Haleiwa Lights Up
Saturday 16 November 2013 The first event of the Triple Crown has been a stop-start affair in maxing conditions, and while Jordy Smith is out of the Reef Hawaiian Pro, South Africa still has two surfers in the event, writes Craig Jarvis.
It has been a big and shaky start to the Hawaiian season, with one monster swell lighting up the big wave spots like Jaws and Waimea, a surfer drowned at Alligators (story here) and the Reef Hawaiian Pro, event 1 of the Vans Triple Crown, having a stop-and-start run in the maxing conditions.
Jordy is out of the Reef Hawaiian Pro (story here) but we still have representation. Beyrick De Vries was unfortunately knocked out in the round of 96, but we still have Dale Staples and Travis Logie in the event.
Dale is currently rated 70th on the World Rankings, and needs a massive result in Hawaii for a good seeding in 2014. He’s a seasoned competitor and determined to do well, thrives in the big stuff and knows what he has to do to advance through heats.
He is into the round of 64 and needs to advance through a good few more heats to solidify his position. The surfing can be watched live at http://vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/reefhawaiianpro2013 remembering that Hawaii has an exact 12 hours time difference – as they’re getting ready to paddle out for the morning heats we’re usually finishing off a evening surf, making supper or enjoying a crisp glass of chardonnay.
Travis Logie is also through to the round of 64. Travis is 23rd on the WCT rankings and on adjusted ratings is in the top 10 of the World Rankings, so just needs a solid result in this event or in he Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach to cement his qualification for 2014. No to discount the fact that Travis has a reputation for charging Pipe as big and gnarly as it gets, and could just as easily requalify through a good result at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.
Former 6-times Van Triple Crown winner and 2000 World Champion Sunny Garcia, 43, from Hawaii, bowed out of the main event but went on to win the Reef Clash Of The Legends exhibition and the US$10,000 first prize. He beat Kaipo Jaquias (Hawaii), Michael Ho (Hawaii) and Brad Gerlachfrom California into the minor spots.
The big leagues kick in tomorrow (tonight) with surfers like Dane Reynolds, John John Florence and last year’s winner Sebastian Zietz taking to the water.