Sunny Garcia. Someone put a patent on those turns, quick. Photo: ASP/ Kirstin
On Saturday, November 10th, Sunny Garcia (42) won the ASP 4 Star 2012 Hawaiian Island Creations Pro at Sunset Beach on the North Shore of Oahu in powerful eight to 10 foot surf, with conditions that strongly favored the regular foot pure power surfing approach that Sunny is well known for. This win came 20 years after Sunny won, at Sunset Beach for the first time, in this same event (although called the Excel Pro at the time).
Sharing the victory podium with three fellow Hawaiian finalists, Sunny – with grandson held high in his arms – gave an eloquent and passionate shoutout to surfing fans the world over by firmly stating “I want to thank all of you out there who have supported me and continue to support surfing. It’s because of you that I’ve been able to live the dream for so long.”
With the 2012 HIC Pro Sunset victory Sunny has earned the title of the 2012 ASP Hawaii Regional Champion, a much coveted Round of 64 wildcard into the first two events of the 2012 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, and a cool $15K for his much deserved victory. Sunny’s Round 64, and much anticipated, match up in Heat 8 of the Reef Hawaii Pro at Hale’iwa will come against 11x ASP World Champion and 2x Triple Crown Champion Kelly Slater. This rekindled rivalry has the potential to go down as one of the greatest heats in surfing history.
If the North Shore is blessed with large powerful surf for the 2012 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, then Sunny as a record setting 6x Triple Crown Champion will most certainly be considered a contender for the 2012 Title. Especially when you consider that 14 of Sunny’s 22 career event titles have come in Hawaii, making Sunny the all time winningest surfer in Hawaiian waters. Sunny is also the 2000 ASP World Champion, as well as the reigning ISA World Masters champion.
Sunny is a Hawaiian surfing legend and warrior. He’ll utilize all of his skill, as well as his competitive and local knowledge during his campaign for the 2012 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title. Sunny will also surely entertain and inspire us all during the six weeks on the North Shore in 2012.
2012 HIC Pro Sunset results:
1st – Sunny Garcia (HAW) – $15,000 – 14.83 (8.5, 6.33)
2nd – Granger Larsen (HAW) – $7,500 – 12.5 (7.17, 5.33)
3rd – Gregg Nakamura (HAW) – $5,000 -11.74 (6.57, 5.17)
4th – Fred Patacchia (HAW) – $3,500 – 7.33 (4.0, 3.33)
