Monday, November 23, 2009

JOEL CENTEIO WINS REEF HAWAIIAN PRO - TAKES VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING LEAD

Patience and faith in his home break of Haleiwa delivered local boy Joel Centeio the biggest victory of his career today, winning the Reef Hawaiian Pro in 6- to 8-foot surf with a late barrel ride and only the mandatory two waves to his credit. Joel, 26, came from the very first round, winning all seven heats he contested. He now takes an early lead on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink series ratings. His win today earned him $20,000. If he can stay the course and win the Vans Triple Crown series title, it will pay another $50,000 as well as a $10,000 custom Nixon watch. Runner-up in the final was Florida's CJ Hobgood, third was Australian Jay "Bottle" Thompson, 27, and fourth was Tahiti's Alain Riou. Hobgood and Thompson were always within striking distance - requiring less than a 7.0 point ride to turn the tables - but Haleiwa chose to favor her own. While the win catapulted Centeio from 131st on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings to 51st, he still has no chance of qualifying for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour. Even though it didn't end in a win, Thompson (Burleigh Heads, QLD) was satisfied with third, qualifying for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour with this result. “I feel pretty relaxed actually," said Thompson. "This kind of solidified my campaign for the tour next year. I’m frothing, but really relaxed now. This year and last year I’ve been a replacement so I’ve been in every event (of the Dream Tour), but I’ve been kind of bogging so I really wanted to get back there and give it a 100 percent next year.” Californian Nathan Yeomans also did enough today to qualify for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour, moving to sixth place on the WQS ratings with his quarter final finish. He ended the event in equal 9th position, losing to Hobgood and Riou. The upset of the day was world title contender Joel Parkinson's loss in the quarter finals. While the Reef Hawaiian Pro does not affect the world title race, Parkinson had been the standout, posting the two highest heat scores of the event as well as the only perfect 10 point ride (a deep barrel in the round of 32 today), as well as the second-highest score of the event, a 9.87. Parkinson succumbed to a lack of waves on offer in his quarter final heat. The VANS Triple Crown of Surfing now moves along the North Shore to Sunset Beach for stop #2: the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing, and the women's Gidget Pro Sunset Beach. The holding period for Sunset officially commences tomorrow, running through December 6, however organizers anticipate a Wednesday start, coinciding with the arrival of potentially the biggest swell of the winter so far. Check Surfline.com for up-to-the-minute surf forecasts. Find out the call for the day, each day, as soon as it's made by Director Randy Rarick by signing up for mobile text alerts at triplecrownofsurfing.com. When competition resumes, all the action will be broadcast live on the web at triplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250. Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O'Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On! chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future. Highlights of the Reef Hawaiian Pro will be made available to television later today (separate advisory). Hi-resolution press images can be obtained at aspworldtour.com/Press Room, via Getty Images. For urgent requests, please contact Jodi Wilmott in Hawaii: (808) 258-8533. No problem!:) RESULTS: 1st - JOEL CENTEIO (Haleiwa, HI, USA), Heat score: 14.76 (9.33, 5.43) $20,000 2nd - CJ Hobgood (Florida, USA), Heat score: 13.74 (8.07, 5.67) $10,000 3rd - Jay Thompson (Australia), Heat score: 12.17 (7.0, 5.17) $5,100 4th - Alain Riou (French Polynesia), Heat score: 5.27 (4.5, 0.77) $4,900 S1: Joel Centeio (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Kai Otton (AUS) S2: CJ Hobgood (FL), Alain Riou (PYF), Hank Gaskell (HI), Dion Atkinson (Aus) Q1: Kai Otton (AUS), Jay Thompson (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Sebastien Zietz (HAW) Q2: Joel Centeio (HAW), Damien Hobgood (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Joel Parkinson (AUS) Q3: Hank Gaskell (HAW), Dion Atkinson (AUS), Torrey Meister (HAW), Adrian Buchan (USA) Q4: Alain Riou (PYF), CJ Hobgoood (AUS), Sunny Garcia (HAW), Nathan Yeomans (USA) H1: Jay Thompson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Jarrad Howse (AUS), Lincoln Taylor H2: Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Roy Powers (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA) H3: Joel Centeio (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Tanner Gudauskas (USA), Leigh Sedley (AUS) H4: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Dean Morrision (AUS), Andre Silva (BRA) H5: Dion Atkinson (AUS), Alain Riou (PYF), Marco Polo (BRA), Ariz Aranburu (EUK) H6: Hank Gaskell (HAW), Nathan Yeomans (USA), Hodei Collazo (EUK), Blake Thornton (AUS) H7: CJ Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Jesse Merle-Jones (HAW) H8: Sunny Garcia (HAW), Torrey Meister (HAW), Adam Meiling (AUS), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)

