The Hurley Pro

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Top surfers converge at Lower Trestles

By Ken Lewis  

3 p.m.Sept. 8, 2014

Surfer Josh Kerr, 30, who lives in Carlsbad is one of top surfers on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) tour. He will compete in the upcoming Hurley Pro at Trestles. K.C. Alfred

One of the first things you learn as a kid growing up in San Diego is if you want to get good waves in the summer, you’re going to have to drive an hour north or south. If you’re at Crystal Pier in PB and it’s waist high, you can jump in your car and make the 50-minute drive north and score pumping overhead sets at Trestles. Just know that 50 of the best surfers in Southern California will already be out, and there won’t be a scrap left for the old, the weak or the kooks. The young lions will take what they want.
Lower Trestles, while only a few hundred yards away from San Clemente and the grind of the OC, is in north San Diego County. Locals like Kolohe Andino, Christian Fletcher, Chris Ward and many others have built their careers there due to its consistent surf and proximity to local surf magazines — making it a favorite for surfers and surf photographers alike. While it’s known as SoCal’s cradle of modern surfing, the other thing that makes the wave so special is that it picks up almost all swell angles, and the summertime south swells focus on the rugged cobblestone point like no other.

Sunset view from Trestles in North San Diego County. — John Gastaldo / John Gastaldo

A brief history

During the 1960s, access to the area surrounding Trestles was restricted because of military activity, so determined surfers would paddle great lengths to surf the wave. Unfortunately, it was a time before leashes, so if you lost your board and didn’t get to it quickly, some angry military police would chase you down. In 1970, President Richard Nixon signed a bill allowing access to the beach at Lowers, thus forever changing the surf scene in Southern California.
While there have been contests held at the break for decades, none is more legendary than the 1989 Body Glove contest when San Clemente surfer Christian Fletcher took skateboarding tricks off the ramp and into the water, shattered the status quo and unknowingly poured the foundation of today’s modern surfing maneuvers. At the time, the world’s best surfers were lucky to get their fins out on their top turns. Today, pros like Hawaii’s John John Florence and Brazil’s Gabriel Medina have built their careers flying six feet above the waves. In recent years, the one surfer who has owned the spot competitively is 11-time world champion Kelly Slater. He won his first professional contest at Lowers in 1990, and has since gone on to win the event six times.

The tour comes to town

Kelly Slater greeted by fans at the beach after finishing off Kalani Robb in the quarter finals in 2005 surf competition at Lower Trestles. — Peggy Peattie 

 

This week’s ASP World Tour stop, the Hurley Pro, is Southern California’s only chance to watch all the top-ranked surfers compete at the legendary break. It is also where the pros break out the most cutting-edge equipment and progressive maneuvers. To say the pros look forward to the Lowers event is an understatement.
One of the first things you’ll notice is that Hurley pulls out all the stops with this event. It builds a huge, three-story compound on the point and provides every amenity for traveling surfers, their families and the surf industry insiders who hang from every corner of the scaffolding. This event is where the ASP first started putting surfers’ names and world rank on the back of their jerseys, helping the unknowledgeable to differentiate the competitors. It’s those little things that make an event step up from good to great.

2014 Hurley Pro

When: Sept. 9-20
Where: Trestles (in San Onofre State Beach)
Online: aspworldtour.com

Some differences this year will be the presence of larger non-endemic blanket sponsors such as Samsung, which was a decision made by the new controlling entity of the ASP, ZoSea. This move was once controversial within the surf industry, but the “new” ASP has done a nice job with its newfound professionalism. The increase in prize money, the return of great venues and a static announcing crew are all things that have the pros nodding with approval and keep the surf fans tuning in to every contest.

What it takes

I recently spoke with Josh Kerr, the gregarious Australian surfer now living in San Diego’s North County who also happens to be ranked in the top 10 on the world tour. Kerr lives right down the road from Lowers in Carlsbad with his wife and two children, and is a team rider and brand ambassador for a number of local companies, including Arnette sunglasses in Encinitas, Fish 101 restaurant in Leucadia and Rusty Surfboards and Saint Archer beer, both based in Miramar.
I asked Kerr what he thinks it takes to win the Hurley Pro. “Lowers is such a rippable wave, you really have to be on point with your surfing, otherwise it shows,” Kerr said. “At other places you can rely on wave choice and just be on the good ones for barrels and such, but that doesn’t apply at Lowers.”
I also asked Kerr what his favorite memory at Lowers is, to which he replied, “Just every time my family and friends cheer for me after riding a wave. It’s a great feeling.” If you were looking for someone to root for, I think you just found your man.

Previous winners

2013 – Taj Burrow
2012 – Kelly Slater
2011 – Kelly Slater
2010 – Kelly Slater
2009 – Mick Fanning
2008 – Kelly Slater
2007 – Kelly Slater
2006 – Richie Lovett
2005 – Kelly Slater

Kelly Slater came from behind in the final round of 2005 Boost Mobile Pro Men's World Tour competition at Lower Trestles to win the event, beating out Australian Phil MacDonald, who was ahead for 32 of the 35 minute final. — Peggy Peattie 

 

 

What to bring

Going to the comp? Be aware that this event is in San Onofre State Beach and there are limited amenities. It’s a fair walk from the parking area to the cobblestone point so plan accordingly. Here are a few items you should consider taking with you:
• Beach umbrella
• Beach chair
• Food and refillable water jug
• Surfboard (while you can’t surf Lowers, you can surf the cove, Uppers or Cottons)
• Zinc-based sunscreen SPF 50 or higher
• Sunglasses
• Good sandals or walking shoes
• A Sharpie and a surf mag for autographs
When you’re on the beach make sure you take a selfie with Slater or one of the touring pros and tag it with #discoversd. After the comp, stop into The Riders Club restaurant in San Clemente for the best hamburger you will ever eat, hands down.

You can read all my articles over at www.discoversd.com