Story and photos by Benjamin Ginsberg/DriftwoodFoto
Taj Burrow wins the 2013 Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles, CA.
Last week the world’s best surfers converged on Lower Trestles in San Clemente for the 7th stop on the ASP World Tour, seeing Australian Taj Burrow defeat fellow Ausi Julian Wilson in an action packed final. Despite the small surf conditions, Burrow walked away with his first win at Lowers after appearing in the finals two times previously.
The ASP World Tour’s traditional end is on the North Shore of Hawaii, yet The Hurley Pro is the only stop in the mainland the US, and often considered our “only” stop. As the originators of surfing and the founders of surf culture, in the world of surfing Hawaii is deemed a separate entity. Unique. Special. And rightfully so.
Whenever the ASP world tour makes it’s yearly pilgrimage to Lower Trestles surf break on the Orange County/San Diego County lines, right in the middle of the international surf industry’s own back yard, you can count on a lot of attention. Most notably for the near perfect a-frame waves peeling off a cobblestone reef, in a protected 3,000 acre park. A true rarity in the highly developed landscape of Southern California. This year the attention was for entirely different reasons.
View from within the VIP tent in at the Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles.
Small surf and heavy fog plagued the week long contest window. Kelly Slater, 11 time world champion, current number 1 ranked surfer on tour, winner of 6 titles at Lowers over the past decade, and 41 years old, was eliminated early by local wild-card Pat Gudauskas (who dazzled the home-town crowd by advancing to the quarter finals). Adding insult to injury, Slater’s first-round, non-elimination loss (courtesy of local tour veteran Brett Simpson), was the champ’s first ever at Lower Trestles, dropping him from his current number 1 ranking, and putting in jeopardy a potential 12th world title.
Kelly Slater is all smiles before the contest during a sunset practice session in sizable surf.
Win or lose, Kelly Slater is mobbed every time he comes to the beach. But sometimes you just want to deal with your loss in private. True champion he is, Slater picked himself up, changed out of his wetsuit, and joined the broadcasters live in the webcast booth to talk about his heats and the contest for all those watching at home.
Yet in spite of Slater’s untimely withdrawal, and the small, less than ideal surf conditions, the show was dominated by the two Ausi’s: Burrow and Wilson, ironically the stars of Red Bull’s web series “21 Days,” a three part documentary following their day-to-day training and family lives in preparation for this year’s Hurley Pro. Did Red Bull know something we didn’t? Most assuredly, but not in relation to this happy coincidence for their marketing/production staffers.
Taj Burrow dominated all rounds of this year’s Hurley Pro.
Julian Willson boost an air during his final heat against Taj Burrow.
Standout performances by South Africans Jordy Smith and Travis Logie, Tahitian Michel Bourez, and fellow Ausi’s Kai Otton and Josh Kerr elicited cheers from the packed crowd on the small, sand and cobblestone beach of Lower Trestles as they threw massive fins out cutback turns and boosted big airs.
South African veteran Jordy Smith made it through to the Semi Finals, but despite an impressive performance lost to contest winner Taj Burrow.
Tahitian Michel Bourez carving his way into a solid Semi Final performance.
Ausi surfers had a strong event, filling out half the quarter final round; Josh Kerr airs one out under a rare showing of the sun.
The surf was small, the lighting was poor, but the world’s best did not disappoint. In the wake of this year’s Hurley Pro we’re left with a very close, potentially very dramatic world title race as we move into the final three contests of the year.
The day before the Hurley Pro started saw the best waves of the week, and the crowds were there to prove it.
Kelly Slater fins-out over the lip in this pre-contest warmup session.
John John Florence soars over fellow Hurley team rider Julian Wilson on a crowded day before the contest starts.
With turns like this Brett Simpson dealt Kelly Slater his first ever first-round loss at Lower Trestles.
Pat Gudauskas knows Lower Trestles well…
Kolohe Andino takes to the air at the 2013 Hurley Pro.
Taj Burrow throws a massive fins-out cutback turn despite small surf.
Social media Hurley Pro style; images shot during the contest were for sale with proceeds going to the San Onofre Foundation.
Kelly Slater and Pat Gudauskas split this a-frame peak as Gudauskas went on to eliminate the 11 time world champ.
Pat Gudauskas talks to and signs autographs for local groms, thrilled for the chance to meet their local hero.
On patrol at the Hurley Pro…I feel safer already.
Bede Durbidge takes an early shower courtesy of Taj Burrow.
Adam Melling powers through a wave at Lower Trestles.
Taj Burow shakes off a champaign shower after winning the 2013 Hurley Pro.