HALEIWA, Oahu/Hawaii (Sunday, October 29, 2017) — Recently crowned World Surf League (WSL) Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Regional Junior Champion Barron Mamiya (HAW) continues to steamroll competition this season and is onto Round Three of the Vans Presents the HIC Pro after advancing through two rounds on Day 1 of the event. A WSL Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 event, the HIC Pro initiated the North Shore’s surf season with a solid NNW swell producing up to 10ft. wave faces at Sunset Beach.
Mamiya, 17, recorded the highest single scoring ride of the day, an excellent 9.0, for two huge, committed turns off the lip on a set wave and also secured the best heat total thus far, 14.67. The teen won earlier this year at Sunset and, looking increasingly comfortable in the lineup, uses this contest as preparation for his rookie season in the upcoming Vans Triple Crown of Surfing (VTCS), which takes place November 12 – December 20.
“It’s a huge event, I’ve watched it my whole life and I’ve never been in it,” Mamiya commented on the VTCS. “If I can do well in that and just show people I can surf these waves, that would be huge.
Mamiya stormed through Round 2 with powerful turns and a commanding performance. Image: WSL/Freesurf/Keoki
“With the QS, you’re going into the big leagues now and you’re surfing against real men,” he continued. “It’s going to be a lot harder than surfing against a bunch of kids your age, so I’m just trying to make my surfing look bigger so I can match the guys on the QS and eventually hopefully I can make it onto the CT (Championship Tour).”
Fellow junior surfer Cody Young from Maui caught one of the biggest waves of the day off the point and secured an 8.33 in his Round Two heat against Imaikalani deVault (HAW), Heremoana Luciani (PYF) and Reo Inaba (JPN). Not only does Young have the advantage as a local Hawaii surfer, he also has former CT veteran Fred Patacchia (HAW) lending expertise as caddy and coach.
“Fred, you know, he’s got so much experience out here,” said Young. “He’s won out here, made lots of Finals, so to have him in my corner telling me the lineup spots, cheering for me from the channel and telling me what to do, it’s really special.”
Local favorite and defending event winner Mason Ho (HAW) squeaked through his Round Two heat by less than half a point and edged out Kauai’s Dylan Goodale (HAW)and Miguel Blanco (PRT) for a chip into Round Three. Brazil’s Jeronimo Vargas earned the heat win and was testament to the depth of talent that has traveled to Hawaii from around the world for the opportunity to gain experience on the North Shore.
A legacy in his own right, Ho will face-off against international competitors Ricardo Christie (NZL), Lucas Silveira (BRA) and Shaun Burns (USA) in Round 3 when competition resumes. Image: WSL/Freesurf/Keoki
“It’s a little different, I mean I do a lot of QS’s on the road and it almost seems like a QS on the road only here at home,” Ho commented on the international field of competitors. “For me I think it’s cool because these other guys, the older guys, I’m usually a little more afraid of them to be honest. These guys today, they’re young and they rip, but some of these older guys I have to be a little more on my game and on my toes. I can’t believe I’m the ‘veteran’ out here, when really there’s some veterans that could be schooling me.”
Kaiki Yamanaka (JPN) found a beautiful barrel in the tricky lineup in his Round One heat and tallied one of the better single wave scores of the morning, a 6.70 to advance in first with a combined heat total of 13.10. This is Yamanaka’s first competition at Sunset and only his second time visiting Hawaii, but he maintained momentum in Round Two to advance for the second time today and will surf against Griffin Colapinto (USA), David do Carmo (BRA) and Maui’s Young once competition resumes.
Yamanaka tucks for cover on a frontside barrel in Round 1 Heat 2. Image: WSL/Freesurf/Keoki
“I have just graduated University, so I can surf everywhere, and I am going to focus on the QS this year,” commented Yamanaka. “I feel so stoked to surf with top surfers, but I just focus on catching the good ones, good waves. I am looking forward to next round, I can’t wait.”