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FINAL DAY OF THE REEF HAWAIIAN PRO

Congratulations to Joel Centeio, Winner of the 2009 Reef Hawaiian Pro - the first jewel of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. We had great conditions all day, making it a great day to hold the finals in. It only makes sense that the Haleiwa local boy takes home the crown.


Joel got the bomb of the day pulling into a huge barrel disappearing completely, then taking the side door exit right before it closed out. Earlier in the day, we saw world class surfers Joel Parkinson score a perfect 10, Sunny Garcia bash some lips and showed us what champions are made of, and CJ Hobgood give us a couple lessons of how to do some huge floaters. The Reef team was shaking hands and kissing babys today as they posted up for a team signing, stoking people out with the new Reef girl calenders, some foam shakas, and posters. In WQS news, Dusty Payne, Tanner Gudauskas, and Yadin Nicol all went down today in early rounds, so Sunset Beach is their last chance to make it into the ASP Dream Tour. Here's a couple shots from todays events.















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FINAL DAY OF REEF HAWAIIAN PRO STARTS AT 8AM PST (11/23)

The Reef Hawaiian Pro will finish up today in overhead+ surf at Ali'i Beach in Haleiwa. With valuable WQS points and increased Triple Crown prize money up for grabs, the surfing is sure to be stellar, so don't miss a second of the action!

