SEPTEMBER 6-17
San Onofre State Beach, Lower Trestles
SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Welcome to the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro
LETTER FROM WSL COMMISSIONER
Hello San Clemente,
First of all, thank you once again for welcoming the World Surf League to your town and sharing your waves and beautiful coastline again with us this season. The Championship Tour has been coming to Trestles for over 15 years now, and it stands apart as one of the most highperformance waves on tour. The Hurley and Swatch Pro at Trestles mark a great turning point in the men’s and women’s seasons respectively and 2017 has already delivered a number of high-performance milestones.
Seven events into this year’s men’s calendar and we have seven different winners— Owen Wright, John John Florence, Jordy Smith, Adriano de Souza, Matt Wilkinson, Filipe Toledo and Julian Wilson. It’s created one of the tightest and most interesting WSL Title races in memory, and the Hurley Pro at Trestles will be critical in determining who pulls ahead of the European leg. On the women’s side, we have an equally tight race with defending Trestles winner and reigning WSL Women’s Champion Tyler Wright leading a field of Sally Fitzgibbons,
Courtney Conlogue, Stephanie Gilmore and Johanne Defay heading into town.
San Clemente has long been celebrated for its place as a hotbed of surfing talent— the community, waves and people continue to cement its place as one. The WSL and all its surfers are very appreciative that you welcome us into this community year after year.
We hope to see you down at the event or around town.
Kieran Perrow, WSL Commissioner
HURLEY PRO AND SWATCH PRO FORECAST
At press time, the surf outlook for the Hurley Pro and the Swatch Pro isn’t great. Looking at the South Pacific weather and swell forecast charts, the early days of the waiting period appear to remain relatively small in scale due to an unfavorable weather pattern between New Zealand and Tahiti. For the opening days of the contest, expect wave heights to hang in the knee to waist-high zone with sets topping out at chest to shoulder-high. The conditions remain relatively the same throughout the first week of the waiting period. There is potential for the pattern to shift and produce a legitimate swell towards the end of the waiting period. —Jake Howard
BY ERIC HEINZ
Stay connected throughout the Hurley Pro with San Clemente Times an’t make it down to Trestles for the annual Hurley Pro? The San Clemente Times will be providing up-to-date coverage and recaps of the events the days they take place. Because the Hurley Pro is on a 14-day wait, surfing will not take place each day of the event’s length. Be sure to use hashtags #HurleyPro or #SwatchPro and #SCTimesNews.
Visit San Clemente Times on Facebook to stay in the loop on all things Hurley Pro from beginning to end. We’ll be sharing ways to see all our coverage through the social media platform.
The most instantaneous way to get the latest information is to follow San Clemente Times on Twitter. We will be posting results as well as keeping an eye on our local men and women on their performances during the contest.
If you are down at the Hurley Pro or want to check out highlights from the day’s heats, be sure to visit us at @s_c_times on Instagram and tag us in some of your photos. Many of the professionals at the events will be chronicling their own experiences at the Hurley Pro, and we’ll be sure to keep you connected to all the action.
SANCLEMENTETIMES.COM
For full recaps, visit www.sanclementetimes. com each day after the Hurley Pro events. We will be down there during the quarterfinals, semifinals and finals.
Photo: Courtesy
A Brief and Awesome History of the Hurley Pro
BY JAKE HOWARD
It’s the morning of the final,” Kelly Slater famously uttered en route to his 1990 professional debut at Lower Trestles. The moment was captured in a Quiksilver video called “Black and White” and basically served as the launchpad for the Florida surfer’s now storied career. It was, after all, on the beach at Lowers where he signed what was, at the time, the biggest contract in pro surfing history and then went on to win the contest. What you don’t hear nearly as much about, but definitely should because it ties directly into state-of-the-art surfing today, is that the year prior, local boy Christian Fletcher beat the establishment at Lowers courtesy of his brash, unapologetic approach to both above-the-lip and power maneuvers.
BECAUSE THERE’S A LOT MORE TO WINNING AT LOWERS THAN JUST SURFING GOOD
The godfather of aerial surfing, the unseeded Fletcher won a cool $30,000 for the effort, beating North Hollywood’s Joey Jenkins, Cardiff’s Colin Smith and San Clemente’s Noah Budroe in the final. Dino Andino, father of Kolohe, who will be surfing in this year’s Hurley Pro, finished fifth.
