Day 1 Review Hurley Pro at Trestles

Yadin Nicol finally found his form and destroyed the fun waves at Trestles. (Photo: ASP)

The waves were fun, the light onshore allowing massive air attempts, and the surfers were pumped for Day 1 at the Hurley Pro. Surprise of the day was Yadin Nicol absolutely blowing up in his Round 1 heat with 2 of the biggest airs of the event so far. World number 1, Mick Fanning, showed why he is controlling the top spot this year with a clinical display. Kelly Slater and Jordy Smith were also in impressive form. Surprises aplenty as John John, Julian Wilson, Miguel Pupo and Kohole Andino were knocked into Round 2, after most would have thought these guys would dominate at Trestles. We now see a stacked Round 2, with many big players. Travis Logie was on fire, but unfortunately, he was unable to meet the power turns of a rampant Jordy.


HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 14.30, Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.10, Brett Simpson (USA) 7.94
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.00, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 12.57, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 7.37
Heat 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.66, Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.90, Taylor Knox (USA) 8.10
Heat 4: Dusty Payne (USA) 12.47, Kai Otton (AUS) 12.00, John John Florence (HAW) 9.00
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.16, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.87, Evan Geiselman (USA) 12.50 Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.60, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.60, Conner Coffin (USA) 12.16 Heat 7: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 17.57, Owen Wright (AUS) 17.17, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.67
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.20, Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.63, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 8.00
Heat 9: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.20, Kolohe Andino (AUS) 13.30, Jeremy Flores (PYF) 12.70
Heat 10: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.50, Adam Melling (AUS) 13.57, Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.66
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.30, Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.87, Heitor Alves (BRA) 13.83
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.90, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.17, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.20

UPCOMING HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Conner Coffin (USA) Heat
2: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Evan Geiselman (USA)
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 5: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 7: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 12: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)

Jordy Smith is looking his old self.  Check this video of his build up to the event training at Trestles.

Slater is the Boss - Hurley Pro Wrap Up

Kelly dominated Trestles and is well on track for another Title. (Photo: ASP)

King Slater, that should be his official name change! After he missed Jbay a lot of people were writing him off and claiming his time was done - I might have thought it. He came back to win Teahupoo, nearly took the NY Pro from Owen and absolutely killed Trestles this week to win the Hurley Pro. Firmly back at number 1, World Title 11 on track. Lets not forget Owen Wright though. The kid has made 3 finals in a row with Kelly and won one of them. Owen was ripping all week at trestles, but just did not have the legs to pip Kelly at his favorite contest wave in the world. So now the tour moves across the Atlantic to Europe for the Quik Pro France - a contest Kelly has been know to win! Lets hope Jordy is back from injury and able to climb back into the title race. Right now Owen is Kelly's only competition.



ASP Press Release:

LOWER TRESTLES, California/USA (Wednesday, September 21, 2011) – Kelly Slater (USA), 39, has won his fifth Hurley Pro at Trestles title, defeating Owen Wright (AUS), 21, in a hard-fought Final that saw the iconic Floridian overtake the young Australian in a last-minute exchange with a final score of 17.50 to 16.74.

Slater and Wright’s third consecutive Final bout marks a first in ASP history, as no two competitors have faced off in three successive ASP Dream Tour Finals – a noteworthy statistic in sparking this new rivalry in the battle for the ASP World Title.

Slater roared to life on the Final day, unloading the highest heat-total of competition, 18.40 out of 20 in the Semifinals, and maintained his lethal form throughout the day’s entirety with a consistent display of new-school airs and patented carves to clinch his unprecedented 48th elite ASP World Tour victory and third of the season.

“Owen (Wright) is tough and he’s been surfing great,” Slater said. “There really are no weak points to his surfing and he’s going to be a standout in every spot. A lot of the guys tried to get him this week and I got lucky in that last exchange. I was taking the first wave of the set under his priority and once I got priority I wanted to wait. It almost looked like there wasn’t a wave after Owen’s. It’s been fun surfing against Owen and surfing Lowers. It’s been a great week and thanks everyone for the crazy support, it’s been wonderful.”

Wright, current No. 2 on the ASP World Title rankings, has continued to build momentum throughout his sophomore year amongst the ASP Top 34 and dispatched of a rampaging Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, and rookie prodigy Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, en route to his rematch against Slater, but was unable to solidify the victory over the veteran in the Final.

“I’ve been enjoying the rivalry,” Wright said. “We’ve had some great heats and the last three finals have been great. I’m glad the sets came through at the end. It was a bit of a dud final but I’m glad that last exchange came though at the end. It made it exciting.”

Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, was a standout throughout the Hurley Pro at Trestles, earning the highest single-wave score of 9.80 as well as the second-highest heat-total of 18.23 in his Quarterfinals win over Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, and consistently unloaded some of the most progressive maneuvers of the contest.

“I had a bit of fire after yesterday, not against Joel (Parkinson), but just to show that I could beat him,” Wilson said after his Quarterfinal win. “I’ve dreamed about surfing against Joel and Mick (Fanning) my whole life and yesterday gave me a lot of confidence to go against him today.”

The young Australian got off to a slow start in his Semifinals matchup versus Owen Wright after an interference and was unable to rebound, finishing equal 3rd overall. Wilson now sits at No. 11 on the ASP World Title Rankings.

Heitor Alves (BRA), 29, who finished equal 5th in New York, continued his giant killing spree at the Hurley Pro Trestles, defeating ASP World Title campaigners Taj Burrow (AUS), 33, and Adriano de Souza (BRA), 24, before falling to Slater in the Semifinals to earn his career best result of an equal 3rd place finish.

“Thanks God for everything in my life,” Alves said. “This is a good result for me. Adriano is a good surfer, he rips this wave and surfs very well. This is a great event for me and I enjoy this wave.”

Alves’ performance moves him from No. 20 to 14 on the ASP World Title Rankings.

The next stop on the 2011 ASP World Title season will be the Quiksilver Pro France from October 4 – 13, 2011.

Highlights from the Hurley Pro at Trestles are available via http://www.hurley.com/hurleypro

For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES FINAL RESULT:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 17.50
2 – Owen Wright (AUS) 16.74

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES SEMIFINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.40 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 16.57
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.74 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.04

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES QUARTERFINALS RESULTS:
QF 1: Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.77 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.50
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.60 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.07
QF 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.67
QF 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.23 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.93

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.74 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.80
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.27 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.97
Heat 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.23 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.27
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.67 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.37

CURRENT ASP WORLD TITLE TOP 10 (After Hurley Pro at Trestles)
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 44,950 pts.
2 – Owen Wright (AUS) 39,900
3 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 35,400
4 – Adriano de Souza (BRA)31950
5 – Josh Kerr (AUS)30,800
6 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 29,250
7 – Mick Fanning (AUS)28,200
8 – Jordy Smith (ZAF)27,500
9 – Jeremy Flores (FRA)23,700
10 – Michel Bourez (PYF) 22,250

Hurley Pro Trestles Preview

King Kelly loves Trestles, is on a roll and clearly wants another Title! (Photo: ASP)

Shew, Ok big week building up to Trestles and we have had the changing of the guard on the Pro Tour. Many an old face has disappeared and a couple of new ones have joined the ranks. The most notable joins are Travis Logie and John John Florence, who thanks to injuries etc have made the cut and are on the top flight tour. Both these guys rip small bowls for breakfast, so the other guys on tour must be somewhat jealous. (See the new Top 34 Further Down.) Here is your 2011 preview video...

So who are the danger men come Sunday and the start of the comp?
Kelly Slater - Cummon, the guy has an almost mythical relationship with Trestles! No need to say more.
Jordy Smith - He missed out on the air fest in new York and needs to get his title race back on track. Expect a lean, mean and very hungry Jordy! He may still be out, watch this space.
Taj Burrows - He was looking unbeatable in NY, but somehow came unstuck! Trestles suits his surfing and he will also want to get back into the title hunt.
Owen Wright - Straight off of 2 finals in a row. He won NY. The kid wants in on the World Title race!

Who are the Wild cards and loose canons?
John John Florence - the new kid from Hawaii rips everything and was on fire earlier in the year at Trestles. Could just knock a couple of egos! Keep watching this space.
Miguel Pupo - New on tour and won the 6 Star at Trestles earlier this year. Airs on demand if the Lefts are cooking. Could dent some established egos!
Jadson Andre - The Brazza has been a little quiet this year, but Trestles and its perfect Left-hander will give him ample opportunity to throw multiple airs on every wave. You don't want him in your heats!

