Conditions improved through the day in clean surf on the point at Sunset Beach. Stable offshore winds cooperated, and wave faces increased through the day from 3' to 6', reaching 10' in the second round of competition.
World champion in 2000 and Xcel Pro winner in 1992 Sunny Garcia dominated his Round 1 heat, with a combined wave total of 16.50 - the highest combined score of that entire first round. Competing in his first event after returning to Hawaii, Garcia will surf again in Round 2 when the contest's second day kicks off.
Joel Centeio scored the highest wave total of the day with an 18.84 score that included a 9.67 ride - the best-scored wave of Day 1. Centeio will face off against current Men's WQS ratings leader Jordy Smith and fellow Hawaiians Tory Barron and Torrey Meister in Round 3.
Kauai's Roy Powers, currently the highest-rated Hawaiian on the Men's WQS, turned in consistently strong performances, winning both his Round 1 and 2 heats. Powers qualified for the WCT in 2006, and locals are keeping an eye out for Kauai representation on next year's world tour.
"Very glad to have gotten Day 1 going," says Ed D'Ascoli, Xcel president. "We saw some great surfing out there today. This size Sunset is one of the most high-performance, fun waves on the North Shore. Definitely makes for an exciting contest - challenging those guys to take full advantage of the waves that come through."
If the swell holds through the night, Day 2 of competition is expected to resume tomorrow at 8:00 AM Hawaii Standard Time (HST), when the 9th heat of Round 2 is scheduled to hit the water.
Also set to surf during Day 2 is 2006 Xcel Pro defending champion Evan Valiere, as well as 2006 event finalists Michel Bourez, Gavin Beschen, and Makua Rothman.
The 4-Star 2007 Xcel Pro Presented by No Fear is the only WQS contest held on Oahu's North Shore before the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing begins in November. The talented local and international field will battle for valuable ratings points and a $75,000 total purse.
Be sure to check out the official Web site www.xcelwetsuits.com for Surfing Live's state-of-the art live online Webcast, as well as posted photos, results, and contest updates.
Surf News Network is the official contest hotline at (808) 596-SURF. For more, please visit the contest Web site at www.XcelWetsuits.com
Xcel Pro Past Champions
1984 Kerry Terukina
1985 Denton Miyamura
1986 Hans Hedemann
1987 Ronnie Burns
1988 Michael Ho
1989 Richard Schmidt
1990 Michael Ho
1991 Michael Ho
1992 Sunny Garcia
1993 Kaipo Jaquias
1994 Derek Ho
1995 Kaipo Jaquias
1996 Michael Ho
1997 Andy Irons
1998 Pancho Sullivan
1999 Bruce Irons
2000 Pancho Sullivan
2001 Gavin Beschen
2002 Fred Pattachia
2003 Pancho Sullivan
2004 Fred Pattachia
2005 Ian Walsh
2006 Evan Valiere
About the Xcel Pro
Now in its 24th year, the 2007 Xcel Pro Presented by No Fear is a 4-Star ASP WQS contest with a $75,000 purse, drawing amateurs and seasoned professionals to Sunset Beach, one of the world's best surf venues on Oahu's North Shore.
No Fear is the presenting sponsor of the 2007 contest, with SoBe, Kustom, VonZipper, and Fuel TV on board as associate sponsors. Fuel TV will produce the contest television show to be aired late 2007 (schedule at www.fuel.tv). Surfing Live and Surf News Network also support the event.
For the full heat draw of the 2007 Xcel Pro Presented by No Fear, visit ASP on the Web at www.aspworldtour.com.
About Xcel
Founded in 1982, Xcel International, Inc. (Xcel) is a global wetsuit brand distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Headquartered on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Xcel's core wetsuit business focuses on the cutting edge of material and design development. Xcel's primary markets include surf, dive, wakeboard, paddle, and sun (UV protection).
In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel operates two retail stores on Oahu and a warehouse/repair facility in California. To learn more about Xcel, please visit www.XcelWetsuits.com