Thanks to Fletcher in ’89 and Slater in ’90, today, the contest means the best surfers in the world are pushing the limits of highperformance surfing to the zenith. You can’t win unless you let it all hang out, and you have to beat the best to be the best. Over the past few years, the Hurley Pro has turned out champions that have been able to carry on this legacy, here’s a quick look at a few that are still in the game:
MEN WOMEN
Tyler Wright
2016
Tyler Wright was pretty much unstoppable in 2016. Out of the ten contests in the season, she won five of them (and finished second in two others). Inspired by her brother Owen, who was overcoming a severe head injury that he suffered at Pipeline in 2015, Wright blitzed through every contest she surfed in, including Lowers. She’s back in the driver’s seat again this year and leading the world title race, but a third and a fifth-place finish at the last two contests may have her a bit hungry for a win. If she is, look out.
Carissa Moore
2015
Some surfers were meant to surf certain waves. Carissa Moore and Lowers is one such combination. The winner of the 2015 Hurley Pro, she put in a performance for the ages. It’s one thing to do a few turns, maybe bust an air or two and connect all the dots, but Moore does it with such seamless, timeless style. In the early days of her career she won too many NSSA titles to count at Lowers, and as she’s matured and grown up the performances have only gotten better.
For the women, the Swatch Pro was first launched in 2014, so to date there have only been three champions. All of them worthy, all of them world champions.
Stephanie Gilmore
2014
Winner of the inaugural Swatch Pro in 2014, Stephanie Gilmore started this season with a win at her home break of Snapper Rocks in Australia and now sits ranked fourth in the world. She has some ground to make up on rating’s leader Wright, but if she can find some of that old fashion magic, she could be right in the hunt for an astonishing seventh world title.
Jordy Smith
2016
As the defending Hurley Pro champion and current WSL ratings leader, this is the moment that Jordy Smith has been waiting for. He relocated from Durban, South Africa, to San Clemente to be closer to Lowers. And now, with a world title so close he can almost touch it, Smith is surfing better than ever. It wouldn’t surprise anyone to see him atop the podium again this year when this thing’s all done and dusted.
Kelly Slater
2005, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11 and ’12
Nobody’s won more at Lowers in the last 20 years than 11-time world champion Kelly Slater. In the last 15 years, he notched wins in 2005, ’07, ’08, ’10, ’11 and ’12. Sadly, he won’t be surfing this year due to a busted hoof. During a warm-up session at the J-Bay Open in South Africa earlier this summer, Slater broke two toes on his right foot. He’s already undergone successful surgery and is now going through the rehab process, but his recovery time is estimated to be four to six months, so the only thing he’ll be doing at Lowers this year is watching.
Mick Fanning
2009, 2015
A two-time winner at the Hurley Pro and a three-time world champion, nobody surfs Lowers with more precision than Mick Fanning. A winner in 2009 and 2015, Fanning always enjoys his time in California. He usually stays down the road in Carlsbad with his good friend Taylor Knox and is spending a little extra time here this year working on some Rip Curl projects. He hasn’t had the kind of competitive year he’s used to, but he can make that turn on a dime at Lowers.
Joel Parkinson
2004, 2006
One of the senior members of the tour, Joel Parkinson won the Hurley Pro (previously the Boost Mobile Pro) in 2004 and 2006. With his impeccable style and spot-on timing, Parkinson is always a threat at Lowers. Comfortably in the Top 10 of the WSL rankings, he may be a sneaky pick to win the contest. Surfers in the world title chase like Jordy Smith, Matt Wilkinson and John John Florence will receive the lion’s share of the attention, giving a confident surfer like Parkinson a chance to slide right up to the top.
Kelly Slater has won the Hurley Pro multiple times. Photo: Courtesy Hurley Pro/Rowland
Carissa Moore (HAW) and Mick Fanning (AUS) are the 2015 Swatch Women’s Pro and 2015 Hurley Pro Champions. Photo: Vicki Patterson
SWATCH PRO COMPETITION
Who to Watch
BY JAKE HOWARD
For the ladies of the WSL, the Swatch Pro is a critical stop in the world title race. With three-quarters of the season in the books already, Lowers is the most dependable wave they’re going to see the rest of the season. The next two contests will take them to Portugal and France, and while the waves can be good, over the years it’s become evident that anything can and usually does happen in the inconsistent Old World beach breaks. The Atlantic has a funny way of scrambling things before the women head to Honolua Bay on the island of Maui, site of the final contest of the 2017 season. On its day, Honolua can be as good as any wave on the planet. The drawback is that its fickle and doesn’t get epic all that often. That leaves Lowers.