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Sunday, November 22, 2009

PARKINSON BRINGS OUT BEST IN ASPIRING GUDAUSKAS

Taking on world title contender Joel Parkinson (Australia) was all the incentive Southern California's Tanner Gudauskas (San Clemente) needed to take his surfing to the next level at the Reef Hawaiian Pro today - the first leg of the $1,000,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Tanner needs to reach the quarter finals of the Reef Hawaiian Pro tomorrow to keep his dream of qualifying for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour alive. He advanced to the round prior to the quarter finals today, a close second behind Parkinson in the highest scoring heat of the event to date. Wave face heights topped out at 15 feet today and are expected to stay around for the final day of competition tomorrow. Parkinson and Gudauskas ran away with their heat, each finding high-scoring barrel rides and hard-carving turns to eliminate North Shore local Pancho Sullivan and Brazil's Marcio Farney. The final scoreline: Parkinson - 16.54 out of 20; Gudauskas - 15.43; Sullivan - 13.26; Farney - 5.6. Gudauskas could have won almost every other heat today with that score. Parkinson logged the highest wave score of the contest for a double-barrel ride: 9.87 out of 10. Currently ranked 17th on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings, Tanner needs to finish the season in the top 15 to be guaranteed a place on the elite Dream Tour. His qualification dream was given an added push today when several surfers ranked ahead of him lost, allowing him to make some ground. "I just kind of figured I would need a hell of a lot to make that heat," said Tanner. "I was psyching myself out because these guys have no flaws. Pancho (Sullivan) is pretty much a Triple Crown hero and Parko is a world champ contender. I just figured I would have to try as hard as I could and it was epic because there was tons of waves in the beginning of the heat, and there was no weird stuff. "I would be stoked to get a really good result here. I'm taking it heat by heat, just having fun. I don't have anything to lose. I don't have the points and I have to go out there and get 'um. I'm having a great time." Parkinson looked relaxed and focused today, reveling in the rising surf and the fact that he's back in the islands: "I haven't paddled out in awhile, and I realized I was back in Hawai'i and back in the Triple Crown. I got really excited to be back. I love the Triple Crown to death and I would hate to miss it. I'm so glad I'm here." Eliminations today included US Open champion Brett Simpson (Huntington Beach, CA), Taylor Knox (Carlsbad, CA), former Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion Bede Durbidge (Australia), Dusty Payne (Hawaii), Clay Marzo (Hawaii), and Tanner's older brother, Pat, who is still on track to qualify for the Dream Tour. The final day of the Reef Hawaiian Pro will take place tomorrow at Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, getting underway at 8am. The winner will be crowned around 2:30pm. Catch it alllive online. Find out the call for the day, each day, as soon as it's made by Director Randy Rarick by signing up for mobile text alerts at triplecrownofsurfing.com. For the latest surf updates, stay tuned to Surfline.com, the official surf forecaster of the Vans Triple Crown Triple Threat. All the action will be broadcast live on the web attriplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250. Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O'Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On! chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future. Highlights of the Reef Hawaiian Pro will be made available to television at the end of the event. Hi-resolution press images can be obtained at aspworldtour.com/Press Room, via Getty Images. For urgent requests, please contact Jodi Wilmott in Hawaii: (808) 258-8533 RESULTS: Round of 64: Results shown in order of 1st place through 4th. 1st & 2nd advance H1: Damien Hobgood (USA), Sebastien Zietz (HAW), Granger Larsen (HAW), Alejo Muniz (BRA) H2: Jarrad Howse (AUS), Roy Powers (HAW), Brett Simpson (USA), Bruce Irons (HAW) H3: Ben Dunn (AUS), Jay Thompson (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF), Flynn Novak (USA) H4: Cory Lopez (USA), Lincoln Taylor (AUS), Glenn Hall (IRL), Taylor Knox (USA) H5: Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), James Taipan Wood (AUS), Nathan Hedge (AUS) H6: Joel Centeio (HAW), Dean Morrison (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA), Evan Valiere (HAW) H7: Andre Silva (BRA), Leigh Sedley (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS), Jadson Andre (BRA) H8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Tanner Gudauskas (USA), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Marco Farney (BRA) H9: Aritz Aranburu (EUK), Nathan Yeomans (USA), John John Florence (HAW), Bede Durbidge (AUS) H10: Alain Riou (PYF), Hank Gaskell (HAW), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), William Cardosa (BRA) H11: Hodei Collazo (EUK), Marco Polo (BRA), Frederick Patacchia (HAW), Dusty Payne (HAW) H12: Blake Thornton (AUS), Dion Atkinson (AUS), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Brian Thornton (AUS) H13: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Sunny Garcia (HAW), Tim Reyes (USA), Austin Ware (USA) H14: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Bernardo Miranda (BRA), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Clay Marzo (HAW) H15: results not available at time of release H16: results not available at time of release

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BIG WAVES HIT YOUR iPHONE

In perfect timing for huge waves on Oahu's famous North Shore, surf fans can catch all the live action of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing with a $0.99 iPhone application, available now at the iTunes store. Delivering live contest webcasts, dynamic, real-time scoring and video-on-demand among its many features, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing app is the first ever live mobile webcast application for any action sports event, and is a first for an Association of Surfing Professionals event. The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink showcases top-ranked surfers in three big wave contests at the world's most iconic venues: Haleiwa - Reef Hawaiian Pro, Nov. 12-23 - FINAL DAYS NOW! Sunset Beach - O'Neill World Cup of Surfing, Nov. 24-Dec.6 Banzai Pipeline - Billabong Pipe Masters, Dec. 8-20 The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing iPhone App will include: LIVE CONTEST WEBCAST (WiFi only) - Each Vans Triple Crown of Surfing event streamed live in low, medium and high bandwidth. LIVE RESULTS - Dynamic heat scores after each wave is surfed. VIDEOS (WiFi only) - Daily event highlights, highest scoring rides, rider interviews. PHOTOS - Live ASP photo feed with new images refreshed throughout the day. NEWS - Daily news updates on competition, competitors, conditions, outstanding performances/best rides, and anything else that is noteworthy for the day. FORECASTS -Daily surf report "powered by Surfline" with current surf conditions and swell forecast. PUSH ALERTS - Let's you know when live event webcast is available. Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O'Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On! chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future.

