Wave faces in the 30- to 35-foot range bombarded Sunset Beach at the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing yesterday. The massive surf, coupled with light, Kona winds made for epic, contestable conditions for the last event of the World Qualifying Series season.

Although Sunset Beach put on its winter best for Vans Triple Crown of Surfing competitors, the Hawaii contingent didn't do well yesterday. Most notably, 2000 world champ Sunny Garcia, 38, was eliminated in Heat 10, thus shattering his hope of qualifying for next year's World Tour.

Despite not advancing out of his heat, Garcia was happy about the size and quality of the surf.

“;The waves were just incredible today,”; Garcia said. “;I was just glad to paddle out.”;

Garcia showed why he is a six-time Triple Crown champion, posting a 9-point ride on a monster wave. In the last minutes of the heat, Garcia only needed a 2.5 out of a possible 10 to advance into the next round.

South African surfer, Jordy Smith, gave Garcia a bigger board in the lineup so he could catch the necessary wave to advance. But Garcia couldn't find that ride before the heat ended. Smith would go on to win the heat and advance with Australian Nic Muscroft to the next round.

“;I enjoy competing, whether I make it or not,”; Garcia said. “;I'm doing it for the old guys. All these young guys are incredible surfers, but hopefully my knowledge will shine through next year.”;

With his Vans Triple Crown campaign over, Garcia plans to go under the knife to fix his knees.

“;I needed knee surgery for the last couple of years,”; he said. “;I gotta repair my PCL in my right leg and my ACL in my left so I'm looking forward to getting surgery next week and preparing for next year.”;

On the opposite side of competition, Californian Pat Gudauskas, 23, is still in the hunt for a WCT berth after yesterday. He is sitting in 16th place on the WQS and needs to make it to the quarterfinals.

Gudauskas posted the highest scoring ride of the day, a 9.67, for a breathtaking barrel coupled with two big cutbacks.

“;I was just looking (for a tube) because that wind was holding it open and I wanted to get barreled,”; Gudauskas said.

Gudauskas advanced out of the heat behind Australia's Ace Buchan, 26.

“;When you look out there all you see is whitewater and big waves,”; he said. “;This is the biggest surf we've ever seen in a contest other than maybe the Waimea event and some of those big wave events.”;

According to Gudauskas, when the waves are this big it's more a man-against-nature kind of competition than a man-vs.-man.

“;For me personally, I like these conditions because you don't see anyone else and it's like you against the ocean,”; Gudauskas said.