Pancho Sullivan : photo Towner/ASP Covered Images

Monster Energy Pipeline Pro
Presented by Billabong

ASP 3 Star Mens Event
Pipeline, Oahu Hawaii
27 January - 6 February 2007

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

HAWAII'S SULLIVAN CLAIMS 2ND MONSTER BILLABONG

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 February, 2008 : - - Honolulu - Hawaii's Pancho Sullivan wiped out the opposition to claim his second Monster Energy Pipeline Pro, presented by Billabong, at Backdoor Pipe today in barreling waves of six to eight feet (wave face heights). Posting a perfect 10-point tube ride as well as the highest heat score of the event - 18.75 points out of 20, in the 30-minute final, his three rivals were all left in need of a combination of scores to turn the tables.

The win earned Sullivan $7,000 and 875 World Qualifying Series ratings points. Pancho first won this event back in 2005, a result that catapulted him onto the elite ASP World Championship Tour (WCT).

While the waves were not trademark Pipeline by any standards, they allowed Sullivan to prove he's not just a big-wave power surfer but a threat to contend with in all quality conditions. He had plenty of opportunity to build momentum and show his worth after denying a main round seed and surfing all the way through from the trials here. By the conclusion of today's final, Sullivan had contested a total of eight heats - more than any other surfer in the event.

An all-Hawaii affair, second and third place went to fellow WCT surfers Fred Patacchia (14.25 points) and Roy Powers (9.1 points) respectively, with Dustin Barca fourth (6.5 points). "Conditions were super difficult so my plan was just to chip away," said Sullivan. "With the incoming swell the smaller waves offered more open face, so my aim was to get a decent score and build on that. A lot of times it boils down to being lucky and getting the right waves."

Pancho Sullivan : photo Towner/ASP Covered Images

On starting from the trials: "There is so much luck involved. I was just fortunate I didn't get skunked. I was pretty wave-starved in the semi's. But I was looking forward to getting as many heats as possible under my beld before the WCT starts. This is a great opportunity to prepare and train."

Patacchia was surprised to keep his grip on second place after giving up 20 minutes into the heat once he realized there was no catching Pancho. Fred opted to leave the water and trade in his surfboard for a pink bodyboard, apparently not concerned by the threat of injury or losing money by dropping his position in the heat. When he wiped out heavily on that, he took to bodysurfing the barrel.

"The thought of injury and money didn't even enter my mind," said Patacchia. "I was all about the win, so once I saw Pancho had it, I was done." Neither Powers nor Barca managed to secure decent rides in the last 10 minutes of the heat and Patacchia remained at second for $3,500. Powers earned $2,500 and Barca $2,000.

Along with the prize money, 14 wildcards into the coveted Billabong Pipeline Masters next December were on offer to locals in this event. Sullivan, Patacchia and Powers did not need to take up the offer, already guaranteed of a start through their WCT status.

Mason Ho : photo Towner/ASP Covered Images

Fourth placed Barca will get a start, along with other highly placed surfers in the event including TJ Barron, Marcus Hickman, Makuakai Rothman, Daniel Jones, Jesse Merle-Jones, Nathan Carroll, Ian Walsh, Kekoa Bacalso and Ola Eleogram. (Complete list not available at time of release.)

Eleogram also received the Todd Chesser Sportsmanship Award today, selected for his never-say-die spirit during the event. Eleogram finished equal ninth overall, losing in the quarterfinals.

The highest placed non-Hawaii surfers were Matt Mohagen (CA), Devon Tresher (Florida) and Brazilian Dantas Wiggolly, all of whom placed equal 13th with fourth place quarterfinal finishes. The top Australian finisher was Anthony Walsh, who fell one round short of the quarterfinals for equal 25th place.

The Association of Surfing Professionals now heads to Australia for the start of the World Championship Tour. The next professional event in Hawaii will be next winter.

