The second round of the Hurley Pro at Trestles was called ON in clean, but difficult overhead waves at Lowers yesterday. Up first in Heat 1 was ratings leader Gabriel Medina (BRA), who was matched-up with countryman, Raoni Monteiro.
Gabriel Medina got the scores to advance to Round 3 of the Hurley Pro at Trestles.
Both made a slow start and matched each other’s low scores until there was just five minutes remaining in the clash, when Gabriel smashed a bowly left to score a 7.43 and backed it up with a 6.40 to advance.
Kelly Slater (USA) was up next against Jeremy Flores (FRA), and on his very first wave he got everyone excited by launching a high, straight air. There was nothing overly spectacular about the air, but what got fans excited was the landing. All looked lost as the 11-time world champ fell off-balance from the Trestles sky, only to recover quickly as he touched down in the foamball. “He’s still got it!” the cries rang out, and the video went viral.
Kelly took out the heat win and joined Gabriel in Round 3 to keep the pressure on at the top of the rankings. Travis Logie (ZAF) and Kolohe Andino (USA) matched each other wave-for-wave in Heat 4, but the judges gave the nod to the local by a fraction. Any advantage is a good advantage though, and Travis will feel unlucky to have been eliminated – although had he not dug a rail on his final wave he could have perhaps shifted the result in his favour.
At a wave like Trestles, Josh Kerr (AUS) is usually a good bet to advance to the final rounds, but he lost in a low-scoring battle with Aritz Aranburu (ESP) in the next heat. Jadsen Andre (BRA) then recorded the day’s highest combined total to knock Bede Durbidge (AUS) out of the competition, while Miguel Pupo (BRA) and Tiago Pires (POR) also advanced with big heat totals.
Jadsen Andre was the day’s most radical surfer.
Round 2 ended with a lacklustre encounter between Australian goofyfoots Kai Otten and Matt Wilkinson, with Kai moving on to the next round with a low 10.67 heat total.
Round 3 then got underway as the clouds closed-in and Michel Bourez (PYF), Ace Buchan (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS) and Miguel Pupo advanced over Jadsen Andre, Nat Young (USA), Tiago Pires and Kolohe Andino respectively. Competition was then called off for the day as the weather took a turn for the worse. Jordy Smith (ZAF) versus Julian Wilson (AUS) will be up in the first heat when competition resumes .
There were no heats surfed in the Swatch Women’s Pro, where Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) awaits her match-up with ratings leader Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) in the Quarter Finals.
Check out aspworldtour.com for all the Heats on Demand, results and photos from the Hurley Pro at Trestles.
