Tahitian Michel Bourez (pictured above) has won the Reef Hawaiian Pro in Haleiwa, HI, defeating Brazil’s Jihad Khodr, Kekoa Bacalso and Dusty Payne (both of Hawaii) in a four man final.  Bourez earned $15,000 for his win but more importantly earned a spot in the 2009 ASP World Tour thanks to the finish, along with second-place Knodr.

“It means a lot to just (qualify for) the World Tour,” Bourez said after the win.  “I’ve been dreaming about this my whole life since I started to surf. I’ve been watching all the best surfers, like Kelly (Slater) and (Rob) Machado, all those guys. And, right now I can surf with them. It’s a good opportunity for me and all the Tahitian surfers. I’m stoked for Tahiti.”

The day started with difficult, rainy conditions, and the event was close to being called off.  When the rain cleared up most heats featured nice barrells and several high-scoring waves.  Even so, there were some difficult heats, including in the semis, when Aussies Nic Muscroft, Joel Parkinson and Bede Durbidge were knocked out.

In addition to Bourez and Knodr, other WQS surfers have basically locked their position on the 2009 ASP World Tour including Nathaniel Curran, Chris Davidson, Gabe Kling, Josh Kerr, Kekoa Bacalso, Nic Muscroft, Tim Boal, Tiago Pires and Dustin Barca.

Read more about the Triple Crown at the official website and read more about the day’s action below.

TAHITI’S MICHEL BOUREZ POSTS CAREER BEST WIN IN REEF HAWAIIAN PRO
Brazil’s Jihad Khodr Impressive Runner-Up

Haleiwa, Oahu, HI – (Sat. Nov. 22, 2008) – Tahitian Michel Bourez, 22, scored a career-best win in Hawaii today, taking first place in the $135,000 Reef Hawaiian Pro and an early lead on the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series ratings. Prior to today, Bourez’s best result was a minor event win in the Canary Islands in 2005. Today’s result takes him to the No.2 ranking on the ASP World Qualifying Series ratings, guaranteeing him a start on the elite ASP World Tour in 2009. Bourez earned $15,000 for his win today.

Runner-up was Brazil’s Jihad Khodr, 24 ($7,500); third was Hawaii’s Kekoa Bacalso (Mililani, $4,500), and fourth was Maui’s Dusty Payne, the youngest of the finalists at 19 and the only surfer to come all the way through from the very first round, surfing eight times to earn $4,400.

In conditions that more closely resembled the hollow tubes of Tahiti or Hawaii’s Off-The-Wall, Bourez hit his stride in the semi-finals in an unbelievable demonstration of deep tube-riding and critical power maneuvers, posting the highest wave and heat scores of the entire event: 18.96 points out of 20 for the heat, and 9.93 out of 10 for his top tube ride. In the final, he posted a total of 16.77 points with scores of 9.77 and 7.0.

“That semi was maybe the best heat of my life,” said Bourez. “Everybody was getting barreled I was screaming my head off. It was so sick. I was having so much fun out there and that’s what I call a good contest.

“It means a lot to just (qualify for) the World Tour. I’ve been dreaming about this my whole life since I started to surf. I’ve been watching all the best surfers, like Kelly (Slater) and (Rob) Machado, all those guys. And, right now I can surf with them. It’s a good opportunity for me and all the Tahitian surfers. I’m stoked for Tahiti.”

If Bourez can hold onto his lead of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series ratings, he could win a $10,000 bonus and a $10,000 one-of-a-kind Nixon tide watch featuring over two-carats of diamonds.

Khodr also had the crowd going wild with a hugely successful mix of determination, tube-riding and never-say-die attack on every wave he rode. Khodr peaked on time in the final, coming so close but just short of the win. His final scoreline: 16.5 with individual wave scores of 8.5 and 8.0 for a couple of great tubes that were slightly shorter and not as deep as Bourez’s. Khodr’s result today moved him up to fifth on the WQS rankings and back onto the World Tour stage in 2009.

“It was real hard for me to get a good result this year,” said Khodr. “When I got to Hawai’i I knew something was going to change and I got second place. I’m so stoked. (2009) is going to be my first year on the ASP World Tour.”

The highest placed US Mainland surfers were Brett Simpson and Timmy Reyes, both from Huntington Beach. Simpson lost in semi-final with a score that would have seen him advance through the majority of heats this event – 14.07. He placed equal 7th overall. Reyes lost in the quarter finals, placing equal 13th overall.