Defending Swatch Pro champion and reigning world champion Tyler Wright has to be considered the clear favorite this year. The worst result she’s had all year is a quarterfinal finish, and as such, she’s currently
For the women in the world title race, the Swatch Pro could be make or break
leading the 2017 world title race.
“It’s a great wave and a great opportunity to really get technical with your surfing,” said Wright after her win last year. “You really have to have the variety and the combination of maneuvers to succeed here because it’s such a consistent wave.”
Hot on Wright’s heels in the title race is Sally Fitzgibbons. Another technically brilliant Aussie, a big result at the Swatch Pro could shoot her back into the lead and give her the advantage she needs to capture her first world title.
“It’s a long season, but this is a great opportunity for me to elevate my surfing and find my benchmark.” said Fitzgibbons. Even for the women at the top of the leader board, the road to the final isn’t going to be easy. Three-time world champion Carissa Moore and six-time champ Stephanie Gilmore are tough to beat when the waves are firing. Both have a wide-ranging arsenal of maneuvers at their disposal and
The fact of the business is that anyone on tour right now has the talent to win at Lowers if they get on a roll. That makes picking a winner a bit tricky, but obviously, there are some favorites.
Topping the list is South African Jordy Smith, who’s currently fronting the WSL Championship Tour ratings. Originally hailing from Durban, for the last few years Smith has called San Clemente home and Lowers his local spot. Perhaps the most powerful surfer on tour, he has the ability to manhandle the dainty cobblestone point while still weaving explosive, progressive maneuvers into his repertoire. A win at Lowers for Smith puts him in the driver’s seat in the race for the
impeccable style.
“I started competing here in the NSSA contests when I was really little and I feel pretty comfortable here,” said Moore, a former winner at the Swatch Pro. “It’s one of my favorite waves and kind of like a home away from home.”
Hailing from nearby Santa Ana, Courtney Conlogue is also well-suited to win the contest. With two contest wins this season already, she’s sitting in third behind Wright and Fitzgibbons. A win in San Clemente could put her in pole position. Another California girl to keep an eye on is Ojai’s Sage
Erikson. Fresh off a stunning victory at the U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach earlier this summer, Erikson is having a career year and now finds herself ranked sixth in the world.
“Trestles is such a groomed wave that it gives you a chance to showcase your style, and your surfing, so I love that the girls get to show that,” said Erickson.
There’s a lot more riding on the Swatch Pro than an oversized winner’s check and bragging rights. A world title literally hangs in the balance. SC
HURLEY PRO COMPETITION
A world title could hang in the balance at the Hurley Pro
on his shoulder and something to prove, our guess is that his heats will be among the most exciting of the entire contest.
2017 world title.
“I love this wave, it’s so rippable. It’s such a wide-open canvas that you can really be creative with your surfing. And living here for a while now, I feel like I’ve seen a lot of its different moods,” said Smith.
Another San Clemente transplant is Filipe Toledo. Considered by many to be the best small-wave surfer in the world, Toledo’s originally from Brazil but has taken up residence in town to be closer to Lowers and the Orange County-based surf industry. After a statement-making win at the J-Bay Open in South Africa, Toledo suffered an early-round loss at the last WSL contest in Tahiti. Coming into the Hurley Pro with a chip
Julian Wilson, winner of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, is also one to watch. The Hurley Pro is a contest the talented Australian probably should have won already given his abundance of talent, but somehow, it’s alluded him. Fresh off his win at Teahupoo, Wilson has momentum on his side and appears to be in a good rhythm at the moment. Currently ranked fifth in the world, a win at Lowers slingshots him into the world title conversation.
2016 world champion John John Florence, currently ranked second in the world, is best known for his outrageous tube-riding abilities at places like Pipeline and Teahupoo, but he’s also a freak in the smaller stuff. With his unique skate-inspired style and a penchant for drawing unique lines, his flyin’ Hawaiian’s approach is a perfect fit for Lowers.
“Lowers is a great event, I love that event. It’s like a skatepark out there. It’s going to be really exciting,” said Florence after his
third-place finish in Tahiti last month. Last, but certainly not least, keep a sharp eye trained on local boy Kolohe Andino. Growing up in San Clemente, essentially raised at Lowers, Andino’s currently doing some of the best surfing of his career and should be carrying a head full of confidence into Lowers. He just placed third in Tahiti and is on the cusp of breaking into the WSL’s Top Ten. Andino’s been riding surfboards shaped by …Lost’s Matt Biolos his whole life, and it’s not a stretch to say that when it comes to equipment for Lowers, Andino will be the best prepared. He also probably has the best pit crew on the beach, from his family, friends and all the local groms, the support means the world to him.
