The Vans World Cup of Surfing – Round Three

“I saw the heat draw come up and in the beginning I was just thinking about my brother and I was kinda psyched for it,” said John Florence at the Vans World Cup of Surfing today. “It was fun to surf with him and I was really hoping it would be me and him making it through the heat, but it didn’t work out. The waves ended up kinda being weird and Billy (Kemper) ended up getting that 10 right in the beginning. Sunset is nearly impossible because something’s always changing. I went out there thinking I was gonna catch as many waves as I could. There ended up being bigger waves than I thought. It’s just totally different when you get out there. Especially when you have this bump in it from these west winds that have been blowing and it just makes it real difficult.” Today, Sunset was being called six-eight foot. It was bumpy, but the right wave choice meant being vaulted into a very open face. The more this event rolls on, the more John looks like scooping his second consecutive Triple Crown title. He finished runner-up at the Reef Hawaiian Pro, is looking lethal at Sunset and, as for Pipe… we all know. All he’s gotta do is keep an eye on Alejo Muniz. “I have a really good connection with Sunset,” said Alejo after dominating yet another heat. His forehand slice has been coming in v handy. “The two times that I’ve surfed this contest I got into the quarters, so I love this place. I’m really happy to surf in this contest because last year I was injured, so I think that’s what’s been pushing me to get good waves and get in good results.” While Kelly Slater ain’t gunning for the Triple Crown title, he still light up Sunset today. On a 5’11”, no less. “It’s a tricky wave,” he said. “I don’t surf it a lot and usually it doesn’t weigh into the World Title, so I haven’t put a lot of importance on getting to know the line up – exactly where to sit and which waves to go on during which swell directions and all that. There’s no excuse, I just haven’t put my time in at Sunset and it’s never been one of my favourite waves, but it’s a challenge for sure and there’s guys that are clear standouts out here… Sunny, Pancho, John John.” With 32 men remaining, expect the business end of this to be as electric as the first act. Round of 64 H1 : Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 12.56pts ; Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.33pts ; Alex Smith (HAW) 10.90pts ; Ian Gentil (HAW) 9. H2 : Kieren Perrow (AUS) 15.00pts ; Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.74pts ; Tom Whitaker (AUS) 13.34pts ; Jean Da Silva (BRA) 13,24pts H3 : Jamie O’Brian (HAW) 13.67pts ; Chris Ward (USA) 10.36pts ; Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.60pts ; Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.17pts H4 : Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.33pts ; Glenn Hall (IRL) 13.46pts ; Gabe Kling (USA) 12.50pts ; Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.10pts H5 : Taylor Knox (USA) 12.30pts ; Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.43pts ; Nathan Hedge (AUS) 9.84pts ; Ian Walsh (HAW) 8.90pts H6 : Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.54pts ; Jesse Mendes (BRA) 12.63pts ; Yadin Nicol (AUS) 12.03pts ; Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 11.17pts H7 : Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.83pts ; Jay Thompson (AUS) 11.86pts ; Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 5.64pts ; Granger Larsen (HAW) 4.77pts H8 : Kelly Slater (USA) 17.04pts ; Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 12.33pts ; Jack Freestone (AUS) 12.20pts ; Kalani Chapman (HAW) 8.17pts H9 : John John Florence (HAW) 17.80pts ; Billy Kemper (HAW) 15.77pts ; Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 7.67pts ; Nathan Florence (HAW) 7.37pts H10 : Perth Standlick (AUS) 14.66pts ; Brett Simpson (USA) 12.00pts ; Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.93pts ; Evan Valiere (HAW) 7.90pts H11 : Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.67pts ; Nat Young (USA) 15.20pts ; Joan Duru (FRA) 9.30pts ; Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 5.74pts H12 : CJ Hobgood (USA) 12.83pts ; Ricardo Dos Santos (BRA) 9.93pts ; Tiago Pires (PRT) 5.43pts ; Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 4.17pts H13 : Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.70pts ; Adam Melling (AUS) 10.83pts ; Josh Kerr (AUS) 9.00pts ; Garrett Parkes (AUS) 6.16pts H14 : Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.80pts ; Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.87pts ; Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 7.50pts ; Dusty Payne (HAW) 6.80pts H15 : Kai Otton (AUS) 11.86pts ; Nathan Yeomans (USA) 11.60pts ; Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 11.40pts ; Heitor Alves (BRA) 4.26pts H16 : Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.76pts ; Sunny Garcia (HAW) 13.66pts ; Koa Smith (HAW) 13.26pts ; Nathaniel Curran (USA) 8.20pts