There's more swell on the North Shore right now than most of us know what do with. Trouble is, barely a lick of it is hitting Alii Beach Park, the home of the frontrunner of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the Reef Hawaiian Pro. Aroused by a bit of west and some sweet talk, Haleiwa lay strangely dormant for the opening day of the million-dollar series today, with some meager 2- to 3-foot lumps showing themselves from time to time while triple-overhead sets donated themselves out to the east. Truth be told, it looked more like a South American beachbreak than one of the North Shore's most menacing haunts. But that's Hawaii and despite all of the preconceived notions you may have, it aint always perfect.
Finding gems amid the garbage today, the Brazilian contingency fared best with 44 percent (or four of nine) surfers surviving their heats. In contrast, the Hawaiian surfers didn't bode quite so well with 39 percent (or nine of 23) surfers gaining births into their next round. Blame it on the piss-poor conditions, pensions for groveling, or them being more talented than we all would like to believe, but the Brazilians looked to be the most dangerous group of surfers in the lineup, consistently finding the best peaks of the heat.
That is, if you don't count...wait for it...Granger Larsen.
In fashion, Maui's pumping out phenoms like it's going out of style. Hot damn that Granger kid can surf. In conditions that offered up a less-than-ideal canvas, Larsen posted the day's highest score, a 9.33 and would back it up with a 6.
"I was in second place and Damien Fahrenfort was in first. That wave came and I was like, 'which way do you want to go?' I'm not going to battle, but I'm not really a (paddle) battler," said Larsen post heat. "He went left and the right
looked so much better. It had a little, nice wall, and I did a few turns and got a nine so I'm happy with that."
Other heats saw last year's event winner and World Tour surfer Michel Bourez take an early fall. Last year, in some of the most idylic conditions on record at Haleiwa, Bourez took the win and a seat in the Big Leagues in the process. Unfortunately, it won't be a repeat for the Tahitian as he bowed out in the round of 128 to local boy Joel Centeio and Aussie James Wood.
We're looking at some squirrelly weather and swell in the coming days, so don't expect a "go" call tomorrow at Haleiwa. But in the meantime, stay posted to Grind TV.
