Monday, November 23, 1998
Jaquias: One
down, two to go
for $1 million
But he will be a marked
By Greg Ambrose
man in the second leg of the
Triple Crown of Surfing
Special to the Star-BulletinKaipo Jaquias is a marked man.
By winning the G-Shock Hawaiian Pro, Jaquias is the only surfer with a chance to earn the $1 million bonus in the Vans G-Shock Triple Crown of Surfing.
So now the same crazed energy that contestants used to tear apart the waves in the Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa to earn a shot at the bonus will be focused on taking Jaquias down in the Rip Curl World Cup at Sunset Beach.
"If I'm in the final heat with Kaipo in the Rip Curl and a last good wave comes, I'm bloody going to get it this time," said Australia's Mick Lowe, who finished just behind Jaquias in the Hawaiian Pro.
Surfers who have come to enjoy Jaquias' low-key, friendly outer-island charm will quickly learn that it masks a fierce determination to succeed."I know I'm a marked man, it's always like that. It doesn't faze me," Jaquias said. "We're all out there to win. It's not a team sport."
A host of talented surfers are eager to keep Jaquias from becoming a millionaire. Five-time world champion Kelly Slater, three-time Triple Crown champion Sunny Garcia, or any of the talented young Aussies could end Jaquias' dream ride.
And then there's four-time Triple Crown winner and former world champion Derek Ho, who was mightily displeased to finish third in the Hawaiian Pro. Ho showed no concern for his rehabilitated knee as he launched into menacing sections at top speed, flying through the air and absorbing the rough landing with no problem.
"You have to take those chances, you don't get rewarded if you don't," said Ho, who underwent a long, frustrating rehabilitation after he injured his knee while practicing for a contest in Indonesia last season.
"Surfing against these kids just makes you surf better and be energized," said Ho, who at 34 is more than a decade older than many of his competitors.Said Jaquias: "I can't forget about that $1 million, but I'll just take it heat by heat. There were too many guys that could have won (the Hawaiian Pro), and could win the other two events."
His wife, Tivoli, can't help but think about the bonus money as they are trying to buy a house on Jaquias' home island of Kauai.
"I'm going to be more nervous than Kaipo about the $1 million," she said. "That way we wouldn't have to worry about our house."
Jaquias is confident heading into the Rip Curl World Cup.
"I feel comfortable at Sunset," he said. "I won twice there -- once in small waves and once in big waves. I know I can do it. The odds of winning this $1 million are pretty scarce, but now only one guy can do it, and I'm the one.
"Hopefully we'll have big waves for this one to make it more exciting."
Should he prevail in the Rip Curl, Jaquias is much less confident of his chances of taking the $1 million prize in the Triple Crown-ending Mountain Dew Pipe Masters. But he is working to increase his odds.
"My weakness is at Pipe, but I've been getting tips from Derek (Ho). I've been practicing there, and I've already gotten the wipeout of the year: pitched with the lip on a 12-foot wave.
"Once you survive a wipeout like that, you know you can do it.
"I love what I do, so I'm going to do what I can to keep doing it. If you've got that talent, you've just got to use it and do your best."
The waiting period for Rip Curl is Nov. 24-Dec. 6, and the waiting period for Roxy Pro is Nov. 27-Dec. 6.
Rip Curl World
Cup of SurfingMen's competition
Quicksilver Roxy Pro
Women's competition
Where: Nov. 24-Dec. 6
