Caption: Kalani David (HAW) scored a near-perfect 19.43 points (out of a possible 20.00) today to secure a Round 1 win and the highest heat total of the event so far.
Image: ASP / Ed Sloane
HALEIWA, Oahu/Hawaii (Thursday, November 13, 2014): Seventeen-year-old Kalani David (HAW) took a break from nearby Waialua High School today and posted the highest heat total of the 2014 REEF Hawaiian Pro so far, eclipsing a world-class field with a score of 19.43 out of a possible 20. David, who juggles professional skateboarding and surfing with his academic schedule, set the bar high in his Round 1 heat with a combination of vertical turns, a free-flying aerial and critical positioning. His performance was a perfect match for the excellent 10-foot surf that greeted competitors this morning.
“I’ve got nothing to lose, I just went all out and it paid off,” said David of his full tilt approach that delivered two near-perfect wave scores of 9.80 and 9.63.
David will compete in all three stops on this year’s Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. The REEF Hawaiian Pro is the first event and David will surf again in Round 2 heat when competition resumes.
“My goal for the Triple Crown is just to have fun and keep making it through heats, putting on a show for everyone,” he continued. “To everyone at Waialua High School – the Bulldogs – who’s watching, thanks for supporting me. Thanks also to my family, my sponsors, my friends, everyone for helping me out and everyone putting on this great event, I’m having a great time.”
Huge scores continued to drop as the event pushed through the remaining Round 1 heats followed by 12 heats of Round 2. The day’s top performers who broke into the 17-point range were: Wade Carmichael (AUS); Joel Centeio (HAW); Joan Duru (FRA); Ezekiel Lau (HAW); Davey Cathels (AUS); Conner Coffin (USA); and Pancho Sullivan (HAW).
Today also delivered disappointment, with early exits for several surfers who came to Hawaii in need of strong results. Round 2 losses have dampened the dreams of 2015 World Championship Tour qualification for several surfers, including Ricardo Christie (NZL), Tim Reyes (USA) and Carlos Munoz (CRI).
Among those who will leave the contest disappointed is Guadalupe’s Charly Martin, 24. Currently ranked 14th on the ASP Qualifying Series (QS), Martin hoped to move beyond Round 3 and build his ratings points in the hopes of earning a place among next year’s Top 34. During his wave-starved 30 minute heat he failed to catch a single ride, and sat motionless, staring to the sky in disbelief as the final horn sounded wondering what he had done to deserve such a shocking outcome.
On the flip-side, Brazil’s Tomas Hermes, 27, held tight to his No. 8 spot on the QS, bringing a polished and perfected forehand display to win his heat ahead of local legend Sunny Garcia, whilst eliminating Brent Dorrington (AUS) and Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA).
“I’m super close (to qualifying), still in the Top 10 on (the QS) tour, and I’m super excited,” said Hermes, whose smooth rail-to-rail surfing was not lost on the judges. “I’m feeling so happy staying here in Hawaii and feeling strong.”
Nathan Hedge (AUS), 35, formerly held a spot on the WCT and is currently rated 25th on the QS. Hedge is on the verge of requalifying for the Top 34, but will need back-to-back results here and at the final QS event of the season, the Vans World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach. He clawed his way from fourth to first in a last-minute show of brilliance, posting a vital second score of 8.37 in his Round 2 heat to take the win move through to Round 3.
“It’s so amazing coming back when you need a score and you get it at the end,” said a relieved Hedge. “With the priority and the way that the waves are, it’s pretty much the last roll of the dice. It feels good to back yourself and then get the wave and actually preform on it.
“To come back and surf Haleiwa and be here for the season, it’s an honor. I’m not thinking too far ahead, I just want to do my best surfing on each wave and the rest of the stuff takes care of itself. I’ve got the beauty of experience over here and I’ve had to qualify here a bunch of times. I know I can do it and if it’s meant to be, it’ll be, so I’m just going to enjoy it and embrace it.”