“It’s epic to come down and have that kind support and feel that love. It’s inspiring,” said Andino.
This year the WSL world title race is more wide open than ever before, and thanks to Lowers’ unique A-frame setup and reputation as home to high-performance surfing, things are about to get even more interesting. SC
Carissa Moore. Photo: File
Photo: File
Treasured Trestles
Political, environmental issues surround famed surf location
BY ERIC HEINZ
There are many reasons Trestles is vigorously coveted. Some of the world’s most consistent waves break along its shores. San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) is planning to use Trestles’ bluffs as storage for 1,600 tons of nuclear waste within the next few years. The U.S. Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton see it as a strategic buffer and training area.
But Trestles has been an oft-sought refuge for surfers since World War II when Camp Pendleton was established. Surfers were not permitted to cross the fence that kept them from Lowers and Church, and the proximity to then-President Richard Nixon’s getaway destination didn’t make access any easier. That changed in 1971 when an agreement between the U.S. Navy and California State Parks was struck to turn the area into a public recreation area.
SONGS
Anxiety sets in for many beachgoers when the topic of interim stored nuclear waste comes up. Currently, SONGS operators Southern California Edison and its minor stakeholders are permitted to store tons of spent nuclear fuel rods from the shuttered nuclear plant that was left over from when the plant was in operation.
Opponents to this process claim this part of the decommissioning process will put not just Trestles—where the plant is located—but the rest of the area in harm’s way if a disaster were to occur.
The stored fuel is expected to be placed onsite within the next 10 years, unless the federal government comes to a resolution to put it somewhere else.
As SONGS was decommissioning, the federal government prohibited any fuel to be stored at the Yucca Mountain Facility in Nevada; therefore, the fuel did not have a permanent home, and temporary storage offsite is not permitted by federal law.
Congressman Darrell Issa, who represents San Clemente down to Vista, has tried to pass a bill that would amend the Nuclear Waste Policy Act to allow for temporary sites, but no such amendment came to pass.
The latest amendment to the law moved a similar bill to the House floor, but it has yet to be discussed.
A lawsuit between watchdog group Citizens Oversight Projects and California Coastal Commission ended on Aug. 28, as Southern California Edison and the group forged a settlement agreement that will require SONGS operators to monitor spent fuel stored onsite as well as search for more alternative locations to store the fuel—even though that will ultimately be the responsibility of the federal government.
For more information and updates on this issue, visit www.sanclementetimes.com.
Toll Road Agreement Makes Some People Nervous
Following a settlement agreement between
the Transportation Corridor Agencies (TCA) and the Save San Onofre Coalition and other environmental groups in November 2016, the city of San Clemente challenged the legality of the agreement with a lawsuit.
The settlement agreement came after a 10-year lawsuit that aimed to prevent a toll road from ever being built through the famed surf spot as well as other locations within an environmental avoidance area. But the TCA has comprised several new proposals that would go through the city of San Clemente.
The toll roads have been an issue for advocates of Trestles and San Onofre State Park for years. In 2013, San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board rejected the proposals to construct a toll road through the area, which stopped the threat of the infrastructure at the time.
The city is currently arguing in Orange County Superior Court that the settlement agreement was not done in transparent light and that the actions could be a violation of California’s open meetings laws. The TCA Joint Board recently issued a statement that it intends to fight this action.
The public will have an opportunity to provide comments during the environmental review process, as is required by law under the California Environmental Quality Act.
Groups such as the Surfrider Foundation have taken exception to these actions because they argue undoing the settlement agreement would put Trestles at risk once again of being affected by a potential toll road.
“By filing a lawsuit, the City is effectively saying they want a road to go through the park,” Surfrider Foundation stated on its website blog in June. “The SSOC is not making that assumption flippantly. In addition to wanting to undo our protective lawsuit, city councilmembers said at a March 21 council meeting that they ‘want an arterial that connects La Pata to Cristianitos’—that, my friends, is secret code for ‘build a road through the park.’”
What’s important to keep in mind is that no proposals have been selected for the formal environmental impact report at this time.
