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Michel Bourez of Tahiti (pictured) rides his heat winning barrel, scoring a near perfect 9.93 (out of a possible ten) to clinch the Vans World Cup of Surfing title at Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii on Friday December 5, 2014. Bourez defeated Dusty Payne (HAW), Sebastian Zietz (HAW) and Ian Walsh (HAW). Photo: ASP / Sloane
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Michel Bourez of Tahiti (pictured) holds his trophy after winning the Vans World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii on Friday December 5, 2014. Bourez produced a near perfect performance, scoring an 18.13 heat total (out of a possible 20.00), defeating Dusty Payne (HAW), Sebastian Zietz (HAW) and Ian Walsh (HAW). Photo: ASP / Sloane
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Jordy Smith of Durban, South Africa (pictured) reached the Semifinals of the Vans World Cup of Surfing where he finished equal 13th overall when he was eliminated in fourth place at Sunset Beach on Oahu, Hawaii on Friday December 5, 2014. Photo: ASP / Cestari
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Chris Ward of San Clemente, California, USA (pictured) placed equal ninth at the Vans World Cup of Surfing, reaching the Quarterfinals where he was eliminated in third place on Friday December 5, 2014. Photo: ASP / Cestari
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Matt Wilkinson of Copacabana, NSW, Australia (pictured) reached the Semifinals of the Vans World Cup of Surfing where he was eliminated at Sunset Beach, Oahu, Hawaii on Friday December 5, 2014. Wilkinson finished equal fifth overall. Photo: ASP / Cestari
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Sebastian Zietz of Kauai, Hawaii (pictured) placed third at the Vans World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, Hawaii on Friday December 5, 2014. Zietz reached the final where he was defeated by event champion Michel Bourez (PYF) and second place Dusty Payne (HAW). Photo: ASP / Cestari
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Ricardo Christie of New Zealand (pictured) placed equal ninth at the Vans World Cup of Surfing, reaching the quarterfinals at Sunset Beach on Oahu, Hawaii on Friday December 5, 2014. Photo: ASP / Cestari
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Garrett Parkes of Suffolk Park, NSW, Australia (pictured) surfing during the Semifinals as the jet ski driver watches at the Vans World Cup of Surfing on Friday December 5, 2014. Parkes placed equal 7th overall. Photo: ASP / Cestari
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Dusty Payne of Maui, Hawaii, USA (pictured) placed runner-up at the Vans World Cup of Surfing on Friday December 5, 2014. Payne was defeated by Michel Bourez (PYF) in the final but his result has secured his place on the elite World Championship Tour in 2015. Photo: ASP / Cestari
The Spartan won Sunset. And he didn’t just win, he smashed the field. In massive, shifty Sunset conditions, Michel Bourez used his trademark power to combo a field of Hawaiians. “Sunset is a tricky wave,” he said. “You have to surf it for a long time just to figure out the spot. And even then, you can get caught really easy out there.” The nail in the coffin of his competitors was an incredible 9.0 ride. Bourez started off with a trademark wrap, then set his line and pulled in, stalling for a few seconds before emerging triumphantly.
Bourez made it his mission to do well at Sunset this winter. His next challenge? Pipeline. And while his power surfing in the Sunset event was second-to-none, the Tahitian’s tube tube-riding skills have been honed in his backyard: Teahupoo.
