Rockstar Games Honolua Bay Pro: Day One
Source: www.ibaworldtour.com
posted on 28th December 2005
Day one of the Rockstar Games Honolua Bay Pro, presented by Mike Stewart Science Bodyboards, saw early morning waves in the 3-5 ft. range with classic conditions and mild offshore trade winds at around 10 MPH. The morning crew checking the waves looked like a page right out of Movement Magazine, with 2x World Champion Damien King, Jeff Hubbard, 9x world champ, Mike Stewart and South African/World Traveller Brandon Foster all looking poised for yet another memorable day at the Bay.
By the start of Round 1 at 10am, the waves were already pushing six feet and riders were pushing limits from the outset. The first standout wave of the day came in Heat #2 as Jason Pembrook pulling into a clean, hollow, six-foot wave on the outside, exiting cleanly a few seconds later, scoring him a 7.0 out of 10. Moments later, the rising swell made its presence known to an empty lineup as waves over seven feet came screaming across the Bay. The highest scoring wave of Round One came from Kauai's Tim Hamilton, a long, deep backdoor tube that earned him an 8.0. Round 1 standouts that advanced were Michael Novy, Shea Sevilla and Kainoa Lum.
Round 2 started with the most progressive heat of the day. In Heat #1, Shea Sevilla caught a nice six-footer straight after the horn sounded and pulled into a deep barrel on the outside, travelling for the better part of the wave, and exiting for an aerial on the inside section to the cheers of the crowd on the beach. On the larger wave immediately following, Kauai’s David ‘Dub’ Hubbard pulled in to a cavernous tube and finished with a massive air reverse (aerial reverse 360), projecting him way out on the flats. The judges awarded him with a 9.0 out of 10.
As waves seemed to be a bit slower with 10-minute lulls in between sets, picking the right wave became critical, and the deciding factor in a few close heats. Getting the better end of heat three was 12-year old Travis Smith. Travis, a Kauai raised charger, was in the perfect spot for a six-foot set that suddenly snuck into the line-up, he took off and hit a very critical section which projected him far above the beastly wave. The crowd on the beach clapped and screamed as he went for it. "I didn't know what to do with that set, it just pounded me," said Travis. With a wave like that under his belt, he advanced on in second. Getting the worst end of the situation was Kauai Ripper and former Honolua Bay winner, Kepa Kruse. Unfortunately for Kepa, he didn't get the bigger sets and larger scores posted by both David Hubbard and Shea Sevilla. Redeeming himself in front of the large crowd, Kepa pulled a Double Rollo to ARS (air-roll-spin) combo to cheers from the group sitting on the hilltop. Other standouts in round two included Kauai ripper, David Phillips, Maui standout, Tyler Ching-Johnson and Oahu Charger, Warren Anderson.
Round Three started as slowly as Round Two ended, unfortunately with the lower tide sucking out, waves became a little scarce and with the exception of Australian John Showell's 9.5 wave, heat #1 saw very little action. Heat Two began with the set of the afternoon pouring in with David Hubbard being the benefactor. Dub took off on a solid seven-footer and pulled into a draining right-hander that went for a while, he then came out and hit a large section coming straight at him which gave him a perfect 10 out of 10, the first of the event.
With sets that now seemed to come one after another, the high scores continued into Heat Three; Brazilian, Paulo Barcellos stalled on a seven-footer to get a heaving barrel which looked to be one of the biggest of the day, then hit the closeout end section to finish with a roll. Michael Novey took off on sick one and got covered for nearly seven seconds before coming out and hitting a solid rollo, a wave the judges scored a 9.5.
The last heat of the day and fourth of Round Three brought the two youngest competitors in the event in the same heat and up against serious competiton. 12-year-old Travis Smith and 14-year-old Tucker Bontecou started with some great wave exchanges to start, but in the end it was Tucker Bontecou winning the heat, along with Douglas Showell from Australia, advancing to Round Four. Day Two will start bright and early tomorrow morning, waves permitting, with Heat Five of Round Three.
Click here to view the Heat Sheets
2154 views
Comments
