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Hawaii's Pancho Sullivan wipes out the opposition
by George Mojo
08/02/2008:// Hawaii's Pancho Sullivan wiped out the opposition to claim his second Monster Energy Pipeline Pro title in Hawaii.
At Backdoor Pipeline in barreling waves of six to eight feet, Sullivan posted a perfect 10-point tube ride as well as the highest heat score of the event - 18.75 points out of 20, in the 30-minute final.
His three rivals were all left in need of a combination of scores to turn the tables.
The win earned Sullivan - who first won the event in 2005 - 875 World Qualifying Series ratings points.
While the waves were not trademark Pipeline by any standards, they allowed Sullivan to prove he's not just a big-wave power surfer but a threat to contend with in all quality conditions.
He had plenty of opportunity to build momentum and show his worth after denying a main round seed and surfing all the way through from the trials here.
By the conclusion of today's final, Sullivan had contested a total of eight heats - more than any other surfer in the event.
An all-Hawaii affair, second and third place went to fellow WCT surfers Fred Patacchia (14.25 points) and Roy Powers (9.1 points) respectively, with Dustin Barca fourth (6.5 points).
"Conditions were super difficult so my plan was just to chip away," said Sullivan.
"With the incoming swell the smaller waves offered more open face, so my aim was to get a decent score and build on that. A lot of times it boils down to being lucky and getting the right waves."
On starting from the trials: "There is so much luck involved. I was just fortunate I didn't get skunked. I was pretty wave-starved in the semi's. But I was looking forward to getting as many heats as possible under my beld before the WCT starts. This is a great opportunity to prepare and train."
Patacchia was surprised to keep his grip on second place after giving up 20 minutes into the heat once he realized there was no catching Pancho.
Patacchia opted to leave the water and trade in his surfboard for a pink bodyboard, apparently not concerned by the threat of injury or losing money by dropping his position in the heat. When he wiped out heavily on that, he took to bodysurfing the barrel.
"The thought of injury and money didn't even enter my mind," said Patacchia. "I was all about the win, so once I saw Pancho had it, I was done."
Neither Powers nor Barca managed to secure decent rides in the last 10 minutes of the heat and Patacchia remained in second place.
Fourteen wildcards into the coveted Billabong Pipeline Masters next December were also on offer to locals in this event.
Sullivan, Patacchia and Powers did not need to take up the offer, already guaranteed of a start through their WCT status.
Fourth placed Barca will get a start, along with other highly placed surfers in the event including TJ Barron, Marcus Hickman, Makuakai Rothman, Daniel Jones, Jesse Merle-Jones, Nathan Carroll, Ian Walsh, Kekoa Bacalso and Ola Eleogram.
Eleogram also received the Todd Chesser Sportsmanship Award, selected for his never-say-die spirit during the event. Eleogram finished equal ninth overall, losing in the quarter-finals.
Top seeds took control of the ASP World Qualfying Series 6-Star Buondi Billabong Pro Portugal posting big scores and impressive performances in the good three to four foot waves on offer at Ribeira d’Ilhas
Briton Russell Winter's run in the Buondi Billabong Pro in Portugal came to an abrupt end when the Cornishman finished last in his second round heat
The upcoming Boost Mobile Pro presented by Hurley may be the closest thing eight-time ASP World Champion and ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) has to a home court advantage on the ASP World Tour
Home advantage saw Lee Ann Curren claim top spot in Rip Curl Pro Junior Mademoiselle at Les Bourdaines in Seignosse
The August Bank Holiday weekend saw a hive of activity at the inaugural Quiksilver Skins invitation competition, one of the most innovative contest formats to grace the circuit
Champions tell the story of their success step by step
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