2 O'ahu surfers earn Cup berths

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Myles Padaca relied on 12 years of North Shore experience to win the trials event of the Rip Curl Cup. Bernie Baker photo

Or youthful enthusiasm.

Both aspects were proved yesterday in 6- to 8-foot waves at Sunset Beach during the trials event of the Rip Curl Cup. North Shore veteran Myles Padaca and Mililani teenager Kekoa Bacalso were the top two performers of the trials, and thus earned coveted spots in the Rip Curl Cup.

Because the Rip Curl Cup is part of surfing's World Championship Tour, only the 44 top-ranked surfers are allowed entry. Yesterday's day-long trials event was held to determine two open spots in the contest.

In effect, it was a pre-contest to the contest.

"It's probably more difficult than the main event," said Padaca, 30. "You have Hawai'i's best surfers out there who dominate this place on a daily basis battling each other just to get in."

Only 32 surfers were invited to the trials, and most of them are respected Hawai'i competitors. Among those eliminated were former world champion Derek Ho, his brother Michael Ho, Bruce Irons, Pancho Sullivan, Ross Williams and Fred Patacchia Jr.

The biggest upset was the elimination of six-time former world champion Kelly Slater of Florida. He was defeated by Bacalso in the quarterfinals.

"That boosted my confidence," said Bacalso, 16 and a junior at Mililani High. "I felt like I didn't have anything to lose the rest of the day."

Four Hawai'i surfers made the final heat of the trials: Bacalso, Padaca, Kahea Hart and Roy Powers. Padaca dominated the final with a total of 21.9 (out of 30) for his three best rides, including an 8.0 for a series of spectacular top-to-bottom carves on an 8-foot wave.

"Experience is everything," he said. "I've been surfing out here for 12 years, and it pays off."

Bacalso placed second in the final heat to capture the second spot in the Rip Curl Cup. He was allowed into the trials because he is a sponsored surfer for Rip Curl.

He advanced by riding through several of the day's biggest barreling waves.

"I figured the barrels would give me big scores, so I threw the dice and went for it," he said.

He is also hoping his teachers at Mililani will excuse his absences this week. As the second-place trials finisher, he was rewarded with a first-round match-up against Florida's C.J. Hobgood, the world's No. 1-ranked surfer.

"I'm just going to give it my all again," he said. "Hopefully, I'll be able to get out of school."

Padaca will surf in the first round against defending world champion Sunny Garcia of Wai'anae.

"Not to take anything away from the top 44 surfers on the tour, but a lot of them are small- to medium-wave surfers," Padaca said. "In a contest in Hawai'i, it's a chance for the locals to prove that they can dominate in big conditions."

The Rip Curl Cup, which will determine this year's world champion, will begin today at Sunset Beach, conditions permitting.