The 2012 Hurley Pro, Lowers – day three

“There was no discussion, with calls like that it’s so easy,” said head judge Richie Porta of the interference Kelly Slater was given against Julian Wilson at Lowers this morning. “It was Julian’s wave every day of the week. Everyone wrote it down, just like that. There was no discussion at all, because they all know the rules. At the initial point of takeoff, which is where it happened, it was a left and Kelly tried to go right. There was 20 yards of whitewash whereas the left just rattled off. So it was Julian’s wave and there’s an interference.”

Even though it was round four, a no-losers round, Kelly dislikes bad calls more than most and will be real fired up in round five. Good for viewers, bad for Jeremy Flores. Especially when Kelly feels so connected to the place. “I love Lowers,” he said. “It’s been one of my favourite waves since I was a little kid. I surfed here for the first time in 1984 and it was really exciting to come to California for my first time and surf here. I won my first contest as a pro out here. I just feel like I have a good connection here. Tom Curren was my favourite surfer and he won his first event here so it was really special to me to get my first win here as a pro.”

The Hurley Pro has reached its business end (the event will finish tomorrow). John Florence was thrilled to skip round five after his round four dominance. “I switched my board up and went out with a fresh start and ended up having a good time in round four,” he said. “I’m so stoked to be straight in to the Quarters because those round five heats tend to be the gnarliest heats of the event.”

Round five starts tomorrow a.m. with Julian Wilson and Mick Fanning, which you really don’t wanna miss. Catch it live here.

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 5 MATCH UPS:
Heat 1: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)
Heat 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES NON ELIMINATION ROUND 4:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.93, Julian Wilson (AUS) 12.60, Kelly Slater (USA) 11.20
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.23, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.97, Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.17
Heat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.87, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.40, Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.63
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 18.57, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.27, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.67

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.70 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.00
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.03 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.34
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.60 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 14.30
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.20 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 12.23
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.13 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 8.93
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.34 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 13.33
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.33 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 13.33
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.37 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 17.06
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.53 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.67
Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 17.20 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.77
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.67 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 10.90
Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) 14.44 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 9.90