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REEF HAWAIIAN PRO IS ON - SWELL HAS ARRIVED! (11/22)

The swell that was predicted to hit the North Shore has arrived right on schedule. Ali'i Beach is seeing 4-6 waves and should be building as the day progresses. Competition will start this morning at 8am (PST) with the Round of 64.

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Saturday, November 21, 2009

A Closer Look: Sharks Cove Grill

Sharks Cove Grill is a favorite for many here on the north shore of O'ahu, Located at 59-712 Kamehameha Hwy Haleiwa, Sharks Cove Grill is easy access to grab a quick bite without the hassle of driving in to Haliewa. Whether it's breakfast, lunch or dinner, they have an easy & delicious menu to choose from. Next time you find yourself on the north shore, be sure to stop in for a tasty meal.







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ANOTHER LAY DAY FOR REEF HAWAIIAN PRO (11/21)

Swell is predicted to hit the North Shore tonight and bring us waves by tomorrow morning. Check back tomorrow morning at 8am (HST) for event status.

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Friday, November 20, 2009

REEF HAWAIIAN PRO OFF TODAY (11/20)

Ali'i Beach is 1-2 ft this morning. Contest organizers have decided to call a lay day and wait for a new swell that is predicted to hit the North Shore late Saturday. Be sure to check back over the weekend for event status. Most likely Sunday and Monday will see the brunt of the new swell, which should provide ample surf for the last 2 days of competition. Aloha'

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Thursday, November 19, 2009

REEF HAWAIIAN PRO AND VANS HAWAIIAN PRO WOMEN'S EVENT ON TODAY (11/19)

The men will finish up today with the Round of 96 and then we will head straight into the Vans Hawaiian Pro Women's event where a winner will be crowned. Action starts at 8am (HST).

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Wednesday, November 18, 2009

TRICKS ARE FOR KIDS - GARCIA & MARZO SHINE @ REEF HAWAIIAN PRO

Haleiwa, HI (Nov. 18, 2009) - Sunny Garcia, 39, was once quoted as saying that "tricks are for kids". Twenty years deep in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rock Star Energy Drink, Garcia's power surfing looked to be pulling rank again today. In the second-to-last heat of the day, Garcia posted the event's highest two-wave total: 13.5 out of 20 points. But while Garcia enjoyed the moment, 20-year-old Clay Marzo, known world wide for a bottomless bag of convoluted tricks, was oblivious to the world and working toward a crowd-stunning score of 16.23 to end the day.


Garcia won his first Hawaiian Pro title here back in 1992, around the same time Marzo was first starting to show his affinity for water in his baby bath. His mind-blowing natural talent was front and center today as he became the only surfer to top Garcia.


Sunny is looking for a dream script here, in search of his sixth Hawaiian Pro title and seventh Triple Crown title as the cameras roll. For Marzo, this is his grand appearance on surfing's premier stage - a total newcomer to the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.


There were no subtitles required for Garcia's powerful hacks and well-honed ship-to-shore rides. But spectators scrambled in the sand to put a name to the futuristic, fins-free, spinning moves that Marzo threw with the ease of a card dealer.


"It was a whip, blowie or a throw tail," said a deadpan Marzo. 


"I was super stoked the lefts were going today. It was kinda of windy and soft, but it was fun waves.


"Hale‘iwa is a fun wave. I surfed it since NSSA's. I'm pretty comfortable because I did good on some of those contests. It's a fun wave. I just want to make a couple of heats and do pretty good because it's my first year."


Earlier in the day, southern Californian pair Tanner Gudauskas and Nathan Yeomans breathed a sigh of relief as they advanced one step closer to their goal of qualifying for the 2010 ASP Dream Tour.


Sitting on the bubble of qualification, at 17th on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings, Gudauskas mixed it up with his own version of airs, fins-free turns and on-rail gouges to win his heat. 


