Tuesday, October 27, 1998
Waiting to Xcel
The North Shore's first big meet
By Greg Ambrose
of the season lets local surfers go
board-to-board with the pros
Special to the Star-BulletinEach year when the first winter swells bring the North Shore's reefs to life with waves, local surfers are given a rare chance to cast their dreams upon the ocean and see if they have what it takes to become a professional wave rider.
Surfers who have built up their confidence competing in summer's fun waves and on trips to contests in California are offered a reality check in the Xcel Pro every October. For 15 years, Xcel owner Ed D'Ascoli has matched local hopefuls with the world's top established pros in a challenging arena at Sunset Beach.
It is a golden opportunity for Hawaii surfers usually far from the limelight to attract the attention of sponsors and the world's surf media. More importantly, the Xcel Pro presents a chance for a brutally unsentimental appraisal of whether the local youngsters have the talent and resolve necessary to surf for a living. Past Xcel winners include local heroes Denton Miyamura, Ronnie Burns and Andy Irons.
"Its great to be able to go out there (Sunset) with a few guys. It gives you an opportunity to surf Sunset how it should be surfed," says Pancho Sullivan, who is hovering on the verge of breaking into the ranks of surfing's top professionals.
An estimated 60 million cable subscribers will be able to watch this year's Xcel Pro on ESPN2. Additionally, D'Ascoli has added a $1,000 super heat of Hawaii's top six longboard surfers before the final heat of the Xcel Pro. The Hawaiian Style Longboard Challenge will be shown to the 55 million subscribers of the Fox Sports Network.
"On one hand, the Xcel Pro is a wake-up call for the local professional surfers that winter is here, and the new generation of pros from Hawaii and around the world are knocking on their door," says D'Ascoli.
"On the other hand, it is a lot of fun for the retired pros who still love to surf Sunset and mix it up with the younger guys. I think that's what makes this event challenging and fun for all of the contestants, and why I continue to sponsor it every year."
The Xcel Pro serves double duty, earning surfers points on the world tour as a World Qualifying Series event, and garnering local surfers points on the Hawaiian Pro-Am Circuit, which helps them gain entry into the season-ending Triple Crown of Surfing.
"I don't do the full tour, so this is a chance for me to get into my competitive rhythm," says Waianae surfer Johnny Boy Gomes. "Sunset is a great wave, powerful, big, one of the best waves in the world.
"You know, I never entered last year's Xcel Pro. I was leading HPAC so I didn't surf. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."
Xcel Pro
Who: 128 top international and local professional and amateur surfers
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