September 8, 2016

HURLEY PRO Swatch Women’s Pro EVENT GUIDE +

SEP 7 - 18, 2016 // LOWER

The Championship Key:

TRESTLES

First off, I’d like to thank the San Clemente community for welcoming the world’s best surfers once again. We understand Lower Trestles is a special place, and we very much appreciate the town opening its arms to us each season.

Lowers is undoubtedly one of the most high-performance waves on the planet—providing the ideal canvas for top surfers to push the boundaries of surfing in the live arena. The 2016 Samsung Galaxy World Surfing League Women’s Championship Tour season has been one for the record books and Trestles will be a pivotal event for this year’s battle for the throne.

Australia’s Tyler Wright leads the WSL Top 17 into the Swatch Women’s Pro, followed closely by Southern California’s Courtney Conlogue and reigning three-time WSL Women’s Champion Carissa Moore. Joining the world’s best female surfers this week will be wildcard Bethany Hamilton, who wowed everyone during June’s Fiji Pro with an equal third place finish.

We have a great-looking forecast for this year’s event and anticipation is high to see what the world’s best do when they hit the water.

—Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Women’s Commissioner

It’s fantastic to be back in San Clemente, a venue that has hosted the world’s best surfers on the elite World Surfing League Championship Tour since 2000. The wave is one of the most rippable on the planet and the town’s hospitality is world-class. The WSL Top 34 eagerly look forward to this event every year.

We’ve seen an unbelievable shift amongst the elite-level surfers this season with John John Florence, Matt Wilkinson and Gabriel Medina holding down the top spots heading into this week’s Hurley Pro at Trestles. Sporting icons like Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater continue to wow at spots like Jeffreys Bay and Tahiti and the rest of the field has shown moments of brilliance throughout the season.

San Clemente has long produced world-class talents and I’m sure the town will turn out in force to support current No. 11 Kolohe Andino, who kicked off the season with a Runner-Up finish on the Gold Coast and is coming off a fifth in Tahiti last month.

We have a great-looking forecast for an early start and look forward to seeing everyone come down to the beach to enjoy the world’s best surfers.

Thank you again for the hospitality.

—Kieren Perrow,

WSL Commissioner

PANHE KEEPING OF

San Onofre State Beach is arguably the best protected park in the world.

Bordered to the north by vast Orange County development, the state park lies on the federally-owned lands of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton—a shield that provides visitors an exceptional glimpse of Southern California’s coastline virtually unaffected by man. With the safeguard of Marine forces and scientists, California State Parks and a dedicated community of

volunteers, there is a legacy of cooperation to preserve the culturally-significant land.

From native inhabitants and missionaries to rancheros, Marines and surfing legends, San Onofre has a vibrant past.

The San Mateo Valley, home of the state park, has been inhabited by the region’s native peoples, the Acjachemen, for approximately 9,000 years. Many Acjacheman descendants trace their lineage back to Panhe, an ancient village and burial site, now home

treasuring trestles

A visitors guide to protecting and relishing San O

to the San Mateo Campgrounds. With an estimated 250 inhabitants, Panhe, meaning “place by the water,” was among the largest villages in the Acjachemen territory that today would have extended from northern San Diego County, along Orange County’s central coast and inland to the Santa Ana Mountains.

These native people are celebrated each spring at a San Onofre Parks Foundationhosted Panhe celebration.

In July 1769, an expeditionary force led by Spaniard Gaspar de Portola arrived at what is now Camp Pendleton. It was here the first interaction between explorers, missionaries and tribespeople took place and also where the first baptism in California was performed. Panhe’s population dwindled soon after Spanish arrival as many native inhabitants, given the name Juaneños by the Spanish, were relocated to construct Mission San Juan Capistrano.

Mexico’s independence from Spanish rule in 1821 would bring new rule to the region.

Lands throughout Southern California were soon divided between powerful men and families, giving way to the region’s rancho system. For more than 100 years, the lands played a pivotal role in a thriving cattle commerce until acquired by the government in the early 1940s. Camp Pendleton was dedicated by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in September 1942.

