Kolohe Andino the Talk of Day Three at Nike 6.0 Lowers Pro

The younger crowd showed the judges their stuff for Day Three of the Nike Lowers Pro Prime event, especially local standout Kolohe Andino, who did a "stale fish" maneuver that at least one media outlet said had never been done in a competition at the Lowers Pro before.

Conditions remained similar to the contest's first two days,  as a south swell diminished and a northwest wind swell filled in.

“The surf was, at times, really good, and a lot of the times it was pretty weak,” said contest analyst and tour vet Brad Gerlach. “It’s a little more difficult for there to be a lot of variety and spontaneity, but a bunch of times today, the guys were surfing really well, and that was exciting. I think the newer, younger surfers are really fun to watch.”

In the fourth heat of the day, also the most exciting heat, super grom/local standout Kolohe Andino pulled some of the highest scores for the Nike Lowers Pro competition at his local break while surfing against Hawaii’s Dusty Payne. 

“Before the heat, my nerves were running wild,” Andino told ASP. “I had to step aside and focus, because I was pretty nervous. The heat start(ed) to get a little more comfortable, but actually after I got that 7.0, I was still nervous because I knew Dusty [Payne] could get a bomb and rip it.”

The 17-year-old Andino and 22-year old Payne totaled some of the highest and closest scores for the day, with Andino’s 17.50 to Payne’s 17.03. 

Andino showcased  the "stale fish" maneuver, which is said to be one of the hardest tricks to pull in the competition. 

“He [Andino] looks like he might win the event,” said Gerlach. “I get [that] feeling—the way he’s building his confidence, because he won a month ago in Huntington and placed second a week and a half ago and he has a new coach, Mike Parsons. I think Parsons is really great guy and an incredible coach.”

Brazil’s Gabriel Medina, 17, showcased another standout performance for the day with carves, a massive layback snap and also boosted an air. Medina scored the highest single wave score of 9.5 out of 10 to overtake local standout Patrick Gudauskas. 

The Oakley Pro Junior began its first two heat series at the end of the day. Though the waves slowed down, the talent did not, as the groms were frothing to surf.

“I got a couple of waves, and I fell in rhythm,” said local talent Luke Davis,  of Capo Beach. “It’s fun out there. I’ve been waiting around all week, and I’m so stoked to finally get in the water.”