The diversity of heat winners throughout the first day of the Burton Automotive Pro -- a 6,000-level WSL Qualifying Series (QS) event -- was a great indication of the variety of countries in attendance at the event. America, Brazil, Polynesia, France, Indonesia and Australia were all in the mix. But it was a small group of Hawaii-born up-and-comers that stood out in Round One.
It all started with powerhouse Barron Mamiya winning his opening heat with style in peaky, 3-to-5 foot waves at Merewether.
Barron Mamiya should be a terrifying name to see in your heat because of turns like this. - WSL / Tom Bennett
"This is the first time I've come to Australia to surf in the QS 6,000 events so to kick it off with a win is sick," Mamiya said. "I was here recently for the World Juniors which was good, but I'm really focused on the QS this season. I think if you are competing on the QS and not trying to qualify for the CT [WSL Championship Tour] you are wasting your time -- so I'm definitely here to try and make it."
Inspired by his brother Josh's recent win at the Volcom Pipe Pro, young Hawaiian Seth Moniz has come to Newcastle looking to make his mark. The technically gifted naturalfooter kicked off his campaign well, getting in a rhythm on his forehand to post a winning heat total of 14.03 and progress into Round Two.
"This is the first really big event of the year so I was a little nervous to begin with," Moniz said. "Once I began to find some waves I was stoked and felt a lot more comfortable. I was so stoked to see my brother win at Pipe and it really inspired me -- it made me really want a win myself. I've had a couple of years on the QS going through the motions and learning a lot, but this year I'm going for a qualification spot."
Seth Moniz is no stranger to solid surf and it showed as he played with Merewethether on opening day. - WSL / Tom Bennett
Fresh off back-back-to-back QS Quarterfinal appearances and a recent win at the World Junior Championship in Kiama, Hawaii-bred prodigy Finn McGill is stoked on his newfound passion for competition surfing. McGill found inspiration on opening day at Merewether seeing his fellow islanders do well, and used it to post the highest heat total of the opening Day. McGill's two-wave total of 16.17 came from a display of total comfort in the shifting peaks on offer at Merewether.
"I spent a while recovering from an injury and it really reminded me how much I enjoy competing," McGill said. "I went through a stage recently where I was bit over it and now that I'm stoked on competing again the results seem to be coming. I've been competing against Barron since we were four years old, so to be at events of this size together now is awesome and the same with Seth -- it's really inspiring to see them do well."
Finn McGill topped the day with a 16.17 heat total. - WSL / Tom Bennett
Although he made a competitive return at the recent Great Lakes Pro QS1,000, Matt Banting has been interested to he how he'd go against some of the higher seeds on the Qualifying Series. After more than a year off, the former CT surfer and 2014 Burton Automotive Pro winner, Banting, proved he hadn't lost his competitive prowess posting an almost-perfect 9.17-point ride on his first wave. He then backed it up with a 6.53 and moves into Round Two as he begins his quest to return to the elite CT.
"This is all pretty new to me competing as such a low seed," Banting said. "I feel like everything kind of came to me easily in the past with sponsorship, results and qualifying for the CT -- then it all got taken away. After a year off I have totally reevaluated and have come back hungrier than ever. During the middle of the injury I had a few doubts as to whether I was going to make it back, so to post an excellent score on my first wave felt amazing, it was such a relief and I got a real rush."
Matt Banting has still got that technical brilliance. - WSL / Tom Bennett
Californian Parker Coffin was weathering a flu as he arrived in Australia and had his first surf of the trip in Round One at Merewether. The stylish, young goofyfooter only surfed two waves to take out the heat with a heat total of 12.70.
"I've been trying super hard to get better before the contest started, but still felt terrible today," Coffin said. "This was my first surf since I arrived and I was on a new board so felt really under-prepared. I knew if I got a couple of long waves on my backhand I could get a decent score. I have a new coach this year in Tom Whitaker and we had a good plan pre-heat so that gave me some confidence. He had so much success for a reason so I'm stoked to have him in my corner,"
Parker Coffin going upside down at Merewether. - WSL / Tom Bennett
Hawaiian Hopefuls Dominate Down Under
Tom Bennett
The diversity of heat winners throughout the first day of the Burton Automotive Pro -- a 6,000-level WSL Qualifying Series (QS) event -- was a great indication of the variety of countries in attendance at the event. America, Brazil, Polynesia, France, Indonesia and Australia were all in the mix. But it was a small group of Hawaii-born up-and-comers that stood out in Round One.
