Surfing

For a guy seemingly built and groomed for wins on Trestles perfect power ramps, it took South African (and current Carlsbad, California resident) Jordy Smith until today (September 18, 2104) to win his first Hurley Pro. But from the way he was smiling throughout the day, he was more stoked than anyone.

“I feel unbelievable,” Smith said. “To be able to surf against the best surfer in the world at the moment is incredible. I started the heat really well but right toward to the end I started to think about everyone that’s been supporting me and it helped me nail that last wave. I knew I had to do something good. I’m over the moon, it’s a dream of mine to win Trestles, especially after moving here.”

2 John Florence posted the highest two wave heat total and highest single scoring wave of the contest to get into the finals again Smith, but the ocean (and wind) was not cooperating in the final.

“I was hoping that Jordy’s wave wasn’t going to be enough but he got it,” said John John Florence. “It was really hard to surf out there and good job to Jordy, he’s been surfing good all week. I’m so bummed, I hate coming that close to winning, but it’s given me some confidence going in to the next event.”

On the women’s side Stephanie Gilmore beach out Sally Fitzgibbons to win the Swatch Pro. For the official word form the ASP and the complete results, please follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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Yesterday, after watching Kelly Slater catch another magical last second wave to claim his 21st heat win over Taj Burrow and ending what Johnny Gannon later described on Instagram as “a cunt of a day,” we were interested to see the Heritage Heat. The APS’s idea is to allow former surf greats to get some time in the water in front of the fans. In this case, former World Champion Martin Potter and nude surfing originator Brad Gerlach were to rekindle old rivalries and settle things once and for all. What happened was something different, and as usual, no one described it better than Chas Smith:

The art of aging gracefully, and to be sure, it is an art, involves transitioning from stage to stage with taste, decorum, all deliberate speed. It does not, and I repeat DOES NOT, involve surfing in “Heritage Heats.”. . . Athletics (real athletics, not bocce, golf, race car driving etc.) is a field that becomes fraught with pitfalls as life’s sun begins to set. Of course, people should stay fit and active at all ages and surfing is a wonderful pursuit at all ages. That saltwater soothes, that glide feels so fine. But the older surfer should practice his art quietly. He should not practice his art during a surf competition in front of judges on the same waves just surfed by Taj Burrow (forever a 12 year old).

For the rest of Smith’s insightful treatise on aging surfers, click the link. For Derek Rielly’s interview (How I Fucking Smashed Pottz) with heat winner Brad Gerlach, click here. Ah, Smith and Rielly, what a pair.

[Link: Beach Grit]

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After four lay days the waves finally turned on for Round 2 of the 2014 Hurley Pro at Trestles on Tuesday, September 16 and few took better advantage of the perfect wind conditions than Brazil’s Filipe Toledo when he blasted one out in his heat against Adam Melling.

“I saw Melling doing some big turns and getting a huge score, so I knew I had to do something crazy,” Filipe Toledo said. “I know the wind is really good for airs so when the first left came I just went for it. When I landed I was surprised but I’m stoked to get through. I’m looking forward to more heats and more airs.”

For the official word from the World Surf League ASP, follow the jump. [click to continue…]

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Oh yes, fall has returned to Southern California and with it comes the ASP World Championship Tour. Not the sort-of-world tour US Open of Surfing, but the bonafide 2014 Hurley Pro At Trestles (and Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles). Here’s what Kieren Perrow has to say about it.

“Trestles is a very consistent wave, and for high-performance surfing there’s no better wave in the world, especially when conditions are good, so it’s great to have a longer waiting period this year so we can take advantage of the best waves,” said ASP Commissioner, Kieren Perrow. . . In order to do well at Lower Trestles surfers will need to show a variety of maneuvers and really push the boundaries and I can’t wait to see what the ASP Top 34 and Top 17 have in store. On the men’s side Gabriel Medina will be one to watch but, when the waves are big enough, Jordy Smith can be devastating. I’m really looking forward to having the women at the competition this year and I’m excited to watch Carissa Moore and Tyler Wright compete because of their power turns.”

It all starts on September 9, 2014. Follow the jump for the official word from the ASP. [click to continue…]

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