Under President Richard Nixon, San

Onofre State Beach was created on Aug. 31, 1971. Today, the park is leased from the Department of Navy—a 50-year lease that expires in just five years. It is a partnership, Steve Long, 30-year state parks employee and founder of San Onofre Parks Foundation, is confident will continue for years to come.

“The Marines, effectively, when they acquired the land created this wilderness coast,” Long said. “Without the establishment of the Marine Corps base, there would have been homes from San Clemente to Oceanside. They have done a great job of preserving this land that is shared with the public.”

Starting at the Santa Ana Mountains’ edge, the park’s topography changes from canyons, prairies and wetlands to coastal cliffs with sandy beaches. The diverse countryside provides a safe haven for 10 federally threatened and endangered species— among them the Pacific pocket mouse, southwestern willow flycatcher and San Diego fairy shrimp—and is home to more than 200 plant and 100 bird species as well as numerous terrestrial mammals.

While San Onofre State Beach welcomes an estimated 2.5 million visitors a year—ranking it among the top five visited of California’s 278 state parks—it remains an unspoiled natural setting protected from human development, protected by the government and community organizations and cherished by its visitors.

Eyes across the globe will soon turn to Lower Trestles.

One of five breaks along the San Onofre State Beach shore, Trestles draws thousands each year for the Hurley Pro and Swatch Women’s Pro. San Onofre is among the most frequented parks in California’s outdoor portfolio, but its more than 2 million annual visitors ensure it remains undamaged for those who follow.

Here’s how you can help event organizers, faithful volunteers and state park’s employees keep San Onofre’s unique ecosystem pristine and healthy for the mountain bikers, hikers, surfers, campers, sunset seekers and wild inhabitants.

Do not cross the railroad tracks. This action is not only dangerous, it’s illegal. Railroad tracks are private property. Therefore, crossing them is considered trespassing. With Trestles inaccessible to vehicles, prepare for a beach trek through untouched desert wildlands. Bring water and enjoy the hike. Take in San O.

Leave no mark. Aside from human visitors, San Onofre is home to endangered wildlife and hundreds of plant and animal species. Keep it clean for all. Mainly, pick up trash—even if it isn’t yours. Also, keep stickers off park signs and buildings. Try to leave the park a little better than when you arrived.

No hang ups. Wetsuits, towels and boards should not be placed on natural vegetation or trashcans. Avoid the wetlands. Be aware of the impacts—both negative and positive—you have on the surrounding environment. Entering the wetlands can greatly damage the delicate environment that provides food and shelter for the region’s native plant and animal life. Wetlands are also home to dangerous wildlife. It’s best to stay out.

Soak it all in. Take pause from the surf action and revel in San Onofre State Beach’s beauty and stillness.

’NOFRE A Surfer’s Paradise

A

look back at the early

years of surf at Trestles and San Onofre

A surfer’s haven for nearly a century, San Onofre State Beach’s famed breaks from Uppers to Lowers continue to draw World Title frontrunners, amateurs and boarders of all ages to surf some of California’s most consistent, high-performance waves. As the World Surf League’s top contenders hit Lowers for the Swatch Women’s Pro and Hurley Pro, we take a look back in time at Trestles’ surf origins.

1920s & 1930s: Southern California’s nomadic surfers would stumble upon the obscure, cobblestone point-break while in search of new waves and challenges. While no one can say for certain who rode the first Trestles surf, the eccentric Laguna Beach boardmaker George “Peanuts” Larson; pioneering surfer of Oahu’s North Shore, Lorrin “Whitey” Harrison, and darling of the California surf scene, Mary Ann Hawkins, are known early riders. By the mid ’30s, the ’Nofre news was out. Situated on the Santa Margarita Ranch, the beachside sanctuary was once a popular angler’s camp. As the decade progressed, fisherman became few and the number of surfers steadily rose. A consistent wave, constant beach fire and streams of camping surfers made San Onofre the idyllic locale to live out the surfing lifestyle. But with war on the rise, this haven would be temporarily trampled.

