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SAFFERS Feature in Hawaii Pro
SAFFERS Feature in Hawaii Pro
Haleiwa, Oahu, Hawaii, and Portugal's Frederico Morais (PRT) won the Hawaiian Pro with sure-footed power surfing and a veteran edge over Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) and Ethan Ewing (AUS) who placed second, third and fourth respectively in the Final at Haleiwa Ali'i Beach. This victory cements Morais' status back on the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT) and the lead on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title race. The Hawaiian Pro is the second-to-last Men's WSL Qualifying Series (QS) 10,000 event and first gem of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, which now moves to Sunset Beach for the Vans World Cup of Surfing.
Heading into the final QS event of the yearMorais is pressure-free. The focus is now on a maiden Vans Triple Crown title after coming close in 2016 and also picking up the Vans Triple Crown Rookie Award in 2013.
Third-placing surfer McGillivray had the weight of qualification on his shoulders, as a win would have officially gained him his first year on the CT.
The 22-year-old from Jeffrey's Bay took on a veteran field in the Semifinals and eliminated two-time Hawaiian Pro winner Michel Bourez (PYF) and eleven-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) en route to the Final.
Despite World Title hopeful Jordy Smith (ZAF) pulling out of the event due to injury, there was a strong South African contingent ofMcGillivray, Adin Masencamp, David Van Zyl, Dylan Lightfoot,Beyrick De Vries andMichael February.