roy 'super' powers exits a frothy barrel, 'level up', pagudpud philippnes
from the official ASP press release:
Powers & Basque Surfer Aranburu Qualify for 2008 ASP WCT
Haleiwa, Oahu, HI - (November 23, 2007) - Kauai's Roy Powers survived the largest day of surf ever contested at Haleiwa in the 25-year history of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing to win the REEF Hawaiian Pro today. Powers posted one of the most conclusive wins in history to defeat Australian pair Bede Durbidge and Joel Parkinson, and Haleiwa local Sean Moody in waves of 12- to 20-feet to pocket $15,000 and move to 12th on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series - a result that guarantees him a spot on the 2008 World Championship Tour.
But the Kauai surfer's victory was far more than a simple win. Having already surfed through three gruelling 25-minute heats earlier in the day to get to the final, Roy was looking to conserve power by nailing the door shut early. He met his goal with two of the most thrilling tube-rides of the contest and the highest heat score of the event.
By the 20 minute mark of the 35 minute final, Powers had posted two near-perfect scores of 9.17 and 9.67 that eclipsed his rivals. With five minutes remaining, all three of the trailing surfers were enduring a rinse cycle on the inside courtesy of a series of crushing waves. With three-and-a-half minutes remaining, all three were standing exhausted on dry sand in time to see Roy's last ride.
The final scoreline showed 18.84 points out of 20 to Powers, 13.74 for Durbidge ($7,500), 12.0 to Parkinson ($4,000), and 6.37 for Sean Moody ($3,000).
It wasn't just about riding big waves either. Today's lineup was a brutal test of endurance, lung capacity, will-power and mind-power. Raging rip-currents hundreds of yards wide encircled the contest zone. Competitors had to battle to simply stay in position for a ride; a problem compounded by rogue set waves that bulldozed the break and swept surfers assunder. Take-offs were often elevator drops, and waves didn't necessarily cooperate after that, randomly doubling up to offer a dredging tube-ride or a wipeout that presented like a head-on collision.
To do it all, under pressure, made the win all the more sweet for Powers.
"I wanted another opportunity to get on the WCT," said Powers. "I was a little cocky before. Now I think I've grown up a bit and I realize it's not that easy and it won't be a walk in the park.
"Now I want to win the Triple Crown - to me that's priceless.
"I wanted to keep the momentum going and keep the pressure on everybody else. I was so worried that someone else was going to get two nines, too. I mean, it happens. So I stayed out there and paddled around them every time and I wasn't going to give them any chance.
"To get a barrel out at Hale'iwa and make it? C'mon! And to get two of them? And win the event? It's serious out there, so to get two nines... I'm so stoked."
all images ©2007 mark dimalanta
