Orange County locals Timmy Reyes, 26, and Chris Ward, 30, both won their opening heats at fourth stop on the ASP World Tour, the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro at Imbituba in Santa Catarina, Brazil and will continue their event campaigns when competition resumes.

Reyes won his Round 1 heat over nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater, 37, relegating the legend to Round 2, while advancing directly through to Round 3.

“There are some pretty fun waves out there, but our heat was pretty slow,” Reyes said. ”I think Kelly (Slater) needed a 2-something at the end and I just went in. I was exhausted and wasn’t going to chase him around for a 2. He easily could have got it, but he didn’t. The clock wound down and I came away with the win.”

Reyes got off to a slow start in 2009, but is hoping the early round victory will help build some momentum for his season.

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“I’ve had some pretty close heats this season and things just haven’t gone my way,” Reyes said. ”I was pretty frustrated, especially in Tahiti, and I was almost ready to throw in the towel and sit down for the remainder of the year. After Tahiti, I went and got some waves to myself and cleared my head. My sponsor (of 10 years) O’Neill really stood behind me and I’ve come to Brazil looking for a result. I feel like my surfing is there and if I can start stringing together some results, I’m sure my confidence will return.”

Ward aslo had early round success, advancing directly into Round 3 with a Round 1 heat win over Australian Ben Dunn, 23, and fellow American Damien Hobgood, 29.

“I’ve had a few things not go my way this year and I guess I’m focused on getting a result here,” Ward said. ”I think my surfing definitely suits the waves here. I’ve never surfed it this big probably, but definitely similar conditions. There’re good waves out there once you find them – just a lot of water moving.”

The Orange County surfers will continue their Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro campaigns when competition resumes. For all of the LIVE action log on to www.aspworldtour.com.

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