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SURFERMAG.COM PRO TOUR UPDATES

Friday, November 28, 2003 (Sunset Beach, Haw) Hawaiian Joel Centeio today won the Rip Curl Cup Trials. The US$250,000 World Championship Tournament (WCT) commenced this morning with its 32-man Trials showdown, progressing through until four finalists emerged to secure wildcard positions into the Rip Curl Cup main event.

Solid 10-12 ft (4m) surf hammered the lineup throughout the day. Some epic barrels exploded on the inside bowl section, while bigger cleanup sets also washed through and caused nightmares for those in their path. Many boards paid the ultimate price and left the beach in multiple pieces.

In this afternoon's 30-minute decider, Centeio held off Tahiti's Manoa Drollet and fellow Hawaiians Sean Moody and Love Hodel, respectively. The 20-year-old posted a 6.17 earlier on, and then maintained a slender lead. The former world amateur champion is now in his first World Championship Tournament and faces defending Rip Curl Cup winner Joel Parkinson (Gold Coast), together with fellow Australian Phil MacDonald in heat #6 of round one.

"I woke up this morning and never thought I'd be here," said Centeio, of taking out the Trials. "I just took it heat by heat and came out on top. It's great.

"It's new territory," he added, of facing the WCT competitors. "I'm the underdog - the young guy coming up, so hopefully I can go out there without any pressure and beat those guys. After surfing a bunch of heats today I know what's going on out there, so hopefully it pays off."

Drollet proved the day's standout, posting a 9.5-barrel ride first heat, and then another 9.1 tube in the semifinals. The Tahitian eliminated former world #2 Shane Beschen (CA, USA) and 2001 Rip Curl Cup winner Myles Padaca (Haw) this morning, along with 1993 world champ Derek Ho (Haw) en-route to the final, but unfortunately wasn't able to lock in another high scoring ride once there. The 26-year-old will challenge six-time world champ and current ratings leader Kelly Slater (FL, USA), as well as Jake Paterson (West Aus) in a highly anticipated round one match-up.

"Wow," exclaimed Drollet, upon hearing his upcoming opponents. "That's going to be very interesting. If I get good waves like I did today I'll have a chance, but we'll see. I'll do my best, but it's an honor to be surfing against Kelly Slater. I remember surfing against him a couple of years ago and it was amazing, so hopefully this time I'll be more of a challenge for him (laughs). I don't have any pressure and am just stoked to be there. If I beat him it's good for me, but if I don't, well, it's Kelly Slater."

Moody faces current #3 Mick Fanning (Gold Coast) and Paulo Moura (Brz), while Hodel will contest an all-Hawaiian heat in the main event against reigning world champ Andy Irons (Kauai) and Kalani Robb. The experienced Sunset surfer is definitely a major threat in what will be one of the hardest opening round heats.

"It's a dream," said Hodel, of reaching the main event. "I don't care who I have, just as long as I get some open faced waves I'll be happy. I know where to sit out here and experience helps, but hey, I'm against Andy Irons and Kalani Robb, and both of those guys are incredible surfers."

Two additional wildcard positions were given to Hawaiian Rip Curl team riders Pancho Sullivan and Jamie O'Brien. Sullivan will face current #4 Taj Burrow (West Aus) and fellow Australian Trent Munro (Scott's Head), while O'Brien is against current #5 Kieren Perrow (Byron Bay, Aus) and Victor Ribas (Brz).

Recent WCT qualifier Bruce Irons (Kauai, Haw) unfortunately missed his flight from Kauai to Oahu, and therefore a chance at gaining some added experience prior to his maiden campaign in 2004. Ian Walsh replaced the Kauaian, but bowed out first heat and then snapped his surfboard while returning to the beach in the heavy shore break.