© James/SHACC

1940s: San Onofre sat virtually vacant throughout World War II. The call to service along with gas rationing, a high cost of materials and barring of civilians on the beach briefly put the San O surfing life on hiatus. With the ranch’s federal acquisition in the early ’40s, the lands became home to the U.S. Marine Corps’ largest training base, Camp Pendleton. The post-war ’40s would see surfing return to San Onofre as various commanding officers overlooked the civilian beach ban. As the surf population again increased, so too did military concerns of unregulated access and beach cleanliness.

1950s: San O’s long-standing tradition of military-civilian cooperation was born in 1951 with the San Onofre Surfing Club’s establishment. Founded by two longtime San O surfers, San Clemente dentist A.H. Barney Wilkes and first SOSC president Andre “Frenchy” Jahan, the club was given exclusive beach access— under the agreement the club would maintain membership as well as beach sanitation and order while the Marines had a gate for controlled access and required membership cards and windshield decals. The mid ’50s brought friction between the military and surfers that would be resolved by the decade’s end.

1960s & 1970s: By the ’60s, the beloved, laidback, family-style break was an engrained surf-world icon. Its notoriety would only grow as the decade passed and sport popularity increased. The beach park was eventually leased to the California State Parks system and opened to the public in 1971. Legendary surfer Dorian “Doc” Paskowitz, who left his successful medical practice to pursue a utopian dream, founded a surf school at ‘Nofre in the mid ’70s, and 1977 would see Michael Ho crowned winner of the first-held civilian surf contest at Trestles.

The four decades since have seen world-class competition and cutting-edge surfers tackle the magic break.

©Duesler/SHACC

©Stoner/SHACC

ART FOR THE CAUSE

Black and white photographs line the wall.

Snapped the day before, Hurley’s lead production artist, Josh Grelock, cultivates the collection. Action shots and sceneries, athletes and landmarks, the photos are Trestles—expertly captured by Hurley’s line of photographers as the break battle rages on. The Lowers snapshots are more than a gallery. These artistic renderings of Lower Trestles play a role in its preservation.

All prints are up for grabs with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the San Onofre Parks Foundation—the nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational programs and interpretive services

for San Onofre and San Clemente state beaches. These sales assist the foundation’s efforts to enhance visitor park experience, promote environmental awareness and preserve the park’s cultural and natural resources.

The benefactor will remain the same, but this year’s photo wall will see a change. Gone is the black backdrop of year’s past, rolling in is a wave of color. Riding the vibrant groundswell is Los Angeles’ pioneering graffiti legend Kelly Graval, a.k.a. RISK, who also designed the Hurley Pro athlete trophies.

Photos will be on display throughout the competition. Foundation volunteers will also be on the beach sharing native, park

SURF FORECAST

Plenty of waves are lining up through the first week of the event window, courtesy of an impressive run of storm activity in the South Pacific last week. The aforementioned area of low pressure moved out from under New Zealand and took a reasonably favorable track through the Southwest Pacific toting satellite derived wind speeds 40-50kts+ and seas in excess of 35’. That offers building SW/SSW swell through the first couple days of the event’s waiting period, with the most size on offer Thursday afternoon through Sunday morning. Size is running in the chest-head high+ range then, with occasional overhead+ peaks for Friday and Saturday.

and surf history with Hurley and Swatch Pro-goers.

Days after the competition’s end, the foundation will host the last of its Summer Lecture Series titled “Surfing USA” the San Onofre Influence on Surf Culture ON SEPT. 21. Speaker Steve Pezman, publisher and editor of the world-acclaimed The Surfer’s Journal will bring his fascinating storytelling to the Historic Cottage at San Clemente State Beach Campground, located at 225 Avenida Calafia. Tickets are $15. A reception and gallery exhibit viewing begins at 5:30 p.m. with the lecture held at 7 p.m.

For more information on the San Onofre Parks Foundation, visit www.sanonofreparksfoundation.org.

Heading into early next week we’ll be watching for some reinforcing SSW/S swell, thanks to a closer fetch moving through the Central South Pacific over the holiday weekend. Size will be down a notch overall, but be plenty contestable through Wednesday of next week before that swell starts to ease. Winds are looking generally favorable for the mornings, though we’ll be monitoring the potential for light SE flow on Thursday. At this point, we anticipate afternoon winds will be lightest Wednesday and Thursday, with light to moderate Westerly flow returning for the afternoon on Friday.

