HUNTINGTON BEACH, California/USA (Sunday, July 27, 2014): The second day of competition at the 2014 Vans US Open of Surfing saw 32 trialists battle for four spots in the prestigious main event of men’s Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Prime competition.
 
The third of eight Prime rated events on the 2014 ASP Qualification Series, the Vans US Open of Surfing offers crucial points towards qualification for the Dream Tour.
 
Kai Barger (Haiku, HI), 24, former ASP World Junior Champion, strung together an impressive run during the trials, claiming a last-second win to secure a spot in the main event. Barger was trailing in his final heat, but a strong two-turn backhand combination saw the Hawaiian leap into the lead just before the buzzer.
 
“I wasn’t expecting to even get in and to surf three heats in a row like that, it took me back to my amateur days,” Barger said. “I had a really bad start and only had a 4. It really came down to everyone’s best waves and it was a buzzer beater for me.”
 
Santiago Muniz (ARG), 21, brother of defending event champion Alejo Muniz, continued the trend of last second victories. The South American standout earned the day’s high heat total of 16.30 out of 20, advancing to the Men’s main event for the first time in his career.
 
“I’m really happy to be in the main event,” Muniz said. “The guys in that last heat were all really good and I knew I’d have to surf my best. I feel great. My brother won last year and to compete with him and these guys feels really good.”
 
Also advancing to the main event were past ASP North America Pro Junior Series Champion Cory Arrambide (Ventura, CA), 25, and Bino Lopes (BRA), 26.
 
Following the Men’s Trials, Women’s Vans US Open Pro Junior competition ran through two rounds, whittling the field down to just eight Semifinalists.
 
Chelsea Tuach (BRB), 18, regional Pro Junior Series Champion, issued the upset of the day, eliminating reigning ASP World Junior Champion Ella Williams (NZL), 19, in her first career Vans US Open appearance.
 
“This is my first year competing at the US Open and first heat I always have a lot of nerves,” Tuach said. “It felt good to get my feet in the wax in that first heat and then do well. I had a good year on the junior series last year and since it’s my first year here at the US Open, I really want to do well and see if I can make the final.”
 
The Vans US Open of Surfing holds a waiting period from July 26 through August 3, 2014 and is webcast LIVE via www.aspworldtour.com and www.usopenofsurfing.com.
 
VANS US OPEN OF SURFING TRIALS ROUND 3 RESULTS:
(First and Second Advance to Main Event)
Heat 1: Kai Barger (HAW) 13.03, Cory Arrambide (USA) 12.23, Halley Batista (BRA) 10.73, Miguel Tudela (PER) 9.40
Heat 2: Santiago Muniz (ARG) 16.30, Bino Lopes (BRA) 16.20, Ian Crane (USA) 15.10, Dylan Goodale (HAW) 14.03

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING TRIALS ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Cory Arrambide (USA) 13.27, Miguel Tudela (PER) 12.70, Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 12.70, Ian Gouveia (BRA) 5.56
Heat 2: Halley Batista (BRA) 14.77, Kai Barger (HAW) 13.86, Luke Davis (USA) 12.77, Derek Peters (USA) 10.77
Heat 3: Dylan Goodale (HAW) 16.07, Bino Lopes (BRA) 14.43, Jano Belo (BRA) 12.23, Chase Wilson (USA) 10.03
Heat 4: Santiago Muniz (ARG) 16.00, Ian Crane (USA) 13.17, Leandro Usuna (ARG) 8.10, Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 4.34
 
VANS US OPEN OF SURFING TRIALS ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Gony Zubizarreta (ESP) 14.33, Derek Peters (USA) 11.67, Oney Anwar (IDN) 8.90, Adrien Toyon (FRA) 6.53
Heat 2: Ian Gouveia (BRA) 12.34, Luke Davis (USA) 12.23, Taylor Clark (USA) 9.13, Victor Done (USA) 8.70
Heat 3: Kai Barger (HAW) 14.50, Cory Arrambide (USA) 11.46, Matt Pagan (USA) 10.26, Chris Waring (USA) 7.60
Heat 4: Halley Batista (BRA) 13.93, Miguel Tudela (PER) 12.77, Gavin Gillette (HAW) 7.94, Jason Harris (USA) 5.33
Heat 5: Jano Belo (BRA) 12.10, Santiago Muniz (BRA) 11.83, Matt Passaquinduci (USA) 10.67, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 7.00
Heat 6: Chase Wilson (USA) 11.86, Leandro Usuna (ARG) 10.23, Steven Pierson (PYF) 8.60, Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI) 7.70
Heat 7: Ian Crane (USA) 15.20, Bino Lopes (BRA) 12.76, Gabriel Villaran (PER) 7.67, Parker Coffin (USA) 7.10
Heat 8: Nic Von Rupp (PRT) 12.34, Dylan Goodale (HAW) 12.10, Chris Friend (AUS) 8.43, Christian Saenz (USA) 7.76

VANS US OPEN OPEN WOMEN’S PRO JUNIOR QUARTERFINALS:
QF 1: Chelsea Tuach (BRB) 12.70, Brianna Cope (HAW) 9.40, Ella Williams (NZL) 8.94, Zoe McDougal (HAW) 7.53
QF 2: Reika Noro (JPN) 10.10, Bailey Nagy (HAW) 9.73, Chelsea Roett (BRB) 9.10, Brisa Hennessy (HAW) 9.03
QF 3: Mahina Maeda (HAW) 15.30, Meah Collins (USA) 14.67, Quincy Davis (USA) 10.36, Mainei Kinimaka (HAW) 8.87
QF 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 15.07, Tia Blanco (USA) 15.00, Dax McGill (HAW) 9.13, Frankie Harrer (USA) 7.43

VANS US OPEN WOMEN’S PRO JUNIOR ROUND 1:
Heat 1: Ella Williams (NZL) 11.17, Chelsea Roett (BRB) 10.84, Shelby Detmers (USA) 8.77, Lea Taylor (USA) 4.23
Heat 2: Reika Noro (JPN) 13.27, Zoe McDougall (HAW) 8.20, Malia Ward (USA) 4.96, Melanie Giunta (PER) 3.10
Heat 3: Quincy Davis (USA) 12.90, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 11.77, Maluhia Kinimaka (HAW) 11.00, Kylie Loveland (USA) 9.17
Heat 4: Frankie Harrer (USA) 16.23, Meah Collins (USA) 14.34, Maddie Peterson (USA) 9.32, Jazmine Dean (USA) ns

Source

Bobby Shadley
ASP International Editor
North America Media Manager