Start your engines, the North Shore season starts with the Xcel Pro.
November 3, 2009, 3:03 PM
By: Jake Howard
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Enlarge Surfer:Pancho Sullivan | Photo: Tom Servais | Location:Sunset Beach, HI
Like leaves turning to brown, when the Xcel Pro sounds off at Sunset you know winter can't be too far behind. The unofficial opening bell for the North Shore season, for the past 26 years the contest has come to represent a coming-of-age trophy for young Hawaiians. Ronnie Burns, the Ho brothers, the Irons brothers, Sunny Garcia, and of course, Pancho Sullivan, they've all started to make their name at Sunset. In fact, besides Gavin Beschen in 2001 and Richard Schmidt back in 1989, every other winner of the Xcel Pro has been Island bred.
So why should this year be any different? Maui's Hank Gaskell was more than happy to keep the tradition alive, and thanks to a hearty northwest swell over the weekend, he got his shot. With six to 10-foot sets the norm, organizers steamed through two full days of quality surf. Come Monday, there were only a few heats felt, and while the swell was on the decline, the level of surfing certainly wasn't.
Servais
Shane Beschen, surfing like it was 1999.
Facing Shane Beschen, Myles Padaca, and Pancho, a three time event winner, Hank was able to stave off the crafty vets.
"I felt good out there today," he said. "I was trying to get the middle runner waves and just do my own thing."
But for as casual as Hank makes it sound, it was tight all the way to the finish.
"They weren't announcing the scores on the beach, so nobody knew who won," told photographer Tom Servais. "Some of Pancho's friends thought he'd won and hoisted him up on their shoulders. Nobody knew Hank had won until it was announced on stage."
So, the first contest of the North Shore season is in the books. Next stop Haliewa and the Triple Crown, and judging by all of the early swell activity and how close both the WQS and World Tour races are, this could be a winter to remember.
Servais
That's a big man to carry up the beach by accident.
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Contributors
Jon Coen
Jon is from New Jersey and continues to reside there with his wife and dog—which means occasional empty barrels and the occasional session in the snow.The state isn't as dirty as people might think, but he'll let them keep believing that.
Jake Howard
Jake lives, writes, and surfs in San Clemente, California. He spent his formative gremlin years surfing points north of San Francisco, and for the last 10 years has been contently surviving behind the Orange Curtain.
Kimball Taylor
Author of Return by Water, as well as books on Jeffreys Bay and Pipeline, Kimball drives a red hot Camero, and back in the '70s, he used to party with your Dad.
Daniel Ikaika Ito
Daniel surfs like a hippie, but dresses like a homie. The Native Hawaiian originally hails from Hilo, but now resides in Honolulu. He enjoys twin-fins, new sneakers and being ESPN's "Cuz On The Scene" in the 50th State.
Jason Kenworthy
About as majestic as a turkey vulture, when he's not shlepping his lens around the world or looking for road kill, Jason can be found at home in Dana Point tending to his growing brood.