Connect

For event coverage, follow SC Times on Instagram @S_C_Times and visit www.sanclementetimes.com, where a digital copy of this guide can also be downloaded.

Converse

Use #HurleyPro and #SwatchWomensPro when posting on social media sites and search the hashtags to see the latest Trestles developments and athlete news.

Download

Track an athlete’s every contest move, receive up-to-theminute event alerts and dominate the fantasy leaderboard through the World Surf League app for Android and iPhone.

Follow

Get into the action by following the World Surf League on Instagram and Twitter @WSL. With live event coverage and contest photos, it’ll be as if you’re on the sand for every heat of the competition. Also, follow event sponsors @Hurley and @SwatchUS for more inside #Trestles coverage. And, be sure to connect with your favorite athletes. Check out the line-ups on the following pages for the Instagram accounts of #HurleyPro and #SwatchWomensPro contenders.

Watch

Can’t make it to Trestles? No problem. Whether at work, home or somewhere in between, the World Surf League has you covered. Tune in as the world’s leading surfers take on the legendary surf break in the 2016 installments of the Hurley Pro and Swatch Women’s Pro. Go to www.worldsurfleague.com for a live webcast and commentary, as well as highlight reels and photos from the first round to the finals.

SWATCH WOMEN’S PRO

Trestles is prime for a throw down. Year three of Women’s Championship Tour (CT) competition at Lowers will see fire in the water as the world’s top 17 surfers battle it out on the homegrown favorite, cobblestone break.

Entering Trestles with three firstplaces finishes under her belt, Tyler Wright has dominated the season to best the field and lead the World Title race. The 22-year-old Australian burst onto the Championship Tour at just 14 and has consistently shown her prowess—finishing in the Top 5 season after season.

INSIDE THE BEHIND THE BOARD

been stamped, and will likely not be traveled with ease, as Courtney Conlogue and 2015 Swatch Pro and CT victor Carissa Moore are on the hunt. A Trestles win for the firstever Swatch Pro champ Stephanie Gilmore could propel the six-time CT champion into title contention.

This year’s field is staked with contenders. Tatiana Weston-Webb, Sally Fitzgibbons, Johanne Defay and Malia Manuel are all on the title fray and the CT’s final four stops are sure to produce epic heats and leaderboard switches.

Wright’s passage to victory hasn’t

At Trestles, Lakey Peterson could see sparks on the break she per-

formed the first-ever women’s aerial maneuver in competition. Coming back from a preseason ankle injury and third-place finish at the Vans US Open of Surfing, Peterson is looking sharp entering Lowers.

Keep an eye on back-to-back Swatch Pro wildcard entry Bethany Hamilton. She could take down some big names. In her third-place finish at June’s Fiji Women’s Pro, Hamilton topped Wright before dropping to contest champ Defay in the quarterfinals.

Watch live as the water heats up and the action unfolds at www.worldsurfingleague.com.

ROUND NO. 1 MATCHUPS

HEAT NO. 1

5 - Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) @sally_fitz

8 - Malia Manuel (HAW) @maliamanuel

14 - Lakey Peterson (USA) @lakeypeterson

HEAT NO. 4

2 - Courtney Conlogue (USA) @courtneyconlogue

11 - Laura Enever (AUS) @lauraenever

18 - Chelsea Tuach (BRB) @chelseatuach

HEAT NO. 2

4 - Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) @tatiwest

9 - Sage Erickson (USA) @sageerickson 16 - Alessa Quizon (HAW) @alessaquizon

HEAT NO. 5

3 - Carissa Moore (HAW) @rissmoore10 10 - Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) @biancabuitendag 17 - Coco Ho (HAW) @xococoho

HEAT NO. 3

1 - Tyler Wright (AUS) @tylerwright

12 - Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) @nikkicandijk

19 - Bethany Hamilton (HAW) @bethanyhamilton

HEAT NO. 6

6 - Johanne Defay (FRA) @johannedefay

7 - Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) @stephaniegilmore

13 - Keely Andrew (AUS) @keelyandrew

PAST Champions

T. Patterson, Mayhem shape for Lowers pros

Cottons, Uppers, Lowers, Middles, Church. Five breaks, one surf spot: Trestles.

