Hours before he left for California to compete at the Vans US Open, we spoke to WQS campaigner, Beyrick De Vries, about his new equipment. He explained that by switching shapers he’d found a good match and that his new boards have given him the confidence to compete against the big guns.
Beyrick feels the curves of his new quiver. Watch video here>>
Well, it appears they are working great for now. The Umhlanga Rocks local blasted his way to victory in Round 2 over two Dream Tour surfers, Miguel Pupo (BRA) and Mitch Crews (AUS), as well as former Dream Tour surfer, Nate Yeomans (USA). His 16.40 heat total (the second highest of the day) included Day 4’s highest single wave score of 9.23.
Beyrick was ripping in Round 2.
That was a tough heat, but it doesn’t get easier at Huntington Beach. Beyrick next faces local, Timmy Reyes, who is on a roll following his Mr Price Pro victory, as well as powerhouse Brazilian, Willian Cardoso, in Round 3. Fortunately it’s a non-elimination Round, but a heat win would see Beyrick skip Round 4 and jump straight to Round 5.
In Heat 4 of Round 2, Jordy Smith hammered home the win to also advance to Round 3, where he’ll be facing Adam Melling (AUS) and Charles Martin (GLP) in Heat 3. Jordy finished runner-up at the 2010 US Open, and is one of the favourites to grab the title at Huntington Beach.
2010 US Open runner-up, Jordy Smith advanced to Round 3.
When competition was called off for the day, Travis Logie was still awaiting his Round 2 match-up with Americans, Kanoa Igarashi and Jake Halstead, as well as fellow Dream Tour competitor, Jadson Andre (BRA).
Day 4 at the Vans US Open also saw the Women’s division take to the water for the start of the sixth stop on the 2014 Dream Tour. Unfortunately Bianca Buitendag couldn’t find the scores she needed to take the heat win and jump straight to Round 3, and she will have to contest Round 2 against Hawaiian, Tatiana Weston-Webb, against whom she still has a score to settle.
Bianca Buitendag struggled to find the heat-winning rides.
World Tour leaders, Carissa Moore (HAW), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) and Tyler Wright (AUS) all advanced directly to Round 3, so Bianca has to work twice as hard to catch-up.
Check out vansusopenofsurfing.com for all the heat reviews, results and highlights from the Vans US Open
Hi Zag. Just a small correction. The event at Huntington is an ASP Prime event. Not a 6 Star Prime!!! There is a difference between a 6 Star and a Prime. $95 000 difference. Thanks.