Hanalei, on the verdant north shore of Kaua‘i, is know for its heavy waves and freakish nature of producing progressive, world-class surfers. Roy Powers is one of the top names in that group, once again joining neighbors Andy and Bruce Irons on the 2008 ASP World Tour.

After moving up through the ranks of the WQS in 2004 and 2005, Powers landed himself on the WCT in 2006, seeded 34^th his maiden year on tour. Although he took equal fifth in the Lacanau Pro, France, ninth at the Pipe Masters, and second at the US Open of Surfing, he found himself on the chopping block at the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach. Without a good result, he was looking at taking a step backward to the WQS.

“I’ve got some bad memories of Sunset. That was the last time I ever cried in my life,” reflected a focused Powers during the 2007 Reef Hawaiian Pro. “It came down to the end of the year and I needed to make one heat. Six months of my life went down the drain because I had the worst heat ever. I got in the car and all the emotions came out.”

Instead of washing up on his hometown shores, Powers remained determined to surf back into the WCT, which he did with a solid season on the ‘QS and his win at the at the first jewel of the Triple Crown, the 2007 Reef Hawaiian Pro, Hale‘iwa. Proving his authority in heavy surf, Roy dominated the ledging rights during the biggest surf ever contested in the history of the Triple Crown at Hale’iwa.

Joining past Hawaiian power-surfing champions at Hale‘iwa like Pancho Sullivan, Sunny Garcia, Andy Irons and Kaipo Jaquias, Roy throws a smooth style into the mix and a surging momentum to unleash on the dream tour. From Pinetrees to Australia and every surf spot in between, Roy Powers bolsters the Hawaiian contingent on tour as a true representative of the progression of Hawaiian power surfing. —Kevin Whitton

ON THE COVER: ROY POWERS