From the long, sloping lefts of Cottons to the steep rights of Lowers, the breaks of San Onofre State Beach are as varied as the boards used to ride their waves. A long, middle or shortboard will do at the expert-level Cottons, but the ever-consistent Lowers is all shortboard, all the time.

To get the inside scoop on Lower Trestles whips, SC Times contributor Erin Hawkins sat down with, and watched in shaping action, local craftsmen Timmy Patterson of T. Patterson Surfboards and Matt “Mayhem” Biolos of Lost Surfboards to discuss surf, San Clemente and the boards the world’s top contenders are battling it out on at this year’s Hurley Pro and Swatch Women’s Pro.

ROOTS RUN DEEP

Encircled in the surfing industry since he was a kid, Patterson learned the basics of shaping from his father, Ronald. Patterson shaped his first board in 1978 and, some 40 years later, continues to originate and transform designs with the same passion of his youth.

The early ’60s brough the Patterson brothers— Bobby “The Flea,” Ronald and Raymond—from Hawaii to California. Skilled surfers and shapers, the trio naturally landed in Dana Point working in Hobie Alter’s high-tech manufacturing facility for the innovative Hobie Surfboards. With his father and uncle at the epicenter of one of Southern California’s original surfing groups, the Windansea Surf Club, Patterson grew up surrounded by pioneers of both shape and sport. He, too, would work at Hobie

before branching out to open an in-house glass shop with friends. The year was 1995—a milestone marked on Patterson’s website with an image of a 20-year-old piece of paper, crumbled but legible, with Patterson’s vision for high-quality, hand-finished boards.

Two decades later, Patterson is preserving the “stoke” in his shaping process. The fun of surfboard shaping, he says, is in trying all the flavors of his designs.

“It’s weird to be able to wake up in the middle of the night and drive a couple miles away to my shop. It doesn’t matter what time of night, I’m like, ‘Oh my god, I gotta go do it,’” Patterson said of the designs he’ll shape into the wee hours and take for a ride the next day.

When it comes to shaping for customers, Patterson likes to meet in person. It’s in this (Continued)

Kolohe Andino © WSL / Kirstin

TIMMY PATTERSON “

We’ve really stuck to our guns. There’s such a heavy influence of how we do surfboards in San Clemente, just from our culture that we’ve got to create with the community.

(Continued) encounter he tries to get in the customer’s head to figure out what kind of board they not only like, but need.

“You get to be real creative all the time, it’s not stagnant at all,” he said. “For me as a shaper, it’s always a challenge to create everything under the sun.”

Patterson’s ingenuity is continually put to the test by professional clients. Today, he’s working with and shaping for Brazilian pro Italo Ferreira, currently the ninth-ranked surfer on the World Surf League Men’s Championship Tour. Ferreira will be riding his own model on Lowers’ long, steep right waves—a model he and Patterson have collectively designed over the last few years.

This collaborative process with pros and surfing diehards has helped Patterson develop his craft.

“My biggest influence on shaping and changing the way I shape, dialing in what we do … was Pat O’Connell by far,” Patterson said. At the height of O’Connell’s career, he and Patterson had a give-and-take relationship that elevated the surfer’s sport and shaper’s skill.

While Patterson’s designs are ever evolving, he had stayed committed to his original vision.

“We’ve really stuck to our guns,” Patterson said. “There’s such a heavy influence of how we do surfboards in San Clemente, just from our culture that we’ve got to create with the community.”

INGRAINED IN SAN CLEMENTE

The iconic Lost-planet logo is one of largest, most well-known surf brands world-

wide. It’s a brand, founder Matt “Mayhem” Biolos says represents “the every man.”

“Everyone is a little bit lost,” he said. “Kind of like a tongue-in-cheek attitude; we don’t care, we just have fun.”