Tahitians Taumata Puhetini and Ariihoe Tefaafana had strong performances in the opening contest of their North Shore season, both advancing into Round 3. Puhetini surfed one of the last heats of the afternoon and traded waves with big wave phenom Jack Robinson (AUS); the two advancing surfers edged Olamana Eleogram (HAW)and Kaito Ohashi (JPN) out of the event.
Tefaafana eyes the lip for a powerful turn off the top. Image: WSL/Freesurf/Heff
Another standout performer was Kiron Jabour (HAW), who closed the competition for the day with an 8.50, the second highest single wave score thus far. Jabour opened with a beautiful turn and continued to rip apart the wave for a complete ride and a bid into Round Three.
The HIC Pro completed the first of three days within the 14-day holding period today and contest organizers will convene again to assess conditions and make a call whether to resume competition tomorrow morning.
For the official call and to catch the action LIVE, visit WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL app or VansTripleCrownofSurfing.com or tune into Spectrum SURF Channel, which will televise the 2017 HIC Pro and 2017 Vans Triple Crown events LIVE and in replay on digital channels 250 SD and 1250 HD, across the state of Hawaii.
RESULTS
Surfers shown in order of 1st through 4th, all athletes from Hawaii unless otherwise noted
Round of 96 (1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 65th place, 4th = 81st place)
H1: Nolan Rapoza (USA), Leandro Usuna (ARG), Joaquin Del Castillo (PER), Kekoa Cazimero
H2: Barron Mamiya, Taylor Clark (USA), Nomme Mignot (FRA), Shane Sykes (ZAF)
H3: Kalani Ball, Kaiki Yamanaka (JPN), Keijiro Nishi (JPN), Shuji Nishi (JPN)
H4: Cody Young, Imaikalani deVault, Heremoana Luciani (PYF), Reo Inaba (JPN)
H5: Jeronimo Vargas (BRA), Mason Ho, Dylan Goodale, Miguel Blanco (PRT)
H6: Shaun Burns (USA), Yuji Nishi (JPN), Daiki Tanaka (JPN), Tomas King (CRI)
H7: Sandon Whittaker (AUS), Ariihoe Tefaafana (PYF), Shayden Pacarro, Elijah Gates
H8: Reef Heazlewood (AUS), Skip McCoullough (USA), Arashi Kato (JPN), Eithan Osborne (USA)
H9: Jack Robinson (AUS), Taumata Puhetini (PYF), Olamana Eleogram, Kaito Ohashi (JPN)
H10: Jackson Baker (AUS), Hank Gaskell, Tomas Fernandes (PRT), Kairi Noro (JPN)
H11: Kiron Jabour, Benji Brand, John Mel (USA), Moses Le Grice (AUS)
Round of 112 (1st and 2nd advance, 3rd = 97th place, 4th = 105th place
H1: Kekoa Cazimero, Barron Mamiya, Ezra Sitt, Joh Azuchi (JPN)
H2: Kaiki Yamanaka (JPN), Cody Young, Elliot Paerata-Reid (NZL), Kaimana Jaquias
H3: Mason Ho, Shaun Burns (USA), Noah Beschen, Luke Shepardson
H4: Shayden Pacarro, Ethan Osborne (USA), Sheldon Simkus (AUS), Braden Jones (USA)
H5: Taumata Puhetini (PYF), Hank Gaskell, Colt Ward (USA), Toby Mossop (AUS)
H6: Moses Le Grice (AUS), Eli Olson, Taichi Wakita (JPN), Anthony Fillingim (CRI)
H7: Jacome Correia (PRT), Sebastian Williams (ZAF), Chris Foster, Martin Jeri (PER)
H8: Fraser Dovell (AUS), Kade Matson (USA), Keoni Yan, Rob Kelly (Rob)
About HIC – Hawaiian Island Creations
Hawaii’s biggest and best selection of surf gear! Since 1971, HIC has provided Hawaii with quality surfboards, skateboards, clothing and accessories – by surfers, for surfers. Locally owned and operated, the HIC retail chain includes sixteen stores across Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island, along with two stores in Japan. Through a commitment to quality, service and aloha spirit, the brand has built a reputation as an icon of Hawaiian surfing recognized throughout the world. Enjoy the ride!
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