It all started with powerhouse Barron Mamiya winning his opening heat with style in peaky, 3-to-5 foot waves at Merewether.
"This is the first time I've come to Australia to surf in the QS 6,000 events so to kick it off with a win is sick," Mamiya said. "I was here recently for the World Juniors which was good, but I'm really focused on the QS this season. I think if you are competing on the QS and not trying to qualify for the CT [WSL Championship Tour] you are wasting your time -- so I'm definitely here to try and make it."
Inspired by his brother Josh's recent win at the Volcom Pipe Pro, young Hawaiian Seth Moniz has come to Newcastle looking to make his mark. The technically gifted naturalfooter kicked off his campaign well, getting in a rhythm on his forehand to post a winning heat total of 14.03 and progress into Round Two.
"This is the first really big event of the year so I was a little nervous to begin with," Moniz said. "Once I began to find some waves I was stoked and felt a lot more comfortable. I was so stoked to see my brother win at Pipe and it really inspired me -- it made me really want a win myself. I've had a couple of years on the QS going through the motions and learning a lot, but this year I'm going for a qualification spot."
Fresh off back-back-to-back QS Quarterfinal appearances and a recent win at the World Junior Championship in Kiama, Hawaii-bred prodigy Finn McGill is stoked on his newfound passion for competition surfing. McGill found inspiration on opening day at Merewether seeing his fellow islanders do well, and used it to post the highest heat total of the opening Day. McGill's two-wave total of 16.17 came from a display of total comfort in the shifting peaks on offer at Merewether.
"I spent a while recovering from an injury and it really reminded me how much I enjoy competing," McGill said. "I went through a stage recently where I was bit over it and now that I'm stoked on competing again the results seem to be coming. I've been competing against Barron since we were four years old, so to be at events of this size together now is awesome and the same with Seth -- it's really inspiring to see them do well."
Although he made a competitive return at the recent Great Lakes Pro QS1,000, Matt Banting has been interested to he how he'd go against some of the higher seeds on the Qualifying Series. After more than a year off, the former CT surfer and 2014 Burton Automotive Pro winner, Banting, proved he hadn't lost his competitive prowess posting an almost-perfect 9.17-point ride on his first wave. He then backed it up with a 6.53 and moves into Round Two as he begins his quest to return to the elite CT.
"This is all pretty new to me competing as such a low seed," Banting said. "I feel like everything kind of came to me easily in the past with sponsorship, results and qualifying for the CT -- then it all got taken away. After a year off I have totally reevaluated and have come back hungrier than ever. During the middle of the injury I had a few doubts as to whether I was going to make it back, so to post an excellent score on my first wave felt amazing, it was such a relief and I got a real rush."
Californian Parker Coffin was weathering a flu as he arrived in Australia and had his first surf of the trip in Round One at Merewether. The stylish, young goofyfooter only surfed two waves to take out the heat with a heat total of 12.70.
"I've been trying super hard to get better before the contest started, but still felt terrible today," Coffin said. "This was my first surf since I arrived and I was on a new board so felt really under-prepared. I knew if I got a couple of long waves on my backhand I could get a decent score. I have a new coach this year in Tom Whitaker and we had a good plan pre-heat so that gave me some confidence. He had so much success for a reason so I'm stoked to have him in my corner,"
Parker Coffin
Professional surfer, fellow 805 charger, and brother to our host, Parker Coffin joins the Cold Beer Surf Club. Parker and Conner reminisce
Parker Coffin and Che Allan led the way to start competition along with breakthrough performances from an in-form field.
The former junior event victor returned to the jersey at Soup Bowl in defining fashion on his signature backhand attack.
The event presented by French Hospital Medical Center is ready to host some of North America's best in Morro Bay's testy waters.
Qualifying Series (QS) threats came out to play in the early goings at the Jack's Surfboards Pro QS 1,500.
Burton Automotive Pro
O australiano Mikey Wright foi o campeão do Burton Automotive Pro e a havaiana Coco Ho bateu a bicampeã mundial Tyler Wright.
Tyler and Mikey Wright become the first siblings to surf in dual WSL QS Finals, while Ho wins Surfest for a second time.
O catarinense Willian Cardoso e o potiguar Jadson André ganharam os duelos brasileiros do sábado e vão disputar as quartas de final.
Can the current WSL women's World Champion get a grasp on the one bit of silverware that seems to be eluding her?
A group of Australian competitors have stamped their authority on Surfest, and will be stacking the field in the Quarterfinals.