Even with a global presence—taking Lost Surfboards to surfers from the United States, Brazil, Indonesia and Australia— Biolos and his business partners oversee all aspects of the international, privatelyowned surf, skate and clothing brand. Lost is a brand Biolos has held true to for nearly 30 years, having fun and keeping the heart of the brand at home, right here in San Clemente.

Biolos shaped his first board in June 1987. Sanding boards for Surfglass and Herbie Fletcher, he made his first board—dubbed a “Ratz Ass.” The name of his second board, “Mayhem,” stuck.

It’s a moniker he’s gone by ever since. Biolos went on to found Lost Surfboards in the early ’90s—the date itself is a little lost, maybe it was 1991, maybe ’93. Whatever the year, the brand has today—in a sense— found itself among the most recognizable, respected brands in the world.

Local and international surfing superstars—and those on the rise—represent the Lost brand, riding in victory after victory on boards shaped by Biolos and his team.

Last year, Carissa Moore surfed to a Swatch Women’s Pro title on a Lost “Driver.”

The board, distinctive for its long, through the middle of the board straight rocker that lifts to a healthy nose rocker, is also a Championship Tour favorite of San Clementenative Kolohe Andino.

—Erin Hawkins and Andrea Papagianis-Camacho

INSIDE THE

HURLEY PRO

As the Top 34 surfers descend on Lowers, one thing is certain: The World Title race is far from over.

Two-and three-seeded Matt Wilkinson and Gabriel Medina aren’t far behind leader John John Florence’s 39,000 points—trailing the yellow jersey by less than 4,000 points. And while the nearest point earner, No. 4 Adrian Buchan, sits some 8,000 points behind Medina’s 37,500, the title is still too close to call.

Just four Championship Tour (CT) stops remain and the battle is heating up.

So too is six-time Hurley Pro champ Kelly Slater. Slater had a rough start to the 2016 season with two 25th-place finishes and a missed Rio tour stop in May. Entering Lowers with

HEAT NO. 1

5 - Jordy Smith (ZAF) @jordysmith88

19 - Nat Young (USA) @nat_young

32 - Keanu Asing (HAW) @keanuasing

HEAT NO. 5

2 - Matt Wilkinson (AUS) @mattwilko8

24 - Conner Coffin (USA) @connercoffin

WC - Tanner Gudauskas (USA) @tannergud

HEAT NO. 9

9 - Italo Ferreira (BRA) @italoferreira

16 - Caio Ibelli (BRA) @caioibelli

29 - Jack Freestone (AUS) @jackfreestone

HEAT NO. 2

5 - Julian Wilson (AUS) @julian_wilson

21 - Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) @kanoaigarashi

34 - Ryan Callinan (AUS) @ryancallinan

HEAT NO. 6

1 - John John Florence (HAW) @john_john_florence

24 - Davey Cathels (AUS) @daveycathels

WC - Brett Simpson (USA) @brettsimpson

HEAT NO. 10

10 - Mick Fanning (AUS)

@mfanno

14 - Joel Parkinson (AUS) @joelparko

28 - Jadson Andre (BRA) @jadsonandreoficial

a hot-streak of top finishes, Slater is looking to ride his Billabong Tahiti Pro win in August to again best the Trestles field. In Tahiti, Slater topped Florence in an epic battle of forces to notch his first CT victory since 2013. If history has anything to say about it, Lowers could be Slater’s for the taking. But, an experienced field of past victors and lineup of locals, who call the break home, are also vying for the Trestles crown.

Defending champ Mick Fanning, a three-time World Title holder, will face Brazil’s Jason Andre and the runaway leader he caught in 2013 to capture his third title, Joel Parkinson, in round one competition. Also chasing the crown again is 2014 Trestles champion Jordy Smith.

HEAT NO. 3

4 - Adrian Buchan (AUS) @acebuchan

22 - Miguel Pupo (BRA) @miguelpuposurf

36 - Kai Otton (AUS) @ottz16

HEAT NO. 7

7 - Adriano de Souza (BRA) @adrianodesouza

18 - Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) @wiggolly

30 - Matt Banting (AUS) @mattbanting

HEAT NO. 11

11 - Kolohe Andino (USA)

@koloheandino22

On the local front, San Clemente natives Kolohe Andino and wildcard entry Tanner Gudauskas could be break outs.

