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British Number starts strong at Reef Pro
by George Mojo
14/11/2007:// British number one Russell Winter has started strongly at the Reef Hawaiian Pro winning his opening heat with a powerful performance.
Just days after making the final of the Newquay Open, the 32-year-old called on more than a decade of North Shore experience to book a place in round four of the 6star WQS event.
In the opening tournament of the Vans Triple Crown Series at Haleiwa, Winter outpointed Australian Adam Robertson, Brazilian Robson Santos and Mark Mathews.
The result puts Winter as the leading Reef team rider at the event currently being staged in five to seven foot waves.
"I was very happy with that result," said Winter. "I just arrived off the plane last night after being delayed in England, so it felt good to get the cobwebs off. I felt pretty strong."
Winter posted one of the top heat totals of the day - 14.34 points for his top two rides of 8.17 and 6.17.
"My plan was to pressure the other guys - let them know I'm out there to win, not get second. They chose the wrong waves, I stayed relaxed, knew my plan, and waited for the sets. It worked out.
"I've been coming here for a long time. I love the Triple Crown events, the vibe's great and it's always good to be here. Hopefully I'll get through a few more heats, if not win - that's the plan."
Winter is bidding to make it onto next season's World Championship Tour - the top flight of competition surfing.
Elsewhere Basque surfer Gony Zubizareta, 22, drove the crowd wild despite being the lowest seeded competitor
Zubizareta looked lost at the start of his clash with Hawaiian Dustin Cuizon, Frenchman Alain Riou and Shea Lopez, from America.
But as the heat closed in around him, he tapped into a last-minute hot-streak for back-to-back scores of 9.77 and 8.83 for the highest heat total so far this event: 18.6.
It was a hugely satisfying moment for the rookie whose name is almost fine-print on the Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series (WQS) ratings at 91st.
"I was lost in the first half of the heat," said Zubizareta. "I couldn't find any waves and I thought I was going to lose. Finally a really good wave came and I surfed well. I went back to the outside and then the best wave of the day came for me. I felt really good.
"I haven't really surfed this wave. I surfed early this-morning but it was very crowded and I couldn't really get waves. I don't really know the waves, but my waves were so perfect. I was lucky to be in the right spot at the right time.
"My 9... long bottom turns, off-the-tops, two big maneuvers. The Triple Crown means a lot and I hope I do well. I'm sitting 91st on the WQS ratings, so I guess it will improve my standing."
The Reef Hawaiian Pro is the first jewel of the 25th anniversary Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Carrying the highest WQS rating of 6-stars, for both men and women, this event is critical in determining the lineup for the elite World Championship Tour next year.
The 2008 Beachley Classic got underway this morning, completing Rounds 1 and 2 as well as the opening two heats of Round 3 at nearby Freshwater Beach in clean two-to-three foot (1 metre) waves
Layne Beachley (AUS), 36, has officially announced her retirement from full-time competition, effective at the end of the year
Former Exeter University student Josh Lewin first heat at the Ocean and Earth Pro in the Canary Islands has been delayed because the 2ft surf was deemed uncontestable
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