The Women Put On A Historic Show At Lowers Today

I paddled out at dark or, maybe not dark, but before Mick Fanning paddled out, and that’s gotta count for something.

I wanted to analyze the morning freesurf from the inside, shoulder-to-shoulder with the world’s best, and SoCal’s okayest, with hopes of scoring a unique storyline and maybe even a wave. It was mostly hassling and not very fun but then, what’s that I hear? Chatter… chatter… chatter…

“What do you think would have happened if Kanoa was in Mick’s position? Do you really think they would have had a resurf?”

“Man, I didn’t even think of that.”

And neither had I. And they had a point. And seeing as how they had a point, I now had a mission: track down Kanoa, get it out of him…

So I did exactly that and you can read about it here.   

The rest of the day was a blur. It was hot, it was doldrumic, and the waves were exceptionally good when they came. I saw a lot of great surfing but to be honest it has all become one. So many turns, so so many turns that my brain can no longer compute. So I leave you with three things (beyond Kanoa v. Mick) that made a lasting impression.  

The best heat of the day:
Julian vs. Kanoa was an interesting pairing; a generation apart, they’re cut from the same surfing archetype: the young, technically gifted, Quiksilver-backed phenoms (Jack Robinson being the next incarnation). Both have been slated, since, I don’t know, three or four, to become bona fide superstars, a promise they made good on as young adults by qualifying for the supreme tour.

Their heat today was nothing short of spectacular. Watching from the WSL’s media tent, located on the Oceanside Pier, I squinted, through binoculars, and perceived one red and one blue speck chasing each other along the distant coast. It appeared they were having a blast — jumping, spinning, laughing the whole time (I assume). Two merry specks in the heat of battle up at Lower Trestles. Watch the review above!

The women shredded:
The women impressed the shit out of me today. Steph’s first heat was masterful. Carissa v. Lakey was explosive. Silvana is so… aggressive! And that Keely gal! Such pure, clean talent. There have been better singular performances (Carissa at Honolua etc.) in women’s sport, but today was collectively the most impressive female surfing I’ve seen.

The worst(?) heat of the day:
The people have spoken, and yes, yes, power surfing is dead; it’s just a shame that the judges don’t agree. In the last heat of the day, Frederico Morais faced off against Jordy Smith and I’m sure you can imagine exactly what happened. Big turns, big(ger than the Kanoa/Julian heat) scores. Jordy won, but is surfing losing*?

*For the record I think you, the people, are wrong and power surfing is alive and well; one flicky reverse does not a Jordy hack equal.

Hurley Pro Remaining Round Three (resurf) Heat 
Heat 9: Kanoa Igarashi 13.26 def. Mick Fanning 6.73

Hurley Pro Round Four Results
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores 5.94, John John Florence 15.23, Kanoa Igarashi 11.33
Heat 4: Filipe Toledo 16.13, Julian Wilson 14.00, Bede Durbidge 13.16

Hurley Pro Round Five Results:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan 16.27 def. Jadson Andre 14.84
Heat 2: Jordy Smith 13.43 def. Sebastian Zietz 6.84
Heat 3: John John Florence 18.40 def. Bede Durbidge 14.54
Heat 4: Kanoa Igarashi 17.00 def. Julian Wilson 15.90

Hurley Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Adrian Buchan 16.27 def. Adriano de Souza 15.30
QF 2: Jordy Smith 17.76 def. Frederico Morais 16.60

Hurley Pro Remaining Quarterfinal Match-Ups:
QF 3: Jeremy Flores vs. John John Florence
QF 4: Filipe Toledo vs. Kanoa Igarashi 

Swatch Pro Round