Team USA’s Dani Burt headed down the line in the third heat of the morning. Photo: ISA/Sean Evans
When enough surfers pray for waves, Mother Ocean answers.
The temperature dropped but the waves sure picked up for the second day of competition here at La Jolla Shores, allowing the athletes to really showcase their skills.
With a few peaks right out front and the conditions staying glassy, the morning heats were nothing short of excellent with scores of eights and nines consistently being bellowed over the loud speaker.
In Round 2 of the AS-2 Stand/Kneel Division, Team Australia’s Mark “Mono” Stewart was fortunate enough to find some cover up, pulling into a peeling shoulder-high right hander.
Mark “Mono” Stewart stalling for the barrel on day 2 of 2016 Stance ISA WASC. Photo: ISA/Sean Evans
Not to be out done, Team Wales’ sole-representative Llywelyn Williams was pushing towards his 12-wave maximum in the same heat, finding section after section to connect with, earning him the Round 2 Heat 5 win.
“The waves were heaps better than yesterday, so I just kept the pressure on ‘Mono,'” Williams said. “After today, I feel stoked. I don’t want to let the country down now, so I have to keep on going.”
The competition is a non-elimination format early on, combining each surfer’s top two wave scores in both Round 1 and 2. Although, Williams had won the battle, he and Stewart would have their work cut out for them having to surf their Quarterfinal heat later in the day.
Llywelyn Williams from Wales on his way to winning his Round 2 heat.
Team USA’s Danielle Burt was one of the women duking it out with the men as the early rounds progressed. Trading waves with Team Hawaii’s Colin Cook, the two were able to find the combination of scores they needed to head in the Quarterfinals, as well.
In the AS-1 Stand/Kneel Division, South Africa’s JP Veaudry posted the highest single wave score of the day, earning a 9.57 in his Round 2 heat, putting him in the top spot for his division, over defending champion Mike Coots, moving into tomorrow’s elimination rounds.
South Africa’s JP Veaudry throwing the fins out. Photo: ISA/Chris Grant
The friendly rivalry between Denmark’s Bruno Hansen and Team USA’s Christiaan Bailey in the AS-4 Prone Division, didn’t skip a beat from last year as they earned the first and second qualifying spots respectively, only split by 0.33 in points.
Hansen, who took home the win at the inaugural 2015 ISA World Adaptive Surfing Championship, sparked the competitive fire in Bailey heading into this year’s competition. Both athletes won their Round 1 and 2 heats and still have not surfed against each other, making for a heavily anticipated final day.
With the second annual ISA WASC in full force, the ripples it has sent across the whole surfing community are undeniable, attracting characters from all corners of the globe. So, it wasn’t much of a surprise to see world-class professional surfer Damien Hobgood out on the beach supporting the adaptive community.
“I was driving down here just frothing. I get really motivated seeing all these guys with how much courage they have and how fearless they are.” Hobgood said.
“I think it’s pretty inspirational, definitely for me, but also for anybody who comes down here.”