The TCA is currently studying potential
environmental impacts in its draft report, which is expected to be published at the end of the year. By 2018, the TCA expects to begin scoping studies for the review, with a decision coming in 2021 and construction starting soon after that.
Opponents argue based on reports compiled between 2002 and 2006 that the TCA has already made up its mind and will try to put the toll road straight through San Clemente, if a better solution does not present itself first.
Lease Agreement
The clock is ticking on the lease agreement to keep San Onofre State Beach a park, which will eventually be negotiated between the U.S. Navy and California State Parks. The Navy owns the land on which San Onofre State Park sits, but in 1971 an agreement to turn the land into a park was forged. The Navy charged State Parks $1 for the 50-year rent. That lease agreement ends in less than four years.
State Parks submitted a letter indicating its “formal interest” to extend that lease, which was signed by the director, in 2016 to the Marine Corps. In an email, State Parks representatives said the department plans to use the four years remaining before the expiration of the lease “productively and hopes to reach an agreement during that time,” according to an email from California State Parks.
“While the (Director of Parks and Recreation) has met with USMC Base Commanders and meets with their staff on a regular basis, an agreement of this magnitude will take time to negotiate and finalize,” an emailed statement from State Parks read. “An announcement on the final outcome is not anticipated until at or near the end of the current lease in 2021.”
The land at Trestles allows for Marine units to conduct training for amphibious operations, ranging in size from a reconnaissance element to a Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
“Since (the 1971 agreement), numerous state and federal statutes and regulations have been created,” an email from Camp Pendleton officials stated. “Although it is federal land, the Marine Corps abides by state statutes and regulations in the environmental management of all installations in the State of California.
“The State Parks Director has requested renewal of the lease,” the email continued. “That official request begins the lengthy and rather complicated process of lease renewal. Since there are many steps in this process, it is not possible to say with certainty when an agreement might be reached.”
Pendleton officials said that it is too early to disclose the details of the communication it has had with the State Parks.
“As we have in the past, we will work diligently to ensure the interests of the Marine Corps and the interests of the State of California are appropriately considered while we work toward an agreements” the email stated. SC
Photo: File
San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) has been a hotbed issue regarding the storage of spent nuclear fuel since it was shut down in 2013. Photo: File
On the Tube
BY ERIC HEINZ
There are various ways to catch San Clemente’s ultimate surf contest if you can’t make it down to Trestles between Sept. 6-17.
HOW TO STREAM ONLINE
If you can’t make it out during the competition or to one of the local hot spots that will broadcast the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro, you can stream the competition at www.worldsurfleague.com.
WHERE TO WATCH ON TV
Bloom’s Irish Sports Bar, located at 2391 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. Combine the feel of Ireland with the shores of Trestles while watching San Clemente’s premier surf competition at Bloom’s.
Hapa J’s, located at 2016 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. It’s known that many of the surfers of the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro frequent the Hawaiian-Mexican fusion restaurant. There may be other events related to the competitions during the week at the local restaurant too.
Places to Watch the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro
Big Helyn’s Saloon, located at 3317 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. Broadcasting $6 pitchers for the Hurley Pro and your choice of tequila for $9 with a tall can of PBR. There will also be free pizza and hotdogs.
Beach Hut Deli, 2 Ritz Carlton Drive and Pacific Coast Highway, Dana Point. Get your sub while the surf is on. Beach Hut Deli will broadcast the surf competition on request.
Nomads Canteen, 102 Avenida Cabrillo, San Clemente. The epitome of surf culture is alive and well at Nomads Canteen. During the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro, restaurant employees said they will definitely broadcast. There will be drink specials available during the competitions. Check their Instagram @nomads_canteen for more information.
OC Tavern, 2369 S. El Camino Real, San Clemente. The most television-equipped sports bar in San Clemente will also broadcast the surf contests. OC Tavern will offer its $9 beer and shot special during the competition.
Editor’s note: This list will be updated online as we receive more information closer to the competition.
BY JAKE HOWARD
s the event sponsor, Hurley has some fun stuff planned around the contest this year. Taking over space next to the Nike sport in the Outlets at San Clemente, Hurley will be kicking things off with a gathering to support local boy Kolohe Andino. There will be a number of events at the location throughout the contest’s waiting period and they
Top Five Surfy Things to Do in San Clemente
BY JAKE HOWARD
Every year the planet’s best surfers are drawn to San Clemente because of the world-class waves at Trestles, but there’s a lot more to do around town than just post up on the cobblestones. Here are some of the local favorites:
1. Go Surfing
There’s more to surfing in San Clemente than Lowers. Spots like T Street and the Pier can offer up plenty of fun surf if you don’t feel like marching down the trail to Trestles. It’s still summertime, the water’s warm and the living’s easy.