TJ Barron : photo Towner/ASP Covered Images

FINAL
1st - $7,000 - Pancho Sullivan (HI) - 18.75 points (10, 8.75)
2nd - $3,500 - Fred Patacchia (HI) - 14.25 (7.75, 6.5)
3rd - $2,500 - Roy Powers (HI) - 9.1 (7.0, 2.1)
4th - $2,000 - Dustin Barca (HI) - 6.5 (4.5, 2.0)

Semi-Finals:
H1: Roy Powers (HI), Pancho Sullivan (HI), Makuakai Rothman (HI), Marcus Hickman (HI);
H2: Dustin Barca (HI), Fred Patacchia (HI), TJ Barron (HI), Ian Walsh (HI)

Quarter Finals:
H1: Roy Powers (HI), Makuakai Rothman (HI), Ola Eleogram (HI), Matt Mohagen (USA);
H2: Pancho Sullivan (HI), Marcus Hickman (HI), Kekoa Bacalso (HI), Wiggolly Dantas (Brz);
H3: Ian Walsh (HI), Dustin Barca (HI), Nathan Carroll (HI), Devon Tresher (USA);
H4: Fred Patacchia (HI), TJ Barron (HI), Jesse Merle-Jones (HI), Daniel Jones (HI)

Click here for full results

Current WQS ratings after the Monster Energy Pipe Pro

Gudauskas,Patrick	USA	1
Losness,Mike	USA	2
Spencer,Sterling	USA	3
Barron,T.J	HAW	4
Curran,Nathaniel	USA	5
Jones,Daniel	HAW	6
Hobgood,C.J.	USA	7
Lopez,Cory	USA	7
Nolan,Asher	USA	7
Yeomans,Nathan	USA	7
Ware,Austin	USA	11
Bacalso,Kekoa	HAW	12
Bourgeois,Ben	USA	13
Collins,Jason	USA	13
Graves,Dylan	PRI	13
Hobgood,Damien	USA	13
Lopez,Shea	USA	13
Simpson,Brett	USA	13
Zubizarreta,Gony	ESP	13
Stang,Che	USA	20
Beckmann,Travis	USA	21
Smith,Alex	HAW	22
Cuizon,Dustin	HAW	23
Gudauskas,Dane	USA	24
Zietz,Sebastien	HAW	25
Centeio,Joel	HAW	26
Sullivan,Kevin	HAW	27
Carroll,Nathan	HAW	28
Merle-Jones,Jesse	HAW	28
Tresher,Devon	USA	30
Larsen,Wesley	HAW	31
Garland,Killian	USA	32
Gray,Alex	USA	32
Jabour,Kiron	HAW	34
Sullivan,Pancho	HAW	35
Mohagen,Matt	USA	36
McBride,Justin	USA	37
Kaulukukui,Noi	USA	38
Goodrum,Darrell	USA	39
Moody,Sean	HAW	39
Toth,Brian	PRI	39
Patacchia,Fredrick (jnr)	HAW	42
Ettinger,Brad	USA	43
Geiselman,Eric	USA	43
Knox,Kyle	USA	43
Byrne,Micah	USA	46
Johnson,Dane	USA	46
King,Matt	USA	46
Mellem,Travis	USA	46
Pilurzu,Federico	CRI	46
Rosa,Diego	BRA	46
Ward,Shaun	USA	46
Reilly,Brent	USA	46

Click here for full WQS ratings

About Billabong
Billabong produces active lifestyle clothing, accessories and related products designed and distributed to a worldwide customer base of board riders. The products are developed in the authentic environment of the surf culture and sold primarily through surf and specialty retailers. Billabong-branded products are tested and improved by the best board sport performers across the globe.

Active enthusiasts in every department from marketing and sales, to design and merchandising, bring an unmatched authenticity and unique quality to both the innovative products and related events produced by the Billabong brand.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Monster Energy Pipeline Pro by Billabong begins Sunday
# 2 : Possible 8am Sunday start for Monster Energy Pipe Pro
# 3 : Bad winds hold off Monster Energy Pipeline Pro Sunday
# 4 : Monster Energy Pipe Pro off Monday - Tues. looks good
  
# 5 : New swell but no Monster Energy Pipe Pro on Tuesday
# 6 : Competition gets underway at Monster Energy Pipe Pro
# 7 : Monster Energy Pipeline Pro hits 6-8 foot faces Thursday
# 8 : No action for the Monster Energy Pipeline Pro on Friday

# 9 : Monster Energy Pipeline Pro gets a lay day on Saturday
# 10 : Surfers sleep in Sunday for Monster Energy Pipeline Pro
# 11 : Heavy storms hold off Monster Energy Pipe Pro Monday
# 12 : Four heats run Tuesday at the Monster Energy Pipe Pro 

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