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Carmichael Wins at Haleiwa, Closes in on Qualification
WSL
Australian Dark Horse Wade Carmichael powered from Round 1 to claim a win at the Hawaiian Pro, and in so doing catapulted from 59th to 13th on the World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) ratings. This is clearly the biggest result of his career. Carmichael is now in a strong position to qualify for the 2016 WSL Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour and will be looking for a strong finish at next week's Vans World Cup - the second leg of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. By virtue of today's win, he is the early leader for the Vans Triple Crown title.
Employing brute force and classic power maneuvers, Carmichael, 23, was hard to match in the glassy, head-high waves on offer. The flamboyant aerials of Filipe Toledo (BRA) fell short of reigning in Wade on his determined path to the podium, leaving the Brazilian in runner-up place. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) was third, and the defending Hawaiian Pro champion Dusty Payne (HAW) was fourth.
Carmichael's performance during this event closely mirrored Payne's triumph last year - both athletes were ranked low on the QS series and used the win at Haleiwa to propel them toward the top, and in Payne's instance, a spot on the Tour. It's the kind of exciting turn of events that the Vans Triple Crown is most famous for.
"I don't even know what to say," said Carmichael of his win. "I was waiting around for 20 minutes out in the water and I thought everyone got scores in the end and I couldn't believe all the boys on the beach, I was just freaking out."
The 35-minute Final heated up right off the start as all four surfers went wave for wave, each showing unique talent. Anxiety built when the ocean fell quiet at the halfway mark, but not even a final couple of rides by Payne and Toledo could turn the tables on the Australian.
"The year has been tough," said Carmichael. "I started off well at Trestles with my third but I haven't had much since then. I just got a little bit of a down stage with small waves and kept making a couple mistakes. But I feel like with this win here I'll hopefully get a little roll at Sunset. I'm just stoked."
Second place finisher Toledo was the odds on favorite in the competition, given the high-performance conditions he is known to master. The Brazilian posted a 9.50 in the final, the highest wave score of the day, with a full rotation panning impressive distance. Unfortunately he couldn't find a solid back-up.
"The last ten minutes was completely flat, I was like, ‘Oh my God, I just need one wave,'" said Toledo. "And that middle wave came, it wasn't a set but it was a good wave and I couldn't do anything better than a 5.30. But yah, second place is not bad and I'm really stoked with a second. Just happy for all the boys, also Zeke and Dusty but of course for Wade."
Lau (Honolulu) and Payne (Lahaina) went air for air to start the Final off strong. Payne's backside tail whipping reverse garnered a 5.83 from the judges and Lau answered back with a 7.27 from a huge opening power turn, followed by an air to mix it up. Lau was eager to find waves from the onset as the swell dropped and the waves went quiet.
"Beginning of the heat had a lot of waves, so maybe I lost my cool a little bit and got a little too excited and went on some waves I shouldn't have," said Lau. "Wade got the better of the exchanges so things kind of went his way."
Payne also had his best two waves in the start of the heat, a 5.83 and a 7.00. But it wasn't enough to overtake his fellow Hawaiian, and Payne found himself in a fourth place finish.
"I had no expectations today," said the former Haleiwa winner. "I'm a little bit more comfortable when it's overhead at least. But I'm happy to make the Final."
The holding period for the Vans World Cup - stop two of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing - commences Tuesday, November 24. It is the final QS 10,000 of the 2015 QS season and will have major implications on next year's Championship Tour lineup.
Carmichael Wins Hawaiian Pro to Close in on Qualification
Wade Carmichael
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Hawaiian Pro
Qualification picture and top contenders for the second jewel of the Vans Triple Crown.
Wade Carmichael finds victory at Haleiwa, takes early lead of Triple Crown heading into the Vans World Cup of Surfing.
Ross Williams takes a look at the pressure of making heats in order to qualify for the Championship Tour.
Day 3 of the Hawaiian Pro sees the drama thicken, as major upsets are caused by international dark horses.
As the field began to narrow, catch the biggest moments from the first event of the Vans Triple Crown.