SWELL ON THE WAY: Xcel Pro Enjoys Great Surf On Day 2

Alex Gray gets slotted as the swell fills in.

With surf at times 10’+ (Hawaiian scale), Day 2 produced solid high-performance rides at the 2007 Xcel Pro Presented by No Fear.

Wave faces were the largest at Sunset Beach so far this season, beginning the day at 10’ to 14’ feet with clean, glassy conditions, thanks to a north swell that had arrived overnight. High-performance surf continued into the afternoon, as sets stayed consistently large into the afternoon and winds remained light and variable.

Rounds 2 and 3 produced solid cover-ups for many riders, as Roy Powers barreled a 9.43 - the highest-scoring wave of the day - after sitting in fourth place for most of his 24-minute heat. "I was watching everyone catch some good ones," noted Powers, "and knew I had to get one of those barrels." The ride catapulted Powers to a heat win and a place in Round 4 (Round of 32).

Competitors were stoked to be able to get in some time with world-class Sunset. "The waves are just great today," said Shane Beschen, fresh out of the water after advancing from Round 3 to Round 4. "It’s been going off all day - you can’t really ask for much better surf."

Adds Xcel president Ed D’Ascoli, "This was, hands down, one of the top 10 contest days we’ve ever run in the 24-year history of the Xcel Pro."

The swell is expected to drop into tomorrow, but may still be solid enough to run the final Day 3 of competition with a Round 3, Heat 13 8:00 AM Hawaii Standard Time (HST) start. The waiting period runs to Saturday, November 10.

Watch for Powers, Beschen, and more in Round 4 when the last day is underway. They’ll be joined by 2006 Xcel Pro champion Evan Valiere, who also advanced and will face tough competition in defending his title; current Men’s WQS leader Jordy Smith; and Hawaii’s own Sunny Garcia.

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 daily photos, results, and contest updates.