Michel Bourez wins the Reef Hawaiian Pro, Haleiwa

Michel Bourez just won the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, stop one of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. After the waiting period for Haleiwa was extended due to a painfully long flat spell, the swell finally pulsed enough to finish the remaining rounds.

It’s the second time Michel’s won the Reef Hawaiian Pro, the first one being back in 2008. “It’ still a new feeling,” said the Spartan. “The first time I won it, I was super happy for making the tour and this time, y’know, I worked so hard to make the final and especially to lead the Triple Crown and it’s a good feeling. They keep saying the guy who wins the Haleiwa contest has a lot of chance to win a Triple Crown. I feel great, I feel good in my body and my boards are going well and, hopefully the waves will be good at Sunset. I got second two there years ago so I hope I make another final this year.”

For Freddy P, who finished runner-up to Michel, winning would’ve been the sweetest fruit. “I’m a little frustrated, y’know. I would have loved to have won but I really put a campaign on in the last six minutes of that heat. I had a rocky start but I feel like I threw the kitchen sink at it. Michel just opened up really well and he surfed really well throughout the whole event. I am disappointed, I would have loved to have won, but at the same time I feel I did my best. It’s a great confidence boost going into Sunset and I take it as a positive. I would love to win on a Triple Crown. I would love it! It would just make my life! But I know it’s a hard thing to do. I have a game plan set for this Triple Crown, I’m trying to execute it and I think if I don’t win it it, I think I’ll get fairly close to it.”

Jeremy Flores was also solid through the event and scooped a third: “Like Sunny Garcia says, the Triple Crown is the best thing after a World Title, and I believe it. Three events and really powerful waves. At the same time you can surf smaller waves like this year, so you have to adapt to everything. So the Triple Crown winner has to be good in every condition and that is what makes it so special. It was definitely a tough contest. To tell you the truth, I wasn’t really ready in terms of boards and stuff, so I just kept borrowing boards. So making the final, kind of scratching to find my way into the final was pretty cool. I didn’t really expect that.”

Dion Atkinson, who finished fourth, climbed into qualification for the 2014 world tour. It takes a lot of pressure off, going into Sunset. “I came fifth here about four or five years ago and I’ve been sort of struggling since, so to put it together when I really needed to qualify, I’m pretty rapt right now. I kinda surprised myself in a few heats with just holding my nerve and just felt really good and comfortable. I’m just going to go into Sunset with the same attitude, no pressure, and if I loose or win, it’s gonna be on my terms and I’ll give it a good go. I love coming to Hawaii. Haleiwa and Sunset are probably the two events I look forward to all year.”

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing now moves north to Sunset Beach for stop number two, The Vans World Cup of Surfing, which will likely commence Tuesday.

REEF HAWAIIAN PRO 2013 RESULTS

FINAL:
1 – Michel Bourez (PYF) 17.17 – $40,000
2 – Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 16.33 – $20,000
3 – Jeremy Flores 13.93 (FRA) – $12,000
4 – Dion Atkinson (AUS) 9.73 – $10,000

SEMI-FINALS:
H1: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.37, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.50, Dane Reynolds (USA) 12.80, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.12
H2 : Michel Bourez (PYF) 16:33, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 15.00, Adriano De Souza (BRA) 12.33, Josh Kerr (AUS) 4.00

QUARTER FINALS:
H1: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.86, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.17, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 11.93, Matt Banting (AUS) 9.44
H2: Dane Reynolds (USA) 16.60, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 14.60, Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.30, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 14.27
H3: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 12.96, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 12.43, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 8.70, Hodei Collazo (EUK) 8.27
H4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.67, Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.34, Nathan Yeomans 12.87, Evan Valiere (HAW) 9.87