Intense waves were pumping at Sunset Beach on Sunday for the start of the Vans World Cup of Surfing, and Hawaii surfer Tonino Benson turned in the biggest day.

Benson scored a two-wave total of 16.17 points out of a possible 20 in the 10- to 12-foot waves.

Another Hawaii surfer, Keanu Asing, pulled into a hefty tube and earned a 9.33 for the highest individual wave score of the day in the event, which is the second jewel of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

"It was crazy to get a wave like that out here in front of my home crowd. It felt amazing," Asing said. "I have been watching this contest since I was a little kid and I was stoked to execute a good wave out there. There is no better feeling.

"I got into the wave really early. As I got to the bottom, I could see it doubling up and I went for the barrel. As I was in there looking out, all I could think was I better make this wave. Right when I was coming out, I almost fell forward, but I regained my composure and when I came out I was so excited I claimed it."

Sunny Garcia, a two-time champion of the Vans World Cup of Surfing (1994, 2000), logged a crowd-raising double barrel in his heat Sunday to advance, and will take on female wild card Carissa Moore, Alain Riou (Reunion Island) and Mitchel Coleborn (Australia) today.

"I’ve got Carissa?" Garcia said. "Well, what can I say? This time last year I was coaching her, so I guess I’m going to have to bring my ‘A’ game. I’m a huge Carissa Moore fan. She’s the greatest woman surfer in the world. I’m going to be cheering her on in the lineup."

Hawaii surfers won 11 of 16 heats in the heavy conditions: Marcus Hickman, Billy Kemper, Jamie O’Brien, Kekoa Bacalso, Torrey Meister, Pancho Sullivan, Joel Centeio, Makuakai Rothman, Myles Padaca, Benson and Asing.

Also advancing with second-place finishes were Hawaii’s Evan Valiere, Chris Foster, Gavin Gillette, Olamana Eleogram, Ian Walsh, Sean Moody, Tanner Hendrickson, Mason Ho, Ian Gentil and Garcia.

"The morning was really solid, with sets cracking across the bay," Bonga Perkins (water patrol) said. "Throughout the day the winds picked up and the waves moved up the point. To me, it’s harder (in the afternoon) than it was in the morning just because of the fact that you have to go way deep. Earlier you could go out and sit there and the waves would just come to you. (Later), you have to hunt for them and go deeper. It’s very testing conditions combined with a testing swell direction out there. Even the best surfers are having a hard time."

Spectators came out in droves, resulting in the largest crowd at Sunset Beach in the 38-year history of the event, according to organizers.

Haleiwa’s Sean Moody believes the conditions are an advantage for the Hawaii surfers.

"I think it narrows the field for the Hawaii guys when the waves are like this just because we have that local knowledge and we have surfed a bunch of events out here" he said.

Taj Burrow of Australia won the first event of the Triple Crown, the Reef Hawaiian Pro, last week in much smaller waves.