Rogue sets take their toll

By Greg Ambrose
Star-Bulletin

For every surfer who has grumbled about small surf and prayed for bigger waves, the ocean has an answer. "You asked for it."

For competitors who have prayed since Nov. 24 for the right waves to grace the Rip Curl World Cup of Surfing, the ocean had a resounding response yesterday at Sunset Beach.

Surfers battling for $80,000 and crucial World Qualifying Series points paddled out into 8- to 10-foot waves shredded by howling sideshore winds.

Amazingly, local surfers were victimized by the rogue sets and shrieking winds while Australian competitors performed admirably.

Luck was a major factor. Surfers in the right spot caught a good peak and an insane tube ride while those in the wrong spot caught the whole Pacific Ocean on their head for a prolonged thumping.

Kelly Slater ran out of luck when he got air slamming off the lip and the wind flung him like a runaway kite. With his early exit from the OP Pro at Haleiwa and his defeat yesterday, Slater won't be adding another Triple Crown title to the five world titles he already holds.

Lady luck tapped Aussie Tony Ray on the shoulder, giving him good enough waves to win his heat and advance to the next round. A high finish in the Rip Curl combined with his OP Pro victory would give Ray a solid shot at his first Triple Crown title.

California's Pat O'Connell played the odds by dodging the rampaging set waves and snagging a wall on the inside reef, into which he plugged for a deep barrel that earned him a perfect 10 score. His victims in the heat were Hawaii's Conan Hayes and multiple Triple Crown and World Cup winner Michael Ho.

Hayes' loss may have cost him his place on next year's World Championship Tour.

Taking his place would be Russell Winter, the first European surfer to qualify for the WCT. Winter also victimized a pair of local surfers when he knocked Kaipo Jaquias and Garrett McNamara out of the Rip Curl.

The list of vanquished Hawaii surfers read like a dream team of local wave riders: Brock Little, Andy Irons, Kalani Robb, Ross Williams, Shawn Sutton and Johnny Boy Gomes also fell.

A trio of local surfers prevailed in the chaotic conditions. Pancho Sullivan, Kolohe Blomfield and Myles Padaca won their heats to join a host of Aussies in the money rounds of competition, while Sunny Garcia still has to surf his way into the next round.

For contest information, call 638-5024.