“Before my heat I was worried about how my board was going to go," said Tanner. "It’s a 5’7” “Dumpster Diver” shaped for my brother Dane. It felt good the last couple days and I asked him if I could ride it today. My first couple waves I was falling and I was wondering if I made the right choice. But I got the ones at the end and my luck changed and my rhythm changed.”

If Tanner Gudauskas can crack the Top 16 of the WQS, he’ll join his brother Patrick on the elite world tour. “Either way it goes, I’ll either be a (Dream Tour) travel buddy with Pat or a (WQS) travel buddy with Dane.” 

Yeomans was equally successful today and next faces 2007 Vans Triple Crown champion Bede Durbidge (AUS) and Vans star John John Florence (HAW) in the next round. 


Find out the call for the day, each day, as soon as it's made by Director Randy Rarick by signing up for mobile text alerts at triplecrownofsurfing.com. For the latest surf updates, stay tuned to Surfline.com, the official surf forecaster of the Vans Triple Crown Triple Threat. All the action will be broadcast live on the web at triplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250.


Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O'Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On! chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future.

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Reef Hawaiian Pro Artwork by Mike Losness


Is this pro surfer’s art actually…good?
Interview by M. Bauer - Surfing Magazine online

Some Answers from Mike Losness

The images adorning the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing posters every year are iconic – they end up on kids’ walls, in surf shops, on torsos, and on pretty much every flat surface in Hawaii during the winter months. So it was kind of a big deal that the Triple Crown’s first jewel chose the work of a pro surfer to splash all over town. San Clemente’s Mike Losness explains how it happened.

SURFING: How’d your work end up plastered over most of Haleiwa, Mike?

MIKE LOSNESS: Well, around six months ago Reef asked if I would do some art for the contest poster [Reef Hawaiian Pro]. Then every year they take the art from the poster and put it onto the event site, the t-shirts, and everything else that goes along with the contest. So I did this painting of what I sorta think Haleiwa is, and they took that and made it into the poster, the t-shirt, and when you drive through town all the window displays in the shops are elements of the painting. At the event site, there’s this huge mural that’s two pieces out of the painting put onto both sides of the scaffolding. It looks really cool.

It’s legit artwork, not your normal pro surfer self-promotion scribble. When did you get started painting?

I was interested in art ever since I was a kid, but I really didn’t start to take it seriously until around four years ago. I don’t know what it was in my life but I started to get into it more. All my paintings are, like, fiberglass and resin. It’s like ding repair art – kind of hard to explain.

Any gallery shows or silent auctions yet?

I haven’t had my own solo show. That’s something I’m sort of working towards. I don’t really feel like I’m good enough. I think you have to hit a certain level with your art before you’re ready for something like that. But I’ve contributed work to a couple of smaller things that my sponsors have put on, and I’ve done a couple little things with other artists in San Clemente where I live, in cafes and things.

Is there a future for you in this? In being a professional painter?

It’s something that I do for fun, sort of as an outlet. I surf so much that sometimes I need other things to occupy my mind or else surfing might get stale. But at this point I still consider myself a surfer and not an artist. I’m a pro surfer, that’s what I want to do, but it’s crazy how the art thing has taken off. When Reef picked me up a year ago they said they’d want to utilize my art, maybe for posters and t-shirt designs and so on, and I was going, “Yeah, OK, but I’m just stoked to be sponsored to go surf.”

How’s the feedback been in general? It looks sick. Never would have guessed it was a surfer’s work.

I’ve had really good responses from everyone here in Hawaii, people coming up to me and saying, “Oh my God, we love the art, the poster is insane this year!” Like, Reef is selling out of the event t-shirts at the site, so are all the surf shops, so it’s been really cool to take that all in and know that people like it. It’s neat to see one of my paintings blow up that big – it’s sort of larger than life for me.

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REEF HAWAIIAN PRO ON FOR 8AM (HAWAII) START!

Men's Rounds 2 and 3 will get underway in 3-4 foot surf at Ali'i Beach in Haleiwa @ 8am (HST). Watch the Live Webcast for all the action!

