The 2014 Vans World Cup of Surfing kicked off in giant surf, at Sunset Beach, Hawaii.
Shifty peaks delivered waves in the 10- to 15-foot range. It was heavy out the back, but local knowledge proved to be enough to get through to Round 2.Kai Barger stole the show, on the first day of competition. The surfer from Maui had the highest wave score and the best heat total of Round 1.
"I was actually panicking before I caught that wave. I never felt comfortable that whole heat and I've been losing a lot, so that all adds to the stress I've had. I just got lucky. I swung, caught a wave, and it turned out to be good," explained Barger.
Ramzi Boukhiam, from Morocco, is having a great season in the Triple Crown of Surfing. After reaching the quarterfinals at Haleiwa, the 21-year-old rider displayed his powerful backhand to win his heat.
"I felt good out there but it was definitely very tricky. It's so difficult to tell which waves are going to be the better scores, but I was feeling comfortable on my backhand," added Boukhiam.
Vans World Cup of Surfing | Round 1
Tom Whitaker (AUS) 8.43; Ian Walsh (HAW) 7.67; Hank Gaskell (HAW) 6.93; Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 6.93
Bino Lopes (BRA) 10.50; Gavin Gillette (HAW) 8.40; Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 6.0; Eli Olsen (HAW) 1.87
Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 11.93; Chris Ward (USA) 10.90; Danny Fuller (HAW) 9.74; Conner Coffin (USA) 7.47
Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 11.04; Vasco Ribeiro (PRT)10.10; Kevin Sullivan (HAW) 8.37; Dylan Goodale (HAW) 7.43
Perth Standlick (AUS) 13.00; Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 10.43; Cahill Bell-Warren (AUS) 7.60; Koa Smith (HAW) 3.17
Wade Carmicheal (AUS) 12.44; Kaito Kino (HAW) 11.16; Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 10.20; Ian Gentil (HAW) 9.90
Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.60; Connor O'Leary (AUS) 10.017; Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 8.67; Reef McIntosh (HAW) 7.20
Billy Kemper (HAW) 15.10; Kiron Jabour (HAW) 13.50; Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 8.26; Joshua Moniz (HAW) 7.84
Kai Barger (HAW) 15.70; David do Carmo (BRA) 12.50; Sunny Garcia (HAW) 10.56; Marco Fernandez (BRA) 4.94
Thomas Woods (AUS) 10.50; Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 8.83; Frederico Morais (PRT) 7.83; Landon McNamara (HAW) 3.30
Seth Moniz (HAW) 12.27; Nathan Hedge (AUS) 11.47; Joel Centeio (HAW) 10.80; Ian Gouveia (BRA) 9.50
Cooper Chapman (AUS) 12.10; Alex Smith (HAW) 9.76; Kylen Yamakawa (HAW) 9.63; Krystian Kymerson (BRA) 8.57
Granger Larsen (HAW) 12.00; Brent Dorrington (AUS) 7.57; Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 7.33; Hiroto ohhara (JPN) 6.54
Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 14.00; Evan Valiere (HAW) 8.73; Jean Da Silva (BRA) 8.27; Makai McNamara (HAW) 6.60
Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.60; Isaiah Moniz (HAW) 7.54; Jose Ferreira (PRT) 7.36; Cory Arrambide (USA) 3.47
Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 9.34; Nathan Yeomans (USA) 9.30; Dillon Perillo (USA) 8.77; Kalani David (HAW) 7.56
