With the much-anticipated swell filtering into the Southern Hemisphere, the surf was cranking with double-overhead sets and closing down the second podium for a good portion of the day. As a result, the contest site for the second podium was moved farther down the beach, with the girls repercharge put on hold due to conditions. Not so for the boys, as the boys under-18 heats hit the rough conditions and were on the prowl to find the right openings for a solid hit or two.

True in combat and competition, casualties will occur and this was the case for Hawaii’s Kyle Galtes when took one for the team and was unable to squeak through in this bracket of the competition.

On a brighter note Albee Layer and Tanner Hendrickson did advance and remain alive with three wins and one loss apiece. Mike Latronic snapped a superb shot of Albee free surfing before his heat, boosting leagues above sea level. After glancing as the shot, you can’t help but think that it deserves a covershot somewhere, somehow.

On the main podium some heats were manageable while others were totally out of control. High tide in the morning found Keanu Asing and Kaimana Jaquias both putting the pedal to the metal, advancing once again unscathed. Both Asing and Jaquias are now each 3-0 with each looking very strong and comfortable in the treacherous conditions.

On the other end, Ezekiel Lau and Matty Costa did not fare as well. Each lost for the first time and will move down the beach on Day 5 to the repercharge brackets. All is not lost however, as each has the experience and wherewithal to put up some additional wins for the team over the remaining days as well as still make the grand final.

The ladies heats began at noon yesterday. The focus of the swell was maxing, and the tide was at its lowest point of the day when our four girls surfed. Malia Manuel surfed very strong and won her heat, leaving Tyler Wright of Australia to pick up the pieces and a second place-finish in that particular 20-minute segment. As the day progressed, the waves began swinging wide with huge rolling sections of whitewater that made things difficult to negotiate to say the least. Mother Nature reached a boiling point when some 12-foot faces came rolling in during Nage Melamed’s heat as she was unable to score one of those heat winners while the number-one seed Laura Enever and the south African seed Bianca Butendag      were able to ride to shore. Nage is also now scheduled for the repercharge. 

The very next heat featured some midsize connectors that Leila Hurst scalped as she continued to maintain her authority in the contest, scoring another 14-point, two-wave combination. Testament to her savvy, she has not strayed from the 14-point comfort zone, which in the early rounds makes for almost automatic advancement. Her flow and continuity has been remarkable with the judges awarding her 8s on some waves.

But the story of the day went to the Westside’s Alessa Cuizon who was feeling a bit stronger than previous days, fighting off a cold that left her with a nagging cough. Sometimes, you just need a break and during Alessa’s heat, mother nature decided to give her a break of sorts…right on the head. A true trooper, Alessa took 14 waves that were easily 8 foot Hawaiian straight to the noggin. These waves swept most surfers, including Alessa, more than 200 yards from the takeoff zone. Fortunately for Alessa, she had ridden a few waves just before that set arrived cementing her a solid position in the heat. When the foam and dust cleared the ocean was a soupy mess and what waves remained meandered, rolled and bounced their way to shore, leaving the competitors breathless while Alessa stroked in with a second place-finish, depleted lungs, purple heart and all.

The surf is forecasted to slowly drop through Saturday and contest officials, coaches and surfers will make all the necessary adjustments to maintain an order of semblance as the storms in the southern hemisphere seem to be on a continuous roll across the Pacific. Hats off to Rainos, Kahea and Megan for keeping our team razor sharp and focused through these ever-changing, fortitude-testing conditions. With four more days of competition ahead of us, we should be proud of our Hawaiian team and their coaches

Stay tuned to Freesurfmagazine.com for more photos and updates from Hawaii's march to Ecuadorian Gold.