2. Hang at San Onofre
There are few things better in this world than a cruisy afternoon barbecue at San Onofre State Park. With its aloha vibes, idyllic longboard setups and timeless feel, anyone can soak it all in at the birthplace of California surf culture.
3. Go Shopping
San Clemente and Dana Point are home to some all-time surf shops. Stewart
Surfboards, Dewy Weber Surfboards, Timmy Paterson Surfboards, Killer Dana, Catalyst, Jack’s Surf Shop, Hobie Surf Shop, the Rip Curl super center, Icons of Surf and the San Clemente “surf ghetto” are just a few. If you can’t find a board or pair of trunks in South Orange County you probably can’t find it anywhere.
4. Visit the Surfing Heritage and
Cultural Center
As it’s been said, you can’t know the future if you don’t know the past. A stop into the Surfing Heritage and Cultural Center is a lesson in surf history. With its collection of historic surfboards, equipment and memorabilia, it’s the ideal spot to get reacquainted with your roots.
5. Eat Local
After a long day at the beach a good meal and cold drink is a wonderful thing. Luckily, there are a number of surf-themed eateries in the area that are worth a visit. Nomads Cantina and Hapa J’s both have great food and surf videos on constant rotation. Pipe’s and Surfin’ Donuts are great places to pop in for breakfast and power up for the day too.
will also be offering shuttles from the outlets to Trestles. And when the contest is done and dusted, the Hurley store will be hosting a celebration with Andino and a number of their other team riders the following day. Down at the contest site, the Hurley Surf Club program will be in full effect. They will be offering a free video analysis of attendees’ surfing on the beach (sign-up for a session at Hurley.com/surfclub, space is limited). They will also be offering free
wetsuit demos for anyone keen to try on some new rubber.
The Hurley Art Walk is back with a whole bunch of new photographers. They will be capturing all the contest’s action through their perspective and the images will be printed and hung up for viewing pleasure and will be available for purchase. Proceeds will go to help support the good work of the San Onofre Foundation. SC
Nomads Canteen in San Clemente will have drink specials as well as broadcast the Hurley Pro and Swatch Pro. Photo: Courtesy of Nomads Canteen
Photo: File
A Lowers Crash Course
BY JAKE HOWARD
Considered the premier high-performance wave in America, or surfing’s favorite “skate park,” for as good as Lower Trestles is, it can be a difficult place to compete. The A-frame peak has a lot of nuance and changes moods depending on the swell direction, tide and wind. A savvy competitor at Lowers will be able to understand all of this and factor it into their repertoire.
“Totally biased here, but I think the left is more versatile at Lowers,” explains San Clemente’s Tanner Gudauskas, who surfed in the Hurley Pro as a wildcard last year. “It takes a little more west and south, which is ultimate summertime conditions. I personally like it when it’s a little more west because the wall gets more vertical. It comes at you with end sections and stuff.”
The morning typically brings clean, glassy conditions with a light puff of offshore wind blowing out of the San Mateo watershed.
“If you have a heat early in the morning, the way the sun comes up and over the canyon, it shines right into the right,” cautions Gudauskas. “You don’t have to worry about that on the left.”
And while goofy-footers like Gudauskas relish in the opportunities the left provides, the right that breaks down the beach toward Middles and Church is actually a longer wave and can allow for a lot of scoring potential.
“The right, once you pop up and get a line,
you can pretty much crank off as many turns as it will give you all the way to the beach,” explains Gudauskas. “The left will give you a vertical section right off the bat, then it goes into a roundhouse section, and I think that’s where a lot of guys lose it. The right is more obvious, I guess.”
One thing that has surfers like John John Florence and Gabriel Medina amped to come back to Lowers every year is the perfect pace of the wave. Not too fast, not too
Evan Geiselman draws WSL Wildcard
BY SAN CLEMENTE TIMES
Evan Geiselman’s 2017 season was jumpstarted by his performance at the Hurley Pro Qualifier at Lowers back in July.
Competing against some of the top local surfers for the one available wild card spot in this year’s Hurley Pro, Geiselman made due with lackluster waves and capitalized.
