- Title: USA: OP PRO SURFING CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Date: 18th November 1997
- Summary: OAHU, HAWAII, USA. NOVEMBER 22, 1997. 1. WIDE SHOT OF ALI'I BEACH. 2. FIRST PLACE WINNER TONY RAY (AUSTRALIA) SURFING HIS FIRST WAVE IN THE 35 MINUTE FINAL. 3. KALANI ROBB (HAWAII), 2ND PLACE FINALIST WITH HIS BEST WAVE OF THE FINAL. 4. TAYLOR KNOX, (USA) THIRD PLACE FINISHER SURFING IN THE FINAL. 5. TONY RAY ON THE WINNERS PODIUM. OAHU, HAWAII. NOVEMBER 18, 1997. 6. NATHAN HEDGE, (AUSTRALIA) FINISHING IN FIRST PLACE IN THE JUNIOR COMPETITION. 7. DAMIEN HOBGOOD (USA) WITH AN INCREDIBLE FLY-AWAY KICK IN THE QUARTERFINALS. HE FINISHED IN 4TH PLACE. 8. TRENT MUNRO (AUSTRALIA) 2ND PLACE FINISHER IN HIS FINAL RUN. 9. HEDGE ON THE WINNERS PLATFORM. Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
- Embargoed: 3rd December 1997 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: OAHU, HAWAII, USA
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVAB5667JVCY9ALP14NG3BSGZ1FO
- Story Text: - INTRO: Renowned Australian big wave rider Tony Ray,32, broke a five year drought when he won first place in the men's division of the OP Pro Surfing Championship at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach on Oahu, on Saturday (November 22).
The OP Pro is the first contest in the Triple Crown Of Surfing, and the four-man final heat of the OP Pro Surfing Championships was held in stormy six-foot conditions with Australia's Tony Ray dominating the entire 325 minute heat from start to finish.
No longer a seeded surfer Ray had to work his way through the early trial rounds of the contest and he did so in spectacular style, surfing through to the finals and winning every heat he entered.
A former ASP top 44 competitior now largely retired from professional competition, Ray's world class form came to life as he waited patiently for for the biggest set waves of the day.
Kalani Robb of Hawaii finished in 2nd place with Californian Taylor Knox finishing in third place.
Earlier in the week, another Australian Nathan Hedge,18, posted the highest scores in the Op Pro Junior Championship.
Hedge was awarded a $2,500 US Dollar scholarship for his win, and plans to join the 1998 Association of Surfing Professionals world qualifying series in February 1998.
Despite an incredible fly-away kick in the quarter-finals, American Damien Hobgood could only manage fourth place.
Australian Trent Munro finished second.
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