Surfing: Taj claims first win

Yallingup's Taj Burrow claimed the first jewel in the 2011 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing by winning the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Ali’i Beach Park in Haleiwa on Thursday.

Burrow claimed his first event victory of the year when he posted the event’s third highest heat total of 16.90 in the final to defeat fellow Australian Adam Melling, Brazilian Adriano De Souza and American Nat Young and claim the prize purse of US$25,000.

Burrow surfed through four rounds yesterday, gaining momentum in each.

While aerials were at the front of most surfers’ minds, Burrow got creative with every heat, strategically building scores with a mixed plate of form-bending tube rides and lipbelting close-out snaps.

Burrow, who has been competing in Hawaii for 15 years, left the field in his wake finding form all his own in the pumping overhead surf.

Coming into the final, he claimed this was his year to shoot for the Vans Triple Crown and he now leads the ratings heading into the second event.

“I had a good run, it feels good scoring in the nine-point range and it’s hard to do,” Burrow said.

“I just really wanted to win an event here. I am really happy.

“It’s funny I have never really gotten a good shot (at the Vans Triple Crown).

“I was thinking, maybe I should really have a go at one of these things so I actually have it right in the front of my mind.”

The Reef Hawaiian Pro is the first Jewel of the $830,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.