Day 1 Recap of the 2009 Xcel Pro Presented by Honolua Pancho, Andy, Sunny, Joel Advance; Rothman Nabs Wave of the Day
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 31 October, 2009 : - - Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii - An exciting Day 1 has completed at the 2009 Xcel Pro Presented by Honolua, with key contenders Pancho Sullivan, Joel Centeio, and Andy Irons all advancing to meet each other in the same Round of 32 heat.
Positioning was the name of the game today as the long period NW swell built slowly over a fading earlier system, creating a fair variety of take-off opportunities from off the point over to the west peak. Starting the morning overhead, Sunset improved to good overhead sets in the afternoon, with moderate trades throughout.
Highest-scoring wave of the day went to Sunset specialist Makua Rothman in Round 2, stalling into one of the larger set waves and grabbing one of the few barrels of the afternoon - made all the more dramatic after breaking a board on his prior takeoff. Throwing in some strong hacks after his cover-up, Rothman's wave rang up a 9.8, easily advancing into Round 3.
Rothman has made the Xcel Pro finals in each of the past 3 consecutive years.
Defending and 4X Xcel Pro champion Pancho Sullivan advanced out of his Round 2 (Round of 64) heat and will have a chance to add a 5th Xcel Pro title to his extensive resume. Sullivan will meet 3X world champion and 1997 Xcel Pro winner Andy Irons in his next heat, along with 2007 Xcel Pro champ Joel Centeio, who surfed twice today after gaining a last-minute alternate slot into Round 1.
"[Sunset's] got power, it's a pretty big playing field out there," Centeio said after his second heat today. "It's great to kick off the season with the Xcel Pro... I'm glad I got in this year."
2000 ASP WCT world champion and '92 Xcel Pro winner Sunny Garcia also advanced out of his Round 2 heat with a clutch last-minute ride to move into the second qualifying position. Garcia will meet early-round standouts Charlie Carroll and Kaupena Miranda in his Round of 32 heat.
All in all, 3 former world champions (Irons; Garcia; Derek Ho) and 9 Xcel Pro champions are still contenders in the event.
At stake in this year's Xcel Pro are a chunk of the $25,000 prize purse and a Tahiti trip with entry into the 2010 VonZipper Teahupoo Trials, with a shot at a wild card in the WCT Billabong Pro Tahiti.
With the current swell expected to hold through tomorrow, the event is potentially looking at crowning an Xcel Pro champion this weekend on its second and final day of competiton.
ROUND of 64 Top 2 per heat advance into Round of 32.
For Sunday's call, as well as heat results, photos, and daily video recap, check the official event website
Xcel Pro Sunset : photo courtesy Xcel Wetsuits
AM Report: Day 1 ON at 2009 Xcel Pro Presented by Honolua! | Sunset is Overhead and Rising
Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 31 October, 2009 : - - Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii - Day 1 is ON at the 2009 Xcel Pro Presented by Honolua, kicking the North Shore winter season off with a bang as Sunset is overhead to a few feet overhead on the sets. A new, building long period NW swell has moved in and should continue through the weekend, as tradewinds should stay moderate today and Friday's NW swell fades out.
Competition begins at 8:15 AM HST with the first heat of the Round of 80, and should run well into the Round of 64. Scheduled to compete on Day 1 are defending 4X Xcel Pro champion Pancho Sullivan, 3X world champion Andy Irons (1997 Xcel Pro winner), world champion Sunny Garcia (1992 Xcel Pro winner), and Sunset specialist Makua Rothman, who has made the Xcel Pro finals for the past 3 consecutive years.
At stake in this year's Xcel Pro are a chunk of the $25,000 prize purse and a Tahiti trip with entry into the 2010 VonZipper Teahupoo Trials, with a shot at a wild card in the WCT Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Official Xcel Pro merchandise is available exclusively online via presenting sponsor Honolua's Web shop at store.honoluasurf.com. Heat results, photos, and daily video recap are available on the official event Web site at xcelpro.xcelwetsuits.com.
About the Xcel Pro Celebrating its 26th anniversary this year, the 2009 Xcel Pro Presented by Honolua is a 2-Star ASP WQS event with a $25,000 purse, drawing pros and amateurs alike to world-class Sunset Beach along Oahu's North Shore.
Honolua Surf Co. is the presenting sponsor of the event and is joined by associate sponsors VonZipper, Kustom, and Surfline. Surf News Network also supports the event as the official contest hotline (808-596-7873).
About Xcel: Founded in 1982, Xcel International, Inc. (Xcel) is a global wetsuit brand distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Headquartered on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Xcel's core wetsuit business focuses on the cutting edge of material and design development. Xcel's primary markets include surf, dive, wakeboard, paddle, and sun (UV protection). In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel has retail locations on Oahu, Kauai, and Maui; and a warehouse/repair facility in California.
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