Two more days of competition remain before a champion is crowned, and top seeds like reigning three-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) and defending event winner Michel Bourez (PYF) will enter the draw in upcoming Round 3.
Another pulse of swell is expected to fill in tonight for tomorrow and could see the contest continue in the morning, however there is potential for unfavorable side-shore west winds. Event organizers will reconvene at 7:45 a.m. local time (HST) on Friday, November 14 to assess conditions and make the next call.
The Reef Hawaiian Pro is webcast LIVE via aspworldtour.com and vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com and televised LIVE on Oceanic Surf Channel 250 & 1250HD across the state of Hawaii.
REEF Hawiian Pro Round 1 Results (Round of 128 – 1st & 2nd advance, 3rd=97th; 4th=113th)
Heat 13: Wade Carmichael (AUS) 18.37pts ; Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 14.30pts ; Seth Moniz (HAW) 13.83 pts ; Ian Gouveia (BRA) 12.53pts
Heat 14: Jean De Silva (BRA) 9.54pts ; Kylen Yamakawa (HAW) 8.10pts ; Evan Valiere (HAW) 7.20pts ; Cory Arrambide (USA) 6.30pts
Heat 15: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 15.33pts ; Jose Ferreira (PRT) 14.44pts ; Evan Geiselman (USA) 13.43pts ; Isaiah Moniz (HAW) 13.03pts
Heat 16: Kalani David (HAW) 19.43pts ; Alex Smith (HAW) 17.77pts ; Santiago Muniz (ARG) 15.67pts ; Lucas Silveira (BRA) 14.46pts
REEF Hawaiian Pro Round 2 Results (Round of 96 – 1st & 2nd advance, 3rd=65th, 4th=81st):
Heat 1: Joel Centeio (HAW) 17.60pts ; Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 17.00pts ; Heitor Alves (BRA) 14.73pts ; Gavin Gillette (HAW) 14.14pts
Heat 2: Joan Duru (FRA) 17.57pts ; Michael Dunphy (USA) 15.60pts ; Bino Lopes (BRA) 13.80pts ; Ian Walsh (HAW) 12.90pts
Heat 3: Tomas Hermes (BRA) 16.50pts ; Sunny Garcia (HAW) 12.83pts ; Brent Dorrington (AUS) 12.60pts ; Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 12.40pts
Heat 4: Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.96pts ; Stu Kennedy (AUS) 15.43pts ; Ricardo Christie (NZL) 14.13pts ; Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 11.30pts
Heat 5: Nathan Hedge (AUS) 15.47pts ; Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 15.30 ; Billy Kemper (HAW) 15.17pts ; Ian Gentil (HAW) 13.60pts
Heat 6: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 18.00pts ; Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 17.90 ; Carlos Munoz (CRI) 12.70pts ; Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 12.10pts
Heat 7: Davey Cathels (AUS) 17.17pts ; Jesse Mendes (BRA) 16.17pts ; Joshua Moniz (HAW) 15.06pts ; Jamie O’brien (HAW) 14.87pts
Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.90pts ; Billy Stairmand (NZL) 7.03pts ; Marco Fernandez (BRA) 3.37pts ; Charles Martin (GLP) 0.00pts
Heat 9: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 17.26pts ; Jack Freestone (AUS) 15.13pts ; Italo Ferreira (BRA) 14.74pts ; Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 14.67pts
Heat 10: Torrey Meister (HAW) 16.77pts ; Vasco Ribeiro (PRT) 15.93pts ; Tim Reyes (USA) 14.87pts ; Cahill Bell-Warren (AUS) 7.60pts
Heat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 15.66pts ; Frederico Morais (PRT) 13.83pts ; Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 11.67pts ; Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 10.40pts
Heat 12: Conner Coffin (USA) 18.07pts ; Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 15.10pts ; Glen Hall (IRL) 12.83pts ; Koa Smith (HAW) 11.83pts
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