Frederico Morais
For a place usually better suited to power surfing, the final day at the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa turned into a bit of an air show. With a slightly side-offshore breeze and wave not as death-defying as the first few days, above the lip turned into the place to be.
The first event of the Triple Crown of Surfing, the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa began just as Typhoon Nuri’s massive, powerful swell slammed into Hawaii. Waves were in the 12-15 foot range, and the scores reflected it – there were more excellent rides in this contest than any other contest all year. As the swell began to taper off, the wind switched and more and more ramps came to play. Local Maui boy Dusty Payne took full advantage and walked away $40,000 richer and in the lead for the Triple Crown.