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

CONTEST OFF FOR TODAY - SWELL ARRIVING TONIGHT (11/17)

Another small day of surf and a NW swell heading into the North Shore tonight has prompted contest organizers to call off todays competition. We should see action resume tomorrow as the surf builds throughout the week.

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Monday, November 16, 2009

A Closer Look: Matsumoto's Shave Ice

A glance in at Mamoru Matsumoto's world famous shave ice store, and his long struggle to create one of the most visited spots on O'ahu.




Mamoru Matsumoto and his older brother ventured to Hawaii to seek out work to help support their family back in Japan, His brother became very ill and returned to Japan, while Mamoru continued to work on plantations, the railroad, and eventually became a salesman for the Sakai Store, which is currently known as the Haleiwa IGA. In order to expand his knowledge, he attended night school to learn English and Math. Mamoru and his wife had always dreamed of opening their own business.
Mr. Kazuo Tanaka gave them the opportunity to open their own grocery store, M. Matsumoto Store Inc. in Haleiwa, Hawaii. At first, Mamoru peddled his wares on a bicycle, until he was able to afford a panel truck. He went from camp to camp, taking orders and delivering the goods, while Helen manned the store and did some sewing.

With the birth of their three children, Glenn, Janice and Stanley, they needed to expand their business. With the perfect location along Oahu's beautiful North Shore, a decision was made to commence operating a shave ice stand in the midst of the grocery business. The carloads of racing enthusiasts and the waves of surfers and hippies in the '60s brought people from across the globe to this quaint store to purchase the shave ice, or "snow cone" cascading with their homemade syrup. Stanley and his wife, Noriko, successfully converted the groceries to T-shirts, souvenirs, and snacks, and he eventually became the proprietor while his parents semi-retired and later passed away.
Today, on a warm, sunny day, the store produces 1,000 shave ice. Half of the customers are tourists. Many people from around the world have visited the store, so while your at the Reef Pro in Haleiwa, stop in at Matsumoto's for a shave ice!




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ANOTHER LAY DAY CALLED - SWELL ON THE WAY (11/16)

Another lay day has been called for the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa. Forecaster's have been tracking a NW swell that is predicted to hit the North Shore tomorrow (Tuesday). Check back tomorrow morning for event status.

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Sunday, November 15, 2009

REEF HAWAIIAN PRO - LAY DAY (11/15)

Sunday sees another lay day for the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa. Contest organizer's are waiting for more swell to hit Ali'i Beach to resume competition. There's some activity on the horizon, so stay tuned!


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Saturday, November 14, 2009

LAY DAY CALLED FOR REEF HAWAIIAN PRO (11/14)

Surf is still small. View highlights of Day 1 competition at the Reef Hawaiian Pro. Check back tomorrow for the call...

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Friday, November 13, 2009

THE REEF HAWAIIAN PRO IS OFF TODAY (DAY 2)

The event organizer's have made the call - wait for more swell to resume competition. Be sure to check back tomorrow morning, because in the islands, conditions change fast!

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Thursday, November 12, 2009

REEF HAWAIIAN PRO DAY 1 WRAP-UP


Eyes were on the waves but minds were on the money as the $1,000,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink hit the water with day one of the Reef Hawaiian Pro - an ASP men's 6-star prime World Qualifying Series event. Subsequently, few people noticed that the bulk of the 10- to 12-foot NE swell wasn't making it around the corner into Haleiwa, and thousands lived it up in the bikini-strutting weather.



Haleiwa leveled the playing field today as visiting and local surfers met somewhere in the middle between international beach break conditions and the Hawaiian power expected here this time of year. Results were as mixed as the waves that ranged from five feet in the morning, to just a couple of feet before the event was halted around 2p.m. at heat 11 of the round of 128 surfers.

The earlier heats lucked out with offshore winds and punchier conditions. Maui's Granger Larsen nailed down the best of it, cranking out three powerful snaps to earn a 9.33, the highest scoring wave of the contest so far.

