Youth stands out at Banzai
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
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Led by 19-year-old Jamie O'Brien, up-and-coming surfers from Hawai'i proved their worth in treacherous up-and-coming waves that ranged from 8 to 15 feet yesterday.
O'Brien started what may become a long series of success for him at Pipeline by winning the Hansen's Energy Pro. It was his first professional victory.
"This is my biggest win by far," said O'Brien, who also had a decorated amateur career. "Pipe is obviously my favorite wave, so to win here against all these guys is a big thing for me."
It probably helped that O'Brien resides in a beachfront house that overlooks the Pipeline waves. His father, Mick O'Brien, is a longtime lifeguard at Pipeline.
"I surf here every day, as much as possible," O'Brien said. "It doesn't matter if its big or small, I just try to get out there because I'm right there."
Waves were definitely big yesterday. During the morning rounds, the waves were still rising, so near-perfect rides were the norm. By the afternoon, the waves were almost out of control, and wipeouts were as common as clean barrel rides.
"The conditions weren't that good, but there was a lot of time to wait for a good one," O'Brien said.
In truth, there were only two good waves during the 35-minute final.
Kaua'i's Bruce Irons, the two-time defending champion of the event, caught the first one. He successfully rode through a right-hand barreling wave — the section known as Backdoor — and received a score of 8.67.
O'Brien caught the very next wave and went left, through the Pipeline barrel, and also received an 8.67. He caught only one more wave, a fast-breaking 15-footer that did not give him any room for maneuvers. It received a score of 2.0
Irons could not even match that as the waves started slamming shut in the last half of the final.
O'Brien's final score of 10.67 edged Irons' two-wave total of 9.90.
"So close to winning, it's like ahh ... ," Irons said. "But I'm stoked for Jamie. He deserves it."
O'Brien received $7,000 for the victory in addition to 750 points toward surfing's World Qualifying Series (WQS). The WQS is a year-long, international tour that helps surfers qualify for the following year's elite World Championship Tour.
"I really want to try and do something on the WQS this year," O'Brien said. "I want to take it to the limit. Hopefully this is the start, and I can do well all year."
Joel Centeio of Kapolei also had his best showing as a professional, placing third. It was also his first experience in big Pipeline waves.
"I was just charging as hard as I can," said Centeio, 20, and a former amateur world champion.
Jamie Sterling of O'ahu's North Shore solidified his reputation as one of the world's top young big-wave riders by placing fourth. He caught some of the biggest waves of the day, but could not complete his barrel rides in the final.
The four finalists are 23 and younger.
"I've surfed in so many contests with these guys where the waves were like two feet," Centeio said. "To be in a pro final in big Pipe waves with these guys was unreal."
Bruce Irons' older brother, Andy Irons, is the defending world champion of the WCT. Because of a conflicting contest in Australia, he did not compete in the Hansen's Energy Pro.
Kainoa McGee — a successful professional bodyboarder — had an amazing run this week in his first professional surfing contest. He advanced to the semifinals before being eliminated.
Kaua'i's Evan Valiere was also eliminated in the semifinals but won the Todd Chesser Memorial Award for sportsmanship. Lance Ho'okano won $500 as the top performer in a special longboard heat.
Final results
1, Jamie O'Brien (Hawai'i), $7,000. 2, Bruce Irons (Hawai'i), $3,500. 3, Joel Centeio (Hawai'i), $2,500. 4, Jamie Sterling (Hawai'i), $2,000. 5 (tie), Evan Valiere (Hawai'i) and Mike Todd (California), $1,500. 7 (tie), Marcus Hickman (Hawai'i) and Kainoa McGee (Hawai'i), $1,000. 9 (tie), Myles Padaca (Hawai'i), Dustin Barca (Hawai'i), Jason Bogle (Hawai'i) and Damon Harvey (Australia), $900. 13 (tie), Andrew King (Australia), Blair Stewart (New Zealand), Josh Fuller (Australia) and Shawn Sutton (Hawai'i), $800.
