The first day of the Vans World Cup of Surfing kicked off in fine Hawaiian style: six-to-eight foot of not-too-heavy North Pacific power was on offer at Sunset. Light trades completed the pleasant scene.

But hanging over all of this is Friday's forecast. A large W/NW swell, not so big as to shutdown Sunset, but large enough for Dave Stansfield to drop an octave, is expected to make landfall. With an expected layday tomorrow, everyone who progressed today will be in the water on Friday. Woot!

Read today's full report here.

All photos ASP/Kirstin.