The native New Smyrna Beach, Florida, and San Clemente transplant edged Griffin Colapinto in the local final to earn a spot in the field of 32 at the World Surf League’s Championship Tour event in San Clemente next week. Heading into the event, Geiselman was down the list on the WSL’s Men’s Qualifying Series standings. Now heading into the Hurley Pro, he sits in 30th overall and heads to Trestles with plenty of momentum.
The 23-year-old will enter the Hurley Pro fresh off a third-place finish at the Van’s Pro in Virginia Beach on Aug. 27. At the Vans US Open of Surfing three weeks prior, Geiselman placed 17th.
Geiselman’s recent performance on the Qualifying Series has him ranked first in the series’ North American rankings, ahead of fellow Americans Jordy Collins and Kanoa Igarashi, respectively.
Geiselman has spent a lot of time both living and surfing in San Clemente. He grew up surfing the breaks offshore with his brother, Eric, and Kolohe Andino while both surfers were in the Red Bull program.
Geiselman has experience surfing Trestles in professional competition. He qualified for the event back in 2012, but was bounced out of competition by Hawaii’s John John Florence in the second round.
Tanner Gudauskas breaks down how to compete at Lower Trestles
of talents. From conventional turns and off-the-lip maneuvers, to more progressive, high-flying, acrobatic aerial kinds of moves, to win at Lowers one must pull out all the stops—but be smart about it.
slow, the key is to find the waves that have just the right tempo to be able to seamlessly showcase maneuvers without any hiccups or bobbles in between. The WSL judges call this part of the criteria “flow.”
“With both the left and right you have to pay attention to how you’re linking it all together. The right, in terms of quality of wave, is probably better,” Gudauskas said.
Lowers is a wave that allows the WSL competitors to showcase their wide array
“Watch somebody like Wardo (Chris Ward). He’s probably the ultimate Lowers local,” said Gudauskas, who grew up watching the local fixture and former world tour competitor. “He can get fast and twitchy, but he also gets really silky. He can extend through bottom turns and into sections, as well as pick a mid-face line. He does a really good job of exploiting everything that wave has to offer, and I think that’s really the key to making the most out of all the opportunities the wave provides.”
Perhaps more than anything, success at Lowers comes from being able to relax and soak in the atmosphere. One of the most crowded waves in California, the opportunity to surf out there with only one or two other surfers is a treat in and of itself.
“You breathe easy when you cross the railroad tracks,” Gudauskas said. “It feels like a sanctuary.” SC
“I’ve been looking forward to the opportunity to surf Lowers since the trials win. It’s awesome to be in the event with the goal being to get on the Championship Tour one day, so to be in Lowers is a good feeling,” Geiselman said in a press release. “Having
no pressure helps, but I want to make heats. Lowers is a place I’ve competed at since I was a kid and I feel good out there. It will be fun surfing against those guys and I’m really looking forward to it.” SC
Tanner Gudauskas discusses surfboards with a grom in 2016 during a Positive Vibe Warriors Foundation mission with young surfers of Jamaica. Photo: Grant Ellis
Evan Geiselman. Photo: WSL/Sean Rowland
Molding Champion Boards
SC native Nate Yeomans shapes for world’s elite surfers
BY STEVE BREAZEALE
There might not be a better person who can speak to what a professional surfer needs in terms of board performance while surfing Lowers than Nate Yeomans.
Yeomans, a San Clemente native, grew up surfing at Lowers and knows it well. As his surfing career continued, so did his history with the break off the shores of San Clemente. He has surfed professionally at his hometown break multiple times.
About a year ago, Yeomans transitioned to the sales side of the surf industry. He currently works for …Lost Surfboards as a sales rep. He now bridges the gap between surfer and shaper.
Yeomans explained how the break at Lowers is notoriously slower than what the best in the world are accustomed to, which forces them to modify their boards beforehand.
“Most of these guys will be riding a standard shortboard design, but they’ll tweak it a little bit for waves specifically at Trestles,”
Yeomans said. “Their boards will have a lower tail rocker that creates more speed and more drive.”
Surfers like Kolohe Andino and Evan Geiselman, the local wild card qualifier at the
Hurley Pro, are sponsored by ...Lost. The Hurley Pro serves as a sort-of hometown event for …Lost, which is based in San Clemente. The company’s founder and co-owner, Matt Biolos, is a worldrenowned shaper who builds bonds with local surfers. As a young grom, Yeomans was drawn to the professional allure of
Biolos and his boards.