The top placing Australians were Nic Muscroft (equal fifth, semi-final loss), and Joel Parkinson (equal fifth, semi-final loss). Defending Vans Triple Crown champion Bede Durbidge also lost in the semi-finals, placing equal 7th overall. Parkinson and Bede suffered a wave-starved heat that left them with nothing to ride and no chance at reaching the final again this year.

The final day of the Reef Hawaiian Pro started out just short of a washout. Pouring rain and howling onshore winds greeted competitors at dawn and the event came close to being called off. Then the wind began to clock and before long the rubble was transformed into airbrushed barrels. For those spectators who braved the conditions, the returns were huge.

Heading on to the next event, the following Qualifying Series surfers are considered “safe” for qualifying for the 2009 ASP World Tour: Nathaniel Curran (USA), Michel Bourez (Tahiti), Chris Davidson (Australia), Gabe Kling (US), Jihad Khodr (Brazil), Josh Kerr (Aus), Kekoa Bacalso (Hawaii), Nic Muscroft (Aust), Tim Boal (France), Tiago Pires (Portugal) and Dustin Barca (Hawaii).

The 2008 Women’s ASP World Qualifying series ended Thursday with 16-year-old Carissa Moore taking the title over 7x world champ Layne Beachley and two fellow teens, Laura Enever and Coco Ho, both 17.

Moore, who won 11 National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) National Championships, becomes the youngest winner of a Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Event.  On her way to the title, Moore defeated current world champion Stephanie Gilmore and World Tour hopeful Alana Blanchard.

The win did come with some drama as Ho, Moore’s close friend, helped block Beachley’s chances at a win toward the end of the final when it became clear that Ho could not win.  Beachley needed to score a little more than six points for the win and with less than a minute left, it looked like there was a wave that could get her that score.  But Ho also dropped in and ensured Beachley couldn’t get her score.

“It was pretty good Hawaiian teamwork,” said Beachley. “I’m sure if Coco kicked out of that wave I could have still hit the lip, but as I was bottom-turning I saw Coco go for an air. And, well, that just ruins any chance of doing anything. That’s what happens here in Hawai’i.

“I was really thankful that Coco ended up getting that one,” Moore said after the win. “I’m definitely thankful that she is one of my best friends.”

Moore is not competing for a spot on the 2009 World Tour but Ho and Blanchard still have a chance to make the tour depending on how the final two women’s events go down.

Read more about the final.

The 2008 Reef Hawaiian Pro resumed action Thursday after several days off and some of the world tour surfers appeared to caught off guard, getting bounced uncharacteristically early in the contest during the round of 64.

Last year’s world champ Mick Fanning was the first to go, knocked out in the first heat of the round by Brett Simpson and Tonino Benson (Yadin Nicol was also eliminated).  Later in the round Freddy Patacchia and CJ Hobgood were also eliminated.

Among the familiar faces to move forward were Sunny Garcia, Taj Burrow and Bede Durbidge, along with defending champ Roy Powers.

One full day of action remains for the contest, which could wrap up on Friday or Saturday.  Catch the live webcast at the Triple Crown of Surfing website.

Out with the old and in with the new.  That just might be what many are thinking after the first day of action for the women at the Reef Hawaiian Pro.  After 44 women started the day, the field was whittled down to 16 in the semifinals, with seven aged 18 or under.  Among them are 16-year-olds Carissa Moore (pictured above) and Courtney Conlogue, 17-year-olds Coco Ho and Sally Fitzgibbons and 18-year-old Alana Blanchard.

Still alive in the contest are defending world champ Stephanie Gilmore and a number of other world tour surfers including Layne Beachley, Silvana Lima and Rosanne Hodge.  Notable surfers who were eliminated in the first two rounds include world tour surfers Karina Petroni and Megan Abubo, who won the contest last year.

Two full days of surfing remain for the Reef Hawaiian Pro and it may face a day or two of delays thanks to a new wet front moving in.  When action does resume, it can be seen live at the Triple Crown of Surfing website.

Nearly 100 surfers faced off in Haleiwa, Hawaii, as the Reef Hawaiian Pro barrelled into the third round Friday.   Ninety-six surfers paired off in four-man heats took to the water, hoping to advance to round four where higher seeds like Mick Fanning, Pancho Sullivan and Taj Burrow await them.

California’s Brett Simpson was the standout for the day, posting a near-perfect 9.93 in his round three win.  He’ll face much stiffer competition in round four, where he’ll face defending world champ Fanning, Yadin Nicol and Tonino Benson.

Among the notable surfers ousted on Friday were Mark Occhilupo (pictured) and ASP World Tour rookie Aritz Aranburu.

Action is expected to continue on Saturday with the kick-off of the women’s event followed by the conclusion of round three.

Watch the contest live at the Triple Crown of Surfing website.