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PANCHO SULLIVAN WINS XCEL PRO IN PERFECT SUNSET
North Shore local takes down Alexander, Fuller and Rothman in final; announces retirement from ASP World Tour
Photos: Photos: Sean Davey
SURF NEWS PANCHO SULLIVAN WINS XCEL PRO IN PERFECT SUNSET
November 6, 2008
27901 visits
CONDITIONS: Sunset Beach has been bigger, but never more perfect for a contest; a six- to eight-foot northwest swell lined up across Sunset's famed reef, offering up big drops, deep barrels, and big, open faced carves. Glassy in the morning, light trades in the afternoon. Not a drop of water out of place.
 
HIGHLIGHTS: Well, Pancho's power surfing was a highlight all event; his decision to miss the Brazil slopfest was justified here, at his home break. And his first wave of the final, barely after the buzzer, was the highest score of the event - a 9.77. "I held back and paddled a little deeper," Sullivan said after the winner's ceremony on the beach, on his strategy to move outside of Sunset's west peak. "The third [9.77] wave of the set really helped me build momentum."
He quickly built upon his lead with another crowd-pleasing 8.67, putting him far enough in the lead so that Kauai's Kamalei Alexander, Danner Fuller, and former Xcel Pro winner Makuakai Rothman couldn't catch up.

OUTSTANDING PERFORMERS: The four finalists were on point the whole day; from Fuller's backside gaffs to Alexander's carves to Rothman's tuberides, it's clear that Hawaiians dominate out here. And the North Shore season is just getting started.

QUOTE: "It was a fun, amazing final. The best final ever here, and such an honor to win the 25th anniversary of the Xcel Pro." -- Pancho Sullivan

2008 Xcel Pro Presented by Honolua Surf Final Results
1. Pancho Sullivan $10,000 (1,500 pts)
2. Kamalei Alexander $5,000 (1,313 pts)
3. Danny Fuller $3,000 (1,125 pts)
4. Makua Rothman $2,400 (1,069 pts)

For complete results go to the official Xcel Pro website.

Xcel Pro Past Champions
1984 Kerry Terukina
1985 Denton Miyamura
1986 Hans Hedemann
1987 Ronnie Burns
1988 Michael Ho
1989 Richard Schmidt
1990 Michael Ho
1991 Michael Ho
1992 Sunny Garcia
1993 Kaipo Jaquias
1994 Derek Ho
1995 Kaipo Jaquias
1996 Michael Ho
1997 Andy Irons
1998 Pancho Sullivan
1999 Bruce Irons
2000 Pancho Sullivan
2001 Gavin Beschen
2002 Fred Pattachia
2003 Pancho Sullivan
2004 Fred Pattachia
2005 Ian Walsh
2006 Evan Valiere
2007 Joel Centeio
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