Top-ranked Irons rolls out barrel
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
The big waves and big names finally appeared for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing yesterday.
Grant Ellis • Tostee.com
Neither disappointed.
Hawai‘i’s Ross Williams flipped over the back of this wave, but went on to advance in the Vans Hawaiian Pro.
The third round of the men's Vans Hawaiian Pro was completed at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach yesterday in wave faces that ranged from 10 feet to almost 20 feet. The contest is the first jewel in the prestigious Triple Crown series.
For the first time all week, the top-rated surfers got to compete. Among the standouts were Andy Irons, Kelly Slater and Sunny Garcia.
Earlier in the week, the lower-seeded surfers battled through the early rounds.
The biggest name in surfing this year — Andy Irons — showed why he is the No. 1-ranked surfer.
Irons, who is from Hanalei, Kaua'i, won two heats yesterday, including a near-perfect performance in his afternoon heat.
"The morning heat was kind of my warm-up," he said. "Then it got good (in the afternoon) and I just went out and had fun."
He opened the heat by completing several top-to-bottom carving maneuvers across a 10-foot wave for a 9.0 score (out of 10). He followed with a perfect 10 for a daring barrel ride through a fast-closing 15-foot wave.
"I just kind of went for it," said Irons, 24. "I saw the barrel open up at first so I got in there. Then I saw it pinching shut at the end and somehow I punched through the door."
In the process, he eliminated two of Hawai'i's best young surfers — younger brother Bruce Irons, and Jamie O'Brien.
Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser
"Every now and then I'd be looking over my shoulder to try and see what those guys were up to," Andy said. "But I was pretty much just doing my own thing."
Darren O'Rafferty was one of several standouts from Australia to advance past the third round of the Vans Hawaiian Pro.
Irons is the defending champion of the Hawaiian Pro, and a continued strong performance this week will put him in line for his first Triple Crown championship (awarded to the best overall performer in the three North Shore contests).
He is also on a quest for his first world championship. This week's contest, however, will not count toward the World Championship Tour standings (only the final two events in the Triple Crown will count toward the world title).
Garcia, who owns a record five Triple Crown titles, competed for the first time in more than two months yesterday. In September, he tore the medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in his right knee. Rather than undergo surgery, Garcia is surfing in the Triple Crown series.
"I'm here to win, injured and all," said Garcia, 32. "I may not have the endurance of the young kids, but I definitely have the knowledge."
He showed it yesterday, winning his heat despite catching only two waves.
The Australian contingent had a strong showing yesterday, including standout performances by Jake Paterson, Luke Stedman and Mick Fanning.
Irons, Garcia, Ross Williams and Jason Bogle were the only Hawai'i surfers to advance. Bogle was a surprise winner over former world champ Mark Occhilupo of Australia.
"I was nervous," said Bogle, 24. "Just watching Occy walking on the beach is intimidating. I was just trying to block it out of my mind."
One more day of competition is required to determine a champion. The women's Roxy Pro did not run heats yesterday.
For today's status of the contests, call 596-7873 or visit triplecrownofsurfing.com.