Bethany Hamilton was among the strong beach crowd at Sunset and presented Centeio with his trophy on stage. The 13-year-old survived a horrific shark attack on Kauai three weeks ago and lost her left arm, but has become an inspiration to all with a courageous recovery and positive outlook. She even re-entered the water and surfed in front of hundreds of cheering friends and admirers at home on Kauai a few days ago, and will no doubt continue to overcome her setback with incredible determination and support. A special fundraiser has been organized for tomorrow night at Waimea Falls, with proceeds helping to pay for medical costs.

Round one of the Rip Curl Cup is expected to begin tomorrow morning at 8am (local time), conditions pending.

Live heat scores, video and audio commentary are on www.ripcurl.com during competition hours, with information available in four different languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

The Vans Triple Crown Series features the world's top athletes competing in three championship events in each of the following sports: Skateboarding, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Snowboarding, BMX and Freestyle Motocross. The Series is made possible through the support of Vans, the Xbox video game system from Microsoft, Mountain Dew, Ford Trucks, Right Guard Xtreme Sport, Fox Sports Net, Surfing Magazine and NBC Sports.

For full coverage of the Triple Crown of Surfing: http://www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

Official results of the Rip Curl Cup Trials

• 1st Joel Centeio (Haw) 10.17;
• Manoa Drollet (Tah) 9.57;
• Sean Moody (Haw) 8.43;
• Love Hodel (Haw) 6.7

Semifinals (1st, 2nd>Final; 3rd=5th, 4th=7th)

• SF1: Manoa Drollet (Tah) 13.6; Joel Centeio (Haw) 20.5; Nathan Carroll (Haw) 6.44; Derek Ho (Haw) 4.33
• SF2: Love Hodel (Haw); Sean Moody (Haw); Jamie Sterling (Haw); Travis Lynch (Aus)

Quarterfinals (1st, 2nd>Semifinals; 3rd=9th, 4th=13th)

• QF1: Joel Centeio (Haw) 14.84; Derek Ho (Haw) 10.33; Ross Williams (Haw) 5.9; Brian Toth (PRico) 4.67
• QF2: Manoa Drollet (Tah) 13.67; Nathan Carroll (Haw) 11.66; Bruno Santos (Brz) 10.17; Marcus Hickman (Haw) 8.77
• QF3: Sean Moody (Haw) 12.67; Love Hodel (Haw) 7.57; Liam McNamara (Haw) 6.97; Pablo Gutierrez (Spn) 5.76
• QF4: Travis Lynch (Aus) 12.16; Jamie Sterling (Haw) 9.5; Troy Brooks (Aus) 8.4; Fred Patacchia (Haw) 5.8

Round One (1st, 2nd>Quarterfinals; 3rd=17th, 4th=25th)

• H1: Ross Williams (Haw) 13.17; Brian Toth (PRico) 9.54; Roy Powers (Haw) 8.1; Kaipo Jaquias (Haw) 7.0
• H2: Derek Ho (Haw) 11.46; Joel Centeio (Haw) 9.6; Mikala Jones (Haw) 7.57; Zane Harrison (Aus) 7.04
• H3: Marcus Hickman (Haw) 9.77; Bruno Santos (Brz); Charlie Carroll (Haw) 7.83; Jesse Merle-Jones (Haw) 6.8
• H4: Manoa Drollet (Tah) 11.33; Nathan Carroll (Haw) 10.73; Shane Beschen (USA) 9.6; Myles Padaca (Haw) 4.33
• H5: Sean Moody (Haw) 13.33; Love Hodel (Haw) 9.16; Ian Walsh (Haw) 7.14; Clint Kimmins (Aus) 6.7
• H6: Pablo Gutierrez (Spn) 11.17; Liam McNamara (Haw) 9.83; Gary Elkerton (Aus) 5.6; Kekoa Bacalso (Haw) 5.5
• H7: Fred Patacchia (Haw) 10.84; Jamie Sterling (Haw) 8.23; Makua Rothman (Haw) 4.64; Jason Shibata (Haw) 3.24
• H8: Troy Brooks (Aus) 12.67; Travis Lynch (Aus) 6.43; Gabe Kling (USA) 6.33; Brian Pacheco (Haw) 2.23

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