SURFERMAG.COM PROTOUR UPDATE
Sullivan & Irons Advance To Main Event
"Of definitely, he's my inspiration," added the Hawaiian, when asked about Myles Padaca's Rip Curl Cup victory last year, having gone through the Trials. "He and I are best friends and we surf a lot together. I was so happy to see him do well last year. The guy deserves it more than anyone, but it made me re-focus this year and realize a local guy can do it. Come out of the Trials and win the whole event. It is my home break and I feel like I can surf as good as anyone else in the world out here."
Irons, who led from the outset following another of his many tubes today, was pushed into second following Sullivan's best wave. The 23-year-old regained the front spot on his last ride, but the counterattack of his main opponents higher scoring 6.93 proved too much. Nonetheless, the younger brother to current WCT ratings leader Andy Irons is in fine form, having collected a near-perfect 9.57 during his first heat this morning.
"It was a hard day and the final was the most intense," said Irons. "I made it all the way there and was just hoping I wouldn't blow it there. You can't hear the scores out there, so I didn't have any idea how I was doing.
"Sunset is a great wave when it bigger," he added of the venue. "You ride a bigger board and can do some big turns. I'm just stoked to make it through, as for me it's a lot harder here than at Pipe. You just have to get lucky with the waves."
Former WCT surfer Ross Williams (Haw) posted the highest two wave total of the day during his opening heat for 18.17-points. Unfortunately the Hawaiian wasn't able to repeat the result in the quarterfinals, where he was eliminated.
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