Isle File
Garcia advances in surf at Australia despite injury

Advertiser Staff

Despite surfing with a partially torn ligament in his right knee, defending world champion Sunny Garcia of Wai'anae won his first-round heat in the Rip Curl Pro yesterday at Bell's Beach, Australia.

Garcia, surfing for the first time since injuring his knee two weeks ago, defeated six-time former world champion Kelly Slater of Florida and Australian Luke Hitchings in the first round.

Garcia's three-wave score of 24.0 (out of 30) was the highest of the abbreviated first round yesterday. Only nine heats were completed before the competition was postponed due to strong winds.

"The heat went good considering 10 days ago the doctor told me I wouldn't be in the water for eight weeks," said Garcia, 31. "It's still a little loose and a little wobbly, but with a whole lot of tape and a knee brace, it feels pretty good."

Hawai'i surfers Kalani Robb and Shane Dorian each placed third in their first-round heats. They will each get another chance in the loser-out second round. Two other Hawai'i surfers, Andy Irons and Shawn Sutton, have yet to compete in the first round.

The contest is the first stop on this year's World Championship Tour.