Under Pressure, California Rookies Off To Strong Start In Portugal
Describing the first event of his rookie season on the Championship Tour as being like “the first day of high school,” California’s Cole Houshmand knew the learning curve was going to be steep. After winning the Challenger Series last year, Houshmand qualified for the tour alongside best friends Crosby Colapinto, Kade Matson and Eli Hanneman. But two events into their rookie campaigns, Colapinto is the only one currently above the mid-season cutline on the leaderboard.
Heading into the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the pressure was on to post some results and start climbing the leaderboard. And on opening day, all four of the rookies did what they had to do to avoid the ominous elimination round. Getting the day off on a good foot, in the first heat of the day Houshmand rolled to a win over current world number five Connor O’Leary and fellow Californian Jake Marshall.
“Every event has been a little bit of a step better so I’m stoked on winning that one,” Houshmand said . “First heat of the day is always tricky, you don’t know where the peak is or what the wave is going to do. I was a little bit disappointed on my performance but happy that I could grind it through. It’s a big change to be surfing against the best guys in the world, but at the end of the day you’re really surfing against yourself, and if you do your best surfing you’ll win most of the heats so that’s my goal.”
Showing his resolve and growing competitive maturity, Hanneman, who hails from Lahaina, Maui, but travels with his California friends, edged out sixth-ranked Kanoa Igarashi by a mere .37 of a point. Matson hung tough against hard-hitting South Africans Jordy Smith and Matthew McGillivray. And Colapinto put in a solid performance to advance out of his heat with world number two Jack Robinson and wildcard Joaquim Chaves. For the first time this season, all four rookies avoided the elimination round and will now be seeded directly into the Round of 32.
Colapinto’s older brother, Griffin, wasn't quite so lucky. After being hit with an interference penalty, he was the only surfer from San Clemente not to advance. He’ll go up against Marshall and Chaves in the elimination round when the contest is called back on. Currently sitting 15th on the leaderboard, he's also looking to Portugal to post a big result and get his season back on track.
The day ended with a storm front steamrolling into Peniche. Gale-force winds on the coast tore the surf apart and means that the MEO Rip Curl Pro Portugal will not run on Thursday, March 7, with the next possible call coming on Friday, March 8.
