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De Souza and Goodale Lead at ASP 4-Star Vans Pier Classic
Author: Surfing Waves
De Souza relied on calculated backhand surfing on two lefts breaking into Huntington Beach Pier today to earn the highest heat total of the Vans Pier Classic, 17.17 out of 20, and hopes he can build momentum on his strong start as the event progresses into the final days.
"I feel good," De Souza said. "I just tried to get in a rhythm because it's so cold out there. My board worked really well and hopefully I can just keep going. I'm really happy to have made two 8s out there. I'm happy with my scores and hopefully I can keep improving."
De Souza, who has relocated from Brazil to Dana Point, California, decided to capitalize on the Vans Pier Classic's perfect scheduling between ASP World Tour events and has his eyes set on a spot in the Final.
"I'm living next door in Dana Point," De Souza said. "I saw this contest and really love Huntington Beach. It's one of my favorite places to surf in the whole country. There are some really good guys in this event and I'm just going to take it step-by-step. Hopefully I can make it to the final here."
Goodale, who won the Vans Pier Classic last year as an ASP 2-Star, surfed an impressive heat in the Round of 64 today by unloading several powerful frontside hacks on a steep righthander to earn the day's highest single wave score of an 8.83. The Kauai native quickly followed up by launching what many are calling the most impressive maneuver of the event, a massive backside air-reverse. Goodale was awarded an 8.23 for the single maneuver.
"I'm not really feeling any pressure as defending champion," Goodale said. "I'm stoked that I got a few waves out there. I surfed earlier this morning in the rain and thought it'd be terrible out there, but it was kind of like Pine Trees out there. I'd love to win this event again, it'd be epic."
Kolohe Andino (San Clemente, CA), 17, also took to his backhand today to earn a Round 4 victory. The prodigious regular-footer unleashed committed turns on two lefts breaking into Huntington Beach Pier to earn a solid 14.27 heat total.
"I saw this bomb set that didn't have the north wedge going into it so it just had a nice wall down the line," Andino said. "I just hit it twice with a couple little air drops and I guess the judges liked it."
Andino, who is the current rankings leader on the ASP North America Pro Junior Series, is also hunting down a spot in the ASP 4-Star Vans Pro Junior Final.
"I guess my goal is to make my Final in this year's Pro Junior," Andino said. "I feel like if I don't put my goals too high I'll do better."
Andino will surf both his Round of 32 Vans Pro Junior and Vans Pier Classic heats tomorrow.
To watch the Vans Pier Classic presented by Jack's Surfboards LIVE log on to http://www.vans.com/pierclassic
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com or www.aspnorthamerica.org.
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