only had a couple of so-so results, so a big result would mean the world to me, especially out at Sunset when it’s big like this.”

So, what’ve you got to look forward to tomorrow? Carissa Moore, lone female wildcard! “I’ve got Carissa?” asked Sunny Garcia, who’ll surf against ‘Riss, Alain Riou and Mitch tomorrow. “Well, what can I say? This time last year I was coaching her, so I guess I’m going to have to bring my A-game. I’m a huge Carissa Moore fan. She’s the greatest woman surfer in the world. I’m going to be cheering her on in the lineup.”

Results

Round of 128. 1st & 2nd advance.

H1: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 13.24pts ; Evan Valiere (HAW) 11.94pts ; Tyler Newton (HAW) 7.94pts ; Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 6.93pts
H2: Marcus Hickman (HAW) 9.00pts ; Perth Standlick (AUS) 7.93pts ; Gabriel Villaran (PER) 7.60pts ; Yuri Sodre (BRA) 3.30pts
H3: Billy Kemper (HAW) 8.33pts ; Chris Foster (HAW) 7.40pts ; Jeronimo Vargas (BRA) 5.86pts ; Roy Powers (HAW) 5.70pts
H4: Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 14.84pts ; Brent Dorrington (AUS) 9.36pts ; Caio Ibelli (BRA) 9.23pts ; ALex Smith (HAW) 5.50pts
H5: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 11.00pts ; Gavin Gillette (HAW) 10.83pts ; Shaun Cansdell (AUS) 7.70pts ; Solomon Ortiz (HAW) 7.06pts
H6: Torry Meister (HAW) 9.43pts ; Brian Toth (PRI) 7.90pts ; Dege O’Connell (HAW) 6.90pts ; Hodei Collazo (EUK) 6.00pts
H7: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 14.87pts ; Tim Reyes (USA) 10.20pts ; Kevin Sullivan (HAW) 8.83pts ; Billy Stairmand (NZL) 1.70pts
H8: Davey Cathels (AUS) 11.60pts ; Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 10.80pts ; Nathaniel Curran (USA) 9.67pts ; Dylan Goodale (HAW) 8.77pts
H9: Joel Centeio (HAW) 12.50pts ; Ian Walsh (HAW) 9.67pts ; Jano Belo (BRA) 9.43pts ; Jesse Merle-Jones (HAW) 7.56pts
H10: Tonino Benson (HAW) 16.17pts ; Dale Staples (ZAF) 15.17pts ; Kamalei Alexander (HAW) 11.40pts ; Masatoshi Ohno (JPN) 6.33pts
H11: Keanu Asing (HAW)12.90pts ; Austin Ware (USA) 8.06pts ; Stu Kennedy (AUS) 6.77pts ; Makai McNamara (HAW) 5.97pts
H12: Adrien Toyon (REU)  11.67pts ; Sean Moody (HAW)  10.66pts ; Casey Brown (HAW) 7.03pts ; Joan Duru (FRA) 6.36pts
H13: Makuakai Rothman (HAW) 11.97pts ; Sunny Garcia (HAW) 11.00pts ; Blake Thornton (AUS) 11.00pts ; Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 9.96pts
H14: Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 13.30pts ; Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 12.93pts ; TJ Barron (HAW) 10.67pts ; Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 8.87pts
H15: Myles Padaca (HAW) 12.93pts ; Mason Ho (HAW) 12.70pts ; Jack Freestone (AUS) 9.37pts ; Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) 7.43pts
H16: Ricardo Dos Santos (BRA) 15.53pts ; Ian Gentil (HAW) 12.90pts ; Flynn Novack (HAW) 9.73pts ; Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 8.80pts