Maui's Dusty Payne wins Reef Hawaiian Pro for second shot at pro surfing career
HALEIWA, Oahu/Hawaii (Saturday, November 15, 2014): An incredible come-from-behind victory by Maui's Dusty Payne at the REEF Hawaiian Pro may well be the moment that realigns his life. After a torrid couple of years that saw him drop off the ASP World Championship Tour and sustain some debilitating injuries, he returned to competition here at Haleiwa with a new attitude and a renewed appreciation for the surfing life.
Payne was the only surfer in the four-man final to have surfed all the way through from Round 1 - a total of seven heats over four intense days, that encompassed everything from 6-foot to 20-foot surf. The result today more than proves his world-class ability. His challengers Julian Wilson, Jeremy Flores, and Adam Melling were all seeded into later rounds in the event as established WCT competitors.
Wilson took an early command of the 35-minute final and looked to have it all wrapped up with a combination of airs, vertical snaps and torquing carves in double-overhead waves. With 14 minutes remaining, Payne dug deep to turn the tables. In a span of 90 seconds he posted back-to-back near-perfect wave scores of 9.87 and 9.77 for a total of 19.64. He attacked the waves with massive snaps and critical under-the-lip turns to seal the deal. Frenchman Flores and Aussie Melling pulled up in third and fourth place respectively.
Payne, 26, won $40,000 today and leaps from relative obscurity at No. 97 on the ASP Qualifying Series ratings to No. 24, and within shot at requalification for the 2015 WCT. He also takes an early lead on the Vans Triple Crown ratings - "a Hawaiian world title," as he puts it; and takes pole position in the Hawaiian Airlines "Best In Class" award for the highest heat score of the Vans Triple Crown series.
"It's always been a dream of mine to win here since I watched Andy (Irons) win," Payne said through tears of hard-earned elation. "We just surfed epic Haleiwa for four days straight. What more can I say. I just want to have fun and keep surfing. This is the greatest job in the world."
Looking back on the final, Payne said he sat out there and asked himself 'What would Andy (Irons) do?' Irons, who passed away in November of 2010, was a close friend and deep well of inspiration for Payne during his early years on tour.
"After the first 9 dropped I thought, 'I'm still in this'," said Payne. "Then a flurry of waves came and luckily I got another one."
"When I was on tour I wasn't winning events or making the final day like I wanted to. Sitting out this year and watching my peers do well kind of fired me up and I'm excited for next year and whatever it brings. To be honest, I think it was the best thing for me. I just want to compete and bring everything I've got at it."
Today was only Payne's second major career win; his first being in March of 2013 at the Drug Aware Margaret Rive Pro in Western Australia.
Due credit should be given to Wilson, 26, who was in scintillating form through today's four rounds. His rapid-fire turns and dizzying aerial displays wowed the 5,000-strong crowd and made him a worthy finalist. Similarly, Melling and Flores demonstrated inspired and committed performances that barely wavered. Their results today will give their requalification hopes a major boost.
Recognition should also be given to Brazil's Raoni Monteiro; Californian Brett Simpson; and Portugal's Frederico Morais, who all performed solidly before their runs ended in the Semifinals. It was a critical result for Simpson, 29, who is now in good stead to requalify for the 2015 Championship Tour.
REEF Hawaiian Pro Final Results:
1st: Dusty Payne (HAW) 19.64pts - $40,000 - 6,500 ratings points
2nd: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.74pts - $20,000 - 5,200 ratings points
3rd: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.97pts - $12,000 - 4,450 ratings points
4th: Adam Melling (AUS) 11.33pts - $10,000 - 4,000 ratings points
REEF Hawaiian Pro Semifinal Results (1st & 2nd advance, 3rd=5th; 4th=7th):
Semifinal 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.43pts ; Dusty Payne (HAW) 16.36pts ; Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 14.73pts ; Brett Simpson (USA) 14.50pts
Semifinal 2: Adam Melling (AUS) 17.40pts ; Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.00pts ; Frederico Morais (PRT) 14.70pts ; Torrey Meister (HAW) 14.67pts
REEF Hawaiian Pro Quarterfinal Results (1st & 2nd advance, 3rd=9th; 4th=13th):
Quarterfinal 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.67pts ; Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.50pts ; Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.80pts ; Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.74pts
Quarterfinal 2: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 15.60pts ; Brett Simpson (USA) 13.40pts ; Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.07pts ; Joel Centeio (HAW) 12.83pts
Quarterfinal 3: Torrey Meister (HAW) 15.87pts ; Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.57pts ; Wade Carmichael (AUS) 15.10pts ; Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.83pts
Quarterfinal 4: Adam Melling (AUS) 17.20pts ; Frederico Morais (PRT) 14.80pts ; Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.77pts ; Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.20pts
Comments
Dustys so sick, I'd love to see him do well.
Power surfing v aerial surfing, 4 foot - 12 foot, WQS failures, epic recoveries, old guys tearing it up - comp had it all. ASP must be stunned by the success of 4 man heats with priority. If you are going to break through to the non-surfing consumer much better viewing than man on man. Maybe something for the new WSL to consider.
I agree with you, mick-free. Just purely to make it more entertaining; 4 person heats, 45 minute heats, best single wave score, top 2 go thru. No non-elimination heats. Can go to 2 person for the semis and the final.
Too much dubious judging on a one wave score. eg How do you separate Kelly and John John in Tahiti. If you did go to 45min heats you could go back to top 3 wave scores. Make them work for it!
Pipe was best with overlapping heats. Public want entertainment, fast and furious.
Have to agree as well. Without the hasslefest of previous years some (most) of those heats were fabulous sporting contests. It seemed that they were always in the balance in some way right to the end. Even if there's one surfer clearly winning, the competition for second spot was intense. More waves ridden - seems there was always something happening. And you could still get through even if you had a great heat but found yourself up against someone on fire - Dusty for instance had 3 seconds in 7 heats, but you couldn't argue he wasn't a worthy winner.
Personally I find the two man overlapping approach is unfocussed and distracts from both heats. With priority cracked, the four man heat structure is just more fun to watch.
good on Dusty Payne. He showed everyone the way...
Speed Power and Flow.
Not speed power and flicks.
yeah mick, three waves scored, 3 or 4 surfers in a heat and overlapping heats. Can be modified dependant on conditions, no wave limits and proper drop in calls. This will eliminate tea baggers plus be crowd and media entertaining, and in the long term assist surfing levels.
Agreed about the 4man heats and having priority. Its been unreal watching some of the wqs events this year. In my opinion surfing needs way more action and not less and I think when it went back to best 2waves we were destined to see lots of long periods of no action especially in man on man heats. I'd be stoked to see 4 man heats at CT level and best 3waves and maybe 40-45 minutes long. Would love to see a top 48 or 60 too instead of only 34. When you look at the qs ratings this year heaps of real good surfers that are good enough to be CT are not going to make it.