Opening Day for the 2013 Hurley Pro

Hundreds flocked to San Clemente’s Lower Trestles at San Onofre State Park to watch the top 34 surfers plus three wildcard entries carve and punt their ways through the first two rounds of the 2013 Hurley Pro. 

The Hurley Pro is the seventh stop on the Association of Surfing Professional World Tour. Surfers put on an impressive show, some featuring glimpses of final round potential.

“It’s great to see the top surfers come down and surf the waves how they are supposed to be surfed,” said San Clemente local pro surfer Tanner Gudauskas. “Today looks really fun, I think the swell is supposed to decrease rapidly throughout the week.”

The surf maintained steady 2-4-four swells throughout the morning and then diminished because of a fading south swell and increasing high tide towards the end of the day.

Australian Julian Wilson fought his way to his round one win featuring powerful exchanges between Brazilian Miguel Pupo and Hawaiian John John Florence. Although Pupo packed impressive maneuvers into every wave at the heat’s start, Wilson still managed to overtake Pupo by scoring four 8-point rides making it one of the most exciting heats of the day.

Eleven-time ASP World Champion and defending event champ Kelly Slater as well as wildcard entry Dane Reynolds were sent to round two by Huntington Beach local Brett Simpson, who showcased impressive backhand maneuvers on the left-breaking waves.

“I’m stoked. It was a gnarly heat, but I was just trying to do my own thing because Kelly (Slater) and Dane (Reynolds) were going to do what they do,” Simpson told ASP. “Anytime you beat Slater, whether it’s man-on-man or three-man, it’s a big win.”

Because Slater defeated Reynolds in round two, Simpson and Slater will move to round three on Monday. 

The last heat of the day featured Brazilian Adriano De Souza and Australian wildcard entry Mitch Crews in the fifth heat of round two. Although the surf became small and weak, De Souza and Crews still managed to shred the small wave faces with impressive form. De Souza attacked his first wave of the heat with a series of powerful carves, turns and an air rotation scoring a 9.73, the highest score of the day.

Although the competition’s final day is still in question due to lack of swell, throughout the next couple of days, the 2013 Hurley Pro will continue at Lower Trestles.

For live webcast of the 2013 Hurley Pro, visit www.thehurleypro.com.