SUNSET BEACH, O‘ahu — Kaua‘i’s Andy Irons will be there. So will eight-time world champion Kelly Slater of Florida and world Nos. 2 and 6, Mike Fanning and Joel Parkinson, respectively, both of Australia. These are the names that head
SUNSET BEACH, O‘ahu — Kaua‘i’s Andy Irons will be there.
So will eight-time world champion Kelly Slater of Florida and world Nos. 2 and 6, Mike Fanning and Joel Parkinson, respectively, both of Australia.
These are the names that head the final field of 16 surfers remaining in the 6-star O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach.
Officials are looking at the anticipated “extra large” (approximately 15 feet) surf to complete the remaining seven heats of this, the second of three events making up the men’s Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
While Slater and the seasoned surfers command the limelight, dark horses are proving to be legitimate contenders in the event.
Ian Walsh, O’Neill’s wildcard entry from Ku‘au, Maui, posted one of the highest scores in his heat with Parkinson, Patrick Gudauskas and Odiriei Coutinho. Walsh sliced out 14.03 points out of a possible 20 with top wave scores of 7.53 and 6.5.
Walsh will take on world No. 10 Dean Morrison of Australia, No. 14 Fred Patacchia of Sunset Beach and Coutinho in the second quarterfinal heat tomorrow.
“It helps to be surfing in an O’Neill contest, but for me, it’s more about doing well at home,” Walsh said. “I’ve been surfing Sunset since I was 12 years old. I’d almost consider it a second home. It’s definitely one of my favorite waves in the world.”
Walsh has tasted success at Sunset Beach before, winning a four-star event a little more than a year ago, but has not been a competitor on the world tour this year.
Parkinson will be in the most high-profile heat of the quarterfinals between Slater, Sunset Beach local Pancho Sullivan and Australian Jay Thompson.
Parkinson posted the event’s highest heat score so far, nailing a total of 17.8 points yesterday in his heat with Walsh.
In contrast, Slater posted 11.67 points, placing second to Coutinho to advance out of their four-man heat.
South African David Weare, ranked 22nd on the Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series tour, was as impressive as Parkinson, posting a total of 17.5 points in just three rides in his 25-minute heat.
Against Brazil’s Neco Padaratz, Australia’s Troy Brooks and Hawai‘i’s Jason Shibata, Weare’s first two rides posted 9.0 and 8.5 points — his best.
His third wave, a “throw away,” also earned 8.23 points, better than any of his rivals’ scores and better than 98 percent of the total 140 waves surfed in yesterday’s round.
“I actually got off to a really slow start,” Weare said. “But they were really good shaped waves — super fun to surf. Coming from South Africa, we get a lot of point breaks and I’m definitely more accustomed to surfing right-handers, so Sunset suits me fine.”
A strong finish will almost secure Weare a spot on the World Championship Tour of 2007.
“This is pretty much make or break time for me,” he said. “I don’t even want to look at the ratings, but this is the event that will decide my future.”
Today is the final day of the official holding period for the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing, which means competition must go on.
Coincidentally, the biggest swell of winter to date is scheduled to arrive in the early morning, allowing the O’Neill World Cup to wrap up before the extra-large swell reaches unrideable proportions.
Sunset Beach is not rideable once waves grow in excess of 15 to 18 feet.
