Day 1 of competition has concluded at Sunset Beach, as the 2006 Xcel Pro Presented by No Fear has run through Round 1 and Heat 8 of Round 2. The contest will begin again with Round 2, Heat 9 and is likely to continue tomorrow, as the current north swell continues to build.
Conditions have been challenging from the predicted north swell, consistently shifting the lineup and producing some inside take-offs for riders in Round 1 and 2 heats. Sets are frequent, and Surfline.com forecasts the current swell to pick up over the next few days, which bodes well for later rounds of competition.
"The size [of waves today] is there," says Johnny Gomes, surfing through both rounds today, who's been around the Xcel Pro since it began in 1984. "Every year, the Xcel Pro has good luck on its contest days." Gomes, a popular Sunset Beach local, loves the event held right on his home turf. "Some of the world's best surfers are here - no doubt."
Action has been streaming live online thanks to SurfingLive.com's live Webcast, and will continue to be available at http://xcelpro.xcelwetsuits.com.
Mason Ho, 18, son of four-time past Xcel Pro champion Michael Ho, went big in his early heat and earned his way into Round 2. "Dad always wants to paddle out with me," says Ho, an Oahu local who grew up at Sunset Point.
Past Xcel Pro champion Derek Ho, Mason's uncle - and brother of Michael - paddled out later and placed second in his heat. He will compete again in Round 3 in an all-Hawaiian heat of Ho, Jesse Merle-Jones, Mikey Bruneau, and David Wasel.
Be sure to check http://www.xcelpro.xcelwetsuits.com for up-to-the-minute results and the live Webcast from the beach.
About Xcel
Founded in 1982, Xcel Wetsuits (Xcel) is a global independent wetsuit brand distributed throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific Rim. Headquartered on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawai'i, Xcel's core wetsuit business focuses on the cutting edge of material and design development. Xcel's primary markets include surf, dive, wakeboard, paddle, and sun (UV protection).
In addition to its North Shore office, Xcel operates two retail stores on Oahu and a warehouse/repair facility in California. To learn more about Xcel, please visit www.xcelwetsuits.com.
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