Huge upsets as the Hurley Pro gets underway
The Hurley Pro began with an exciting first day, wildcards Tanner Gudauskas and Carlos Munoz causing the two biggest upsets of the day when they despatched Kelly Slater and Gabriel medina in non-elimination round one.
Gudauskas’ win over Slater was the last thing anybody expected. Slater being the most proven surfer at Lower Trestles, with a total of six victories. But Gudauskas was on top form, using his local knowledge he took the win with a 14.93 to Slater’s 14.80, and Matt Wilkinson’s 10.13 in heat five.
It’s a good feeling to win but there was definitely an element of luck out there
“It’s a good feeling to win but there was definitely an element of luck out there,” said Tanner Gudauskas. “At the beginning of the heat I was taking off on bad waves but then I got more into my rhythm. That was fun and I’m stoked on the result. It’s unbelievable to be here and have so much support, but before my heats I really need to relax.”
The next heat of the day saw the the second upset, when Carlos Munoz took down Gabriel Medina in heat six. The drama-filled heat saw Munoz and Medina repeatedly splitting the peak of the same wave. But it was Munoz, the first Costa Rican to compete in a World Championship Tour event, who took the win and will advance directly to round three, Medina will have another chance when he takes on Raoni Monteiro in round two.
“I can’t believe how everything happened,” said Carlos Munoz. “I got this chance, I prepared myself mentally. I heard everybody screaming and I knew I needed a score. I gave my heart to that last one, so I’m glad the judges liked it. I can’t believe it. When I heard the score, I started crying.”
Earlier in the day Adrian Buchan dispatched defending event champion Taj Burrow in heat one. Buchan didn’t hold back, showing off his perfect backside snaps, allowing him to take the win and move directly to round 3. Burrow will have another opportunity when he takes on Travis Logie in round two.
“I’m paddling out confident and I know I’ve done everything I’ve wanted to do in terms of preparation,” Adrian Buchan said. “We’ve had four or five days of really fun waves to warm up on here and we’ve seen some great waves today so it looks like it’s going to be fun.”
You never know surfing against Toledo because he can throw airs so easy. I guess I got lucky he didn’t get the score
An exciting third heat saw Filipe Toledo and Jeremy Flores return to competition after a one event hiatus; Toledo suffered with an ankle injury while Flores was suspended. The two were matched up with current World No. 4, Michael Bourez. Despite Flores taking an early lead, and Toledo performing a 360, neither could surpass Bourez — who took the win by a 0.03 margin.
“I was talking to my coach before and was thinking maybe it’s better just to stick to my game and go 80 percent, but I couldn’t do that,” Michel Bourez said. “You never know surfing against Toledo because he can throw airs so easy. I guess I got lucky he didn’t get the score.”
Owen Wright’s heat began as an adrenaline fuelled fiasco; a timing issue caused him to still be landlocked when the horn sounded to mark the end of the heat prior to his. Despite the rush to the lineup, Wright not only secured the first nine-point ride of the Hurley Pro (9.43), but he also took the highest two-wave heat total of the competition so far (17.43) despatching his match ups Alejo Muniz and Julian Wilson.
“When I went out I thought, ‘whatever comes, left or right,’” said Owen Wright. “Being a goofy, you tend to go on the lefts a little more, but the rights tend to score better. The froth-factor for the goofies is having that option there.”
Hurley Pro at Trestles Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.10, Travis Logie (ZAF) 9.57, Taj Burrow (AUS) 7.67
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.40, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.94, Brett Simpson (USA) 10.17
Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.20, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.17, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.77
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.77, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 11.93, Kai Otton (AUS) 11.77
Heat 5: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.93, Kelly Slater (USA) 14.80, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.13
Heat 6: Carlos Munoz (CRI) 13.90, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.70, Adam Melling (AUS) 11.56
Heat 7: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 16.77, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 14.10, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.50
Heat 8: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 15.43, Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.50, Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.97
Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) 16.70, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.23, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.63
Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.43, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.44, Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.27
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.06, Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.73, Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.50
Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) 15.27, Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.10, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.80
Hurley Pro at Trestles Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Travis Logie (USA)
Heat 5: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Dion Atkinson (AUS)
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 9: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 11: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
