The Hawaiian Pro roared back to action in heavy, overhead surf for competitors in Round Three today at Haleiwa Ali‘i Beach Park, which featured top seeds and CT title contenders John John Florence (HAW) and Jordy Smith (ZAF). The biggest triumph of the day came in the form of 2018 CT qualification for Brazil's Willian Cardoso, who advanced in first from Round Three Heat 11 to finally make the tour after 12 years competing on the QS.
"It's not been easy, I've been in this moment before, been here, needed a result and it never came," said Cardoso during an emotional post-heat interview. "After all these years working hard, everyone helped me. After 12 years on the (QS) tour this happened right now, after I lost my sponsor, but I have really good people behind me. My family, they helped me a lot to help my dreams come true. Super stoked to qualify next year."
Cardosa launched his career today and will compete alongside the best on the 2018 WSL Championship Tour. - WSL / Freesurf/Heff
Florence garnered a large crowd ahead of his heat with Mitch Coleborn (AUS), Bino Lopes (BRA) and Benji Brand (HAW) and drew out big, arcing turns for a combined heat score of 14.14. His best wave, an excellent 8.17, still wasn't enough to overtake Coleborn's power surfing and the Australian ended up with the heat win over the current World Champion. Coleborn earned the highest combined heat score of the day, 16.34, and tied with Filipe Toledo (BRA) for the second-best wave of Round 3, an 8.37.
As the event defending winner, Florence is using the Hawaiian Pro to get into the North Shore winter groove and looks forward to an exciting Vans Triple Crown of Surfing season.
"It's kind of like a nice warm up in a way, surfing Haleiwa and then Sunset, they're real powerful waves," commented Florence. "I'm getting used to surfing heats back at home again because it is different than anywhere else in the world. I'm excited, I think Pipe is going to be insane and it's just a fun year.
World Title contender Florence looked laid-back and stylish during Round 3. - WSL / Freesurf/Keoki
"This year with everything coming down to Pipe for the world title, it's pretty interesting, puts that added pressure, but it's fine, I'm stoked," Florence continued. "I still have yet to try to win Pipe so I really want to do that. We'll see what happens at the end of the year and stoked to surf Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipe with nobody out."
Hawaii athletes Kiron Jabour (North Shore), 2012 Hawaiian Pro winner Sebastian Zietz (Kauai) and Joshua Moniz (Honolulu) will join Florence in Round Four as the four remaining locals in the Hawaiian Pro. Jabour was the only local surfer still left in the event that advanced from the beginning round of competition.
Current World No. 3 and title contenderJordy Smith (ZAF) showcased the versatility of Haleiwa with a combination of maneuvers in Heat 9 that included a barrel ride, turn and air.
Smith rebounded from the barrel with a solid carve and air reverse to complete the wave and earn a 7.60. - WSL / Freesurf/Keoki
"Paddling into that wave, I think (Adam) Melling had priority, but he passed it up," said Smith. "It was a really slow start, but I saw it doubling up. You never know, you have to keep your options open and never count anything out over here. The waves break along shallow little reef so you never know what might pop up, luckily in my case it was a little barrel."
Judges scored the wave a 7.60 and Smith was able to back this up with a 5.60 he scored earlier in the heat. Advancing alongside the South African was Honolulu's Moniz who, despite his young age of 21, has competed in the Vans Triple Crown five times. This is also the second time he has drawn Smith in a heat this year.
"I was pretty nervous since it was my second time this year being matched up with Jordy," commented Moniz. "But it kind of made it easy for me, I knew I had to stick to my own game plan and not think what he was doing. At some point it was actually a bit easy for me, my strategy was pretty simple, I had to go for it and not worry about what the other guys were doing.
Moniz posted an 11.90 to advance behind CT veteran Jordy Smith (ZAF) in Heat 9. - WSL / Freesurf/Keoki
"My main goal is I want to make heats and put on a good performance," he continued. "I always make it through a couple heats, but I haven't put together two good events. I'm not focused on qualifying, I just want to put together two good events and that's my goal."
The powerful CT surfer from Tahiti, Michel Bourez (PYF) earned the best wave of the day and third highest of the event, a 9.10 for two very controlled, critical turns on a set wave. After dropping this near-perfect ride, Bourez comboed the field but Australia's Josh Kerr was able to tally two mid-range scores to advance in second.
One of only five surfers to have won all three Vans Triple Crown events, Bourez looked confident and comfortable in the chunky surf thanks to his years of experience in similar waves back home in Tahiti, and time well-spent in Hawaii.
2x Hawaiian Pro winner Bourez displayed classic power turns for a 9.10 during Day 3 of the Hawaiian Pro. - WSL / Freesurf/Heff
"I'm super honored by it, it took me ten years to get to that level," said Bourez. "I know this place is super special because Ali'i Beach is where I won a long time ago, then I won Sunset and last year at Pipe, so Hawaii is big for me."