Fresh off a win from the XCEL Pro at Sunset Beach in massive surf, Hank Gaskell (Maui) channeled his momentum to push through the crumbly late afternoon conditions in heat nine and took down super-grom Nat Young (Santa Cruz, Ca.) with explosive surfing. He sealed the deal with a frontside air reverse with just a few minutes remaining in the heat. Young answered back with fins-free surfing of his own with one minute remaining, posting a 7.10, but it wasn't enough to overtake second place Alain Riou (PYF).

"I'm just going one heat at a time. That's all that I can do," said Gaskell. "I'm not a real favorite to win the Triple Crown. I'm just trying to do my personal best.

"I'm stoked on Vans for offering the Triple Threat. Surfers are professional athletes and we all work hard and we're underpaid compared to other sports. I'm not complaining. I was making good money before I got dropped, but hopefully I'll get another sponsor (laughs). Surfing is a great sport and we deserve to get as much as any other professional sport."

Last year's Reef Hawaiian Pro Champion Michel Bourez (PYF) powered through his first heat of the day, taking down Richard Christie (NZ), and a pair of former Vans Triple Crown champions in Myles Padaca (HAW) and Kaipo Jaquias (HAW). But his run ended in the next round, losing to Hale'iwa resident Joel Centeio and James Taipan Wood (AUS), who took first and second, respectively.

"Last year was barreling, offshore and perfect," said Bourez, assessing today's conditions. "Today was mushy and small and most of the waves were lefts, so it was different. I just tried as hard as I could to score two good ones.

"The one million dollar prize purse is good for the sport," said Bourez. "It's the first time ever so everyone is excited to win the Triple Crown."

Find out the call for the day, each day, as soon as it's made by Director Randy Rarick by signing up for mobile text alerts at triplecrownofsurfing.com. For the latest surf updates, stay tuned to Surfline.com, the official surf forecaster of the Vans Triple Crown Triple Threat. All the action will be broadcast live on the web at triplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250.

Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O'Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future.

RESULTS:
Round of 136: Results shown in order of 1st place through 4th. 1st & 2nd advance
H1: Sean Moody (HAW), Anthony Petruso (USA), Derek Ho (HAW), Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
H2: Michel Bourez (PYF), Richard Christie (NZ), Myles Padaca (HAW), Kaipo Jaquias (HAW)
H3: Solomon Ortiz (HAW), Izuki Tanaka (JPN), Daniel Jones (HAW), Kiron Jabour (HAW)
H4: Bruno Rodrigues (USA), Kamalei Alexander (HAW), Hira Terinatoofa (PYF), Love Hodel (HAW)
Round of 128
H1: Granger Larsen (HAW), Damien Fahrenfort (ZAF), Mason Ho (HAW), Nathan Carroll
H2: Alejo Muniz (BRA), Dylan Melamed (HAW), Sean Moody (HAW), Jarrad Sullivan (HAW)
H3: Lincoln Taylor (AUS), Jayke Sharp (AUS), Jean da Silva (BRA), Liam McNamara (HAW)
H4: Cory Lopez (FL), Brad Ettinger (USA), Anthony Petruso (USA), Paulo Moura (Brz)
H5: Evan Valiere (HAW), Nathan Edge (AUS), Diego Rosa (BRA), Blake Wilson (AUS)
H6: Joel Centeio (HAW), James Taipan Wood (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Marco Giorgio (URY)
H7: Andre Silva (BRA), Luke Campbell (AUS), Masatoshi Ohno (JPN), Kevin Sullivan (HAW)
H8: Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Marco Farney (BRA), Richard Christie (NZ), Jay Davies (AUS)
H9: Hank Gaskell (HAW), Alain Riou (PYF), Nat Young (AUS), Hugo Savalli (REU)
H10: Gavin Gillette (HAW), Heath Joske  (AUS), Mark Matthews (AUS), Solomon Ortiz (HAW)
H11: TJ Barron (HAW), Jason Shibata (HAW), Hizunome Bettero (BRA), Charlie Brown (BRA)




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THE REEF HAWAIIAN PRO IS ON!

The ASP 6-star Reef Hawaiian Pro is ON. Waves at Haleiwa are 3-5 ft and conditions are improving. Go to the "LIVE" page to watch all the action!



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