Where to start with trestles this year? Stop number 7 on the world tour. The Hurley Pro Trestles California was epic this year with 3 -5 foot waves through out. Coming in to this event Kelly Slater was on top with Owen Wright sitting in second after beating Slater in New York. The cut off had just happened with a new few faces on the tour including John John Florence and Julian Wilson not to mention some familiar faces requalifying like Heator Alves.
Day one started with 2 -3 foot waves, it looked hard work for the pros. But there was some good surfing from Kelly, Owen, Kerr and Wilson.
It all started to get exciting in round 4 when Joel Parkinson stole a wave from the toes of Julian Wilson and came from behind to progress into the quarter finals in the dying seconds leaving an amped and pissed of Julian Wilson having to battle out in round 5.
Round 5 saw some interesting heats with Mick Fanning being the stand out on a borrowed board. Mick posted a 9 on his first waves and then a 9.23 on one of his last waves of the heat. Damien Hobgood struggled to find his form in a heat in which Mick was literally on fire.
The Quarter finals were also very exciting, the wind started to decrease meaning the aerials could start to come out. Julian Wilson was on a mission after his misfortune in round 4. Julian absolutely dominated his heat with Joel Parkinson scoring a combined score of 18.23. Kelly Slater also had a tough heat against the very inform young Australian Josh Kerr. Kelly boosted a 17.60 to secure the win.
The Semi finals were magical for anyone who watch at home. There was some incredible surfing. The air reverse was used as a standard way to finish a wave. It was a battle of new school Vs old school with Kelly throwing massive power hacks, Owen Wright surfing the smoothest and fastest surfing in the whole event and the like of young hotshot Julian Wilson looking to boost massive aerials as well as crazy new school pop shove its and what not.
There was no stopping Kelly he was on fire in this heat just throwing so much spray. He was making the most of every wave. Slater was back on a thruster for the first time in a while and he made the most of it with crazy power hacks. Heator Alves tried his best and to be fair on another day he may well have won.
Poor old Julian Wilson was unlucky to have an interference called against him on the first wave of the heat in Which Owen made the most of this with a 7.33. There was then a massive lull in for about 10 minutes. Then a very ampted up Julian started just throwing massive crazy airs. He even popped a shuv it but was unlucky not to stick much. Owen was surfing very maturely and not letting Wilson have anything. Wright wins with a 14.74 to Wilson 10.04 . Wright then had to go through to the final to face Kelly for ASP world tour record 3rd in consecutive events final. The scores were drawn with Kelly winning Teauphoo and Owen winning New York. It was a tense build up! Who was going to win the decider?
King Kelly struck again and just won the heat to become to get his 37th career win and his 5th trestles title. It was a tough final in which it was decided in the last 4 waves of the heat. Wright almost had it but Kelly’s experience paid of on in the end as he clinched in the final moments.
“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.”
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
For video highlighs check http://www.hurley.com/hurleypro/videos.cfm?type=od