The 22-year-old Andino rode a dominant wave of Trestles wins throughout his amateur days but hasn’t made it past round three since his rookie CT season—two of those losses were to Hurley Pro winners: Taj Burrow in 2013 and Fanning in 2015. For the wildcard Gudauskas, there may be magic in the water. As a wildcard in 2014, Gudauskas beat out Wilkinson and Slater in a tough round-one matchup for a quick advance to round three where he fell to Slater 13.84 to 14.17.

14 - Josh Kerr (AUS) @josh_kerr84

26 - Stuart Kennedy (AUS) @stueykennedy

Mick Fanning (AUS)

Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Taj Burrow (AUS)

Kelly Slater (USA)

Kelly Slater (USA)

Kelly Slater (USA)

Mick Fanning (AUS)

Kelly Slater (USA)

Whatever the outcome, the Trestles title hunt is sure to entertain. Catch each matchup at www.worldsurfingleague.com.

HEAT NO. 4

3 - Gabriel Medina (BRA) @gabrielmedina

23 - Adam Melling (AUS) @adammelling

38 - Alex Ribeiro (BRA) @alexribeiro89

HEAT NO. 8

8 - Kelly Slater (USA) @kellyslater

17 - Filipe Toledo (BRA) @filipetoledo

30 - Jeremy Flores (FRA) @floresjeremy

HEAT NO. 12

12 - Sebastian Zietz (HAW) @seabassz

13 - Michel Bourez (PYF) @bourezmichel

26 - Alejo Muniz (BRA) @alejomuniz

Kelly Slater (USA)

Bede Durbidge (AUS)

Kelly Slater (USA)

Joel Parkinson (AUS)

Richie Lovett (AUS)

Luke Egan (AUS)

Not Held

Andy Irons (HAW)

WILD TRIAL

Gudauskas,

Simpson

draw Hurley Pro wildcards

BY ERIN HAWKINS

Each year, professional surfers battle it out on the world’s best waves in the World Surf League’s Championship Tour (CT)—an international series of 11 elite surfing events. The Hurley Pro, kicking off this week, will be stop No. 8 on the 2016 world tour with seasoned locals and top pros competing to take glory at one of two United States destinations on the tour, San Clemente’s famed Lower Trestles.

Two Southern California natives, Tanner Gudauskas and Brett Simpson, earned Hurley Pro wildcard entries, after prevailing against a stacked Hurley Pro Trials lineup at T-Street Beach south of San Clemente Pier this July. The trials, consisting of 24 surfers, were divided into two groups—Hurley team riders and local San Clemente pros. Each group crowned one victor with a Trestles appearance.

Gudauskas, 27, the youngest of San Clemente’s native Gudauskas brothers—Patrick, Dane and Tanner—is currently ranked No. 23 on the 2016 Men’s Qualifying Series (QS). To snag the wildcard, he went head-to-head with big brother Patrick, currently ranked No. 11 on the QS. Gudauskas also beat out last year’s wildcard winner Ian Crane along with Griffin Colapinto, Nate Yeomans and Evan Geiselman.

Tanner and his brothers are well-known in both the surfing world and the San Clemente community—not only for their stellar surfing, but also for their Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation and annual community-based, always-agood-time “STOKE-O-RAMA” surf event for entry-level surfers under age 12.

Now, through the PVW Foundation, the Gudauskas’ are continuing to spread positiv-

ity and good vibes by raising funds to support community-level youth water safety and ocean education programs.

For the Hurley team, Simpson, the Huntington Beach native currently ranked No. 17 on the North American QS and No. 73 on the overall QS, beat out fellow Hurley riders Rob Machado, Jake Marshall and Yadin Nicol during his trials performance.

A former two-time Vans US Open of Surfing champion in 2009 and 2010, Simpson is slowly regaining career momentum after taking the wildcard win at the Hurley Pro Trials and representing Team USA at the 2016 International Surfing Association World Surfing Games in Playa Jaco, Costa Rica.

With a Hurley Pro appearance, both wildcard winners will not only have the chance to compete against top CT surfers but can also further advance their 2016 QS campaigns.