This could be one of the best contests in a long time after the mayhem at Teahupoo and NY. I will keep you posted! The ASP Release and Ratings:

LOWER TRESTLES, California/USA (Wednesday, September 14, 2011) – The Hurley Pro at Trestles, Event No. 7 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, is set to commence this weekend with the world’s best surfers descending upon the jewel of Southern California surf venues, Lower Trestles.
The Hurley Pro at Trestles will reconvene this season’s red-hot ASP World Title race on the heels of historic events in Tahiti and New York where this year’s frontrunners have already begun to distinguish themselves.
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion and defending Hurley Pro at Trestles winner, started 2011 with mixed results, winning the opening event of the year before posting relatively an uncharacteristic Equal 13th in Brazil and missing South Africa altogether. However, the past two weeks have seen two consecutive Finals from the iconic Floridian, including a win in Tahiti, and an ascent to the No. 1 spot on then ASP World Title rankings.
“Of course when that opportunity (the ASP World Title) arises, you don’t pass it up,” Slater said. “I fight focusing and competing for all these years in my head, but when I’m there, I know what to do and a title chance is obviously a good goal.”
While Slater is coming off of back-to-back elite tour Finals, it bears mentioning that both appearances were face-offs against young Australian standout Owen Wright (AUS), 21, with Wright taking out the event in New York and moving into Slater’s rearview mirror as the current ASP World No. 2.
“Owen (Wright) is the toughest guy in my opinion given the venues we’re facing,” Slater said. “That might be a big call to some, but having just won and probably should/could have won in Brazil and how things are shaping up, he’s the most well-rounded and confident competitor to deal with. He’s got a good head on his shoulders and I don’t think it (the ASP World Title Race) is an unwelcome pressure for him.”
Last Friday, Wright took out the richest event in surfing history in New York, claiming the US $300,000 first prize. Coming off of his East Coast win against Slater, and his penchant for hi-fi ripping at venues like Lower Trestles, Wright descends upon the Hurley Pro at Trestles as one of the most dangerous men in surfing.
“My confidence level would definitely be at a all time high for myself,” Wright said. “I’m happy to have my first win in a WT event leading into the back half of the year. I was just as stoked after Tahiti as well because of how good the waves we had there. The way I look at it is that I’m in a great position and have a great opportunity. I’ve been working hard with my coach Dean and we are starting to get some results. We didn’t think we would be in this position, but it’s where we are at and we are not going to stop working hard to achieve what I want to achieve.”
In addition to this year’s battle between Slater and Wright, the two met time and again at the Hurley Pro at Trestles in 2010. Wright got the better of Slater in the non-elimination three-man Round 4, but it was Slater who ended the Australian’s run in the Quarterfinals.
“Last year, Trestles was a strong point for me although I ended up losing to Kelly (Slater),” Wright said. “But I found a bit of form from the contest and I’m looking forward to competing in one of the most high-performance venues on the tour. I’m excited about this back half of the year knowing that it was where my best results came from last season. Portugal has been an event I’ve really enjoyed with some wild surf that reminds me of where I grew up. Pipe is always going to be one of my favorites, I hope it’s big!”
Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, current No. 4 on the 2011 ASP World Title Rankings, was absent from the last event in New York after a severe injury suffered in Tahiti relegated the powerful natural-footer to the sidelines. At time of writing, Smith is “day-to-day” on whether or not he will be healed in time for the Hurley Pro at Trestles.
Following the last event in New York, the ASP activated the first incarnation of the midyear rotation, where the ASP Top 34 are updated with the current top 32 surfers on the ASP World Rankings (plus two surfer wildcards). Joining the elite ranks for the remainders of the season will be Gabriel Medina (BRA), 17, Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, and John John Florence (HAW), 18.
“Those guys are all sick and they’re going to stir things up for sure,” Slater said. “People would have a hard time arguing that anyone else falling out would be more exciting at Lowers.”
Surfline, official forecasters for the Hurley Pro at Trestles, are calling for a series of small south-southwest to south swells for the first few days of the waiting period for very contestable surf.
The Hurley Pro at Trestles will be webcast LIVE via http://www.hurley.com/hurleypro/ from September 18 through 24, 2011.
For additional information log on to www.aspworldtour.com

NEW ASP TOP 34:
1. Kelly Slater (USA)
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
3. Mick Fanning (AUS)
4. Owen Wright (AUS)
5. Taj Burrow (AUS)
6. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
7. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
8. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
9. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
10. Michel Bourez (PYF)
11. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
12. Julian Wilson (AUS)
13. Damien Hobgood (USA)
14. Josh Kerr (AUS)
15. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
16. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
17. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
18. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
19. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
20. Jadson Andre (BRA)
21. Heitor Alves (BRA)
22. Chris Davidson (AUS)
23. Brett Simpson (USA)
24. Dane Reynolds (USA)
25. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
26. Daniel Ross (AUS)
27. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
28. Dusty Payne (HAW)
29. Kai Otton (AUS)
30. Taylor Knox (USA)
31. Tiago Pires (PRT)
32. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
33. Travis Logie (ZAF)
34: John John Florence (HAW)

1st Alternate: Adam Melling (AUS)
2nd Alternate: C.J. Hobgood (USA)