Bourez has won the Hawaiian Pro twice now (2013 and 2008) and has become a household name on the North Shore after demonstrating his talent amongst Hawaii's best power surfers.
Willian Cardoso Qualifies for '18 CT during Day 3 at Hawaiian Pro
Lauren Rolland
The Hawaiian Pro roared back to action in heavy, overhead surf for competitors in Round Three today at Haleiwa Ali‘i Beach Park, which featured top seeds and CT title contenders John John Florence (HAW) and Jordy Smith (ZAF). The biggest triumph of the day came in the form of 2018 CT qualification for Brazil's Willian Cardoso, who advanced in first from Round Three Heat 11 to finally make the tour after 12 years competing on the QS.
"It's not been easy, I've been in this moment before, been here, needed a result and it never came," said Cardoso during an emotional post-heat interview. "After all these years working hard, everyone helped me. After 12 years on the (QS) tour this happened right now, after I lost my sponsor, but I have really good people behind me. My family, they helped me a lot to help my dreams come true. Super stoked to qualify next year."
Florence garnered a large crowd ahead of his heat with Mitch Coleborn (AUS), Bino Lopes (BRA) and Benji Brand (HAW) and drew out big, arcing turns for a combined heat score of 14.14. His best wave, an excellent 8.17, still wasn't enough to overtake Coleborn's power surfing and the Australian ended up with the heat win over the current World Champion. Coleborn earned the highest combined heat score of the day, 16.34, and tied with Filipe Toledo (BRA) for the second-best wave of Round 3, an 8.37.
As the event defending winner, Florence is using the Hawaiian Pro to get into the North Shore winter groove and looks forward to an exciting Vans Triple Crown of Surfing season.
"It's kind of like a nice warm up in a way, surfing Haleiwa and then Sunset, they're real powerful waves," commented Florence. "I'm getting used to surfing heats back at home again because it is different than anywhere else in the world. I'm excited, I think Pipe is going to be insane and it's just a fun year.
"This year with everything coming down to Pipe for the world title, it's pretty interesting, puts that added pressure, but it's fine, I'm stoked," Florence continued. "I still have yet to try to win Pipe so I really want to do that. We'll see what happens at the end of the year and stoked to surf Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipe with nobody out."
Hawaii athletes Kiron Jabour (North Shore), 2012 Hawaiian Pro winner Sebastian Zietz (Kauai) and Joshua Moniz (Honolulu) will join Florence in Round Four as the four remaining locals in the Hawaiian Pro. Jabour was the only local surfer still left in the event that advanced from the beginning round of competition.
Current World No. 3 and title contenderJordy Smith (ZAF) showcased the versatility of Haleiwa with a combination of maneuvers in Heat 9 that included a barrel ride, turn and air.
"Paddling into that wave, I think (Adam) Melling had priority, but he passed it up," said Smith. "It was a really slow start, but I saw it doubling up. You never know, you have to keep your options open and never count anything out over here. The waves break along shallow little reef so you never know what might pop up, luckily in my case it was a little barrel."
Judges scored the wave a 7.60 and Smith was able to back this up with a 5.60 he scored earlier in the heat. Advancing alongside the South African was Honolulu's Moniz who, despite his young age of 21, has competed in the Vans Triple Crown five times. This is also the second time he has drawn Smith in a heat this year.
"I was pretty nervous since it was my second time this year being matched up with Jordy," commented Moniz. "But it kind of made it easy for me, I knew I had to stick to my own game plan and not think what he was doing. At some point it was actually a bit easy for me, my strategy was pretty simple, I had to go for it and not worry about what the other guys were doing.
"My main goal is I want to make heats and put on a good performance," he continued. "I always make it through a couple heats, but I haven't put together two good events. I'm not focused on qualifying, I just want to put together two good events and that's my goal."
The powerful CT surfer from Tahiti, Michel Bourez (PYF) earned the best wave of the day and third highest of the event, a 9.10 for two very controlled, critical turns on a set wave. After dropping this near-perfect ride, Bourez comboed the field but Australia's Josh Kerr was able to tally two mid-range scores to advance in second.
One of only five surfers to have won all three Vans Triple Crown events, Bourez looked confident and comfortable in the chunky surf thanks to his years of experience in similar waves back home in Tahiti, and time well-spent in Hawaii.
"I'm super honored by it, it took me ten years to get to that level," said Bourez. "I know this place is super special because Ali'i Beach is where I won a long time ago, then I won Sunset and last year at Pipe, so Hawaii is big for me."
Bourez has won the Hawaiian Pro twice now (2013 and 2008) and has become a household name on the North Shore after demonstrating his talent amongst Hawaii's best power surfers.
Michel Bourez
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Hawaiian Pro
Drop in on the Hawaiian surfing event series, the most intense on the planet.
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The North Shore local breaks down Haleiwa, home to the first stop of the Vans Triple Crown.
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