“A lot of guys order Matt’s boards when they come to town. He’s one of the world’s best shapers, specifically for that area. His boards are perfect for those types of waves (in San Clemente),” Yeomans said. “Being able to fine tune your equipment with your shaper down the street is awesome.” SC
Nate Yeomans. Photos: WSL/Cestari
Nate Yeomans. Photos: WSL/Cestari
Elite Eight
Picking the Quarterfinalists
BY JAKE HOWARD
It’s often said that anybody on tour can beat anybody else in a 30-minute heat depending on the conditions. That’s true, but there are some surfers who certainly make heats more consistently than others. Based on their results and performances this year, the following is the San Clemente Times’ educated guess at who you might expect to see still in the contest come the quarterfinals. SC
MEN WOMEN
Silky smooth style with a penchant for going big, Julian Wilson’s approach is practically tailor-made for Lowers. A big result here solidifies his place in the world title conversation.
Fronting the world title race, the 2017 Hurley Pro is the reason Jordy Smith left Durban, South Africa and moved to San Clemente. A regular at Lowers these days, he’s bringing a confident, versatile repertoire to this year’s contest.
His prowess in big, heavy surf has never been in dispute, but it will be interesting to see how Owen Wright fairs at Lowers. Listed at 6-foot-3 and 180 pounds, he’s going to have to play the power game when the smaller, more nimble surfers take to the air.
Arguably the best small-wave surfer on the planet, anything less than an appearance in the final will be a disappointment for Toledo, and don’t be surprised if he wins the whole thing.
Gaining a reputation as one of the fiercest competitors on tour, Medina has the ability to dissect the spot in any and all conditions. The potent combination makes him a clear favorite to go the distance.
A free-spirited goofy-footer, the Hurley Pro will be an interesting test for Wilkinson. Last season he fell out of the world title hunt after a string of bad results. He’s going to do everything he can to avoid a repeat performance.
With his skate-inspired approach and mindblowing ability to improvise, Lowers is a spot that John John Florence should win. Currently ranked second in the world, if he can get the competitive fire burning he’ll be hard to stop.
He’s so overdue for a victory at Lowers it’s not even funny. In a good rhythm and a solid headspace, Andino will have the hometown support and should be able to ride it to a solid result.
Winner of the inaugural Swatch Pro, Gilmore’s got her groove back this year. Opening the season with a win at the Roxy Pro on the Gold Coast of Australia, Lowers is a wave that suits her impeccable, timeless style.
Enjoying a bit of a resurgence in her career, Hawaii’s Coco Ho has been competing at Lowers ever since her grom days in the NSSA. Today she’s one of the most recognizable surfers on tour, and as of late she’s been putting some legit results up on the board.
Last year’s world champion and current ratings leader, to see Tyler Wright upset in the early rounds of the contest would be a huge surprise. She’s one of the most unstoppable women on tour and she loves Lower…that’s a dangerous combination.
There’s a good chance Sage Erickson wouldn’t have made this list at the start of the year, but coming off a career-best win at the U.S. Open of Surfing, she’s riding a wave of momentum. There’s nothing stopping her from making back-to-back finals.
The local powerhouse, Conlogue spends a lot of time training and practicing at Lowers. Her experience and comfort here are her biggest assets, while her competitive fire makes her a clear contender.
Enjoying her time back in Hawaii during the brief break from tour, Carissa Moore may have the most talent out of any woman in the draw. Watch for her to take to the air and unleash her deep arsenal of progressive maneuvers.
The argument could be made that no woman on tour wants to win a world title more than Sally Fitzgibbons. She’s been so close so many times, and right in the mix this year, she needs a big result at the Swatch Pro and she knows it.
In search of a defining win on the women’s tour this year, Tatiana Weston-Webb has the chops to do some damage. With an innovative, progressive approach rooted in solid, fundamentals, Lowers is a wave on which she should perform well.
JULIAN WILSON
JORDY SMITH
MATT WILKINSON
GABRIEL MEDINA
OWEN WRIGHT
FILIPE TOLEDO
JOHN JOHN FLORENCE
STEPHANIE GILMORE
COCO HO
CARISSA MOORE
COURTNEY CONLOGUE
TYLER WRIGHT
SAGE ERICKSON
SALLY FITZGIBBONS
TATIANA WESTON-WEBB
KOLOHE ANDINO
Photos: Most photos provided by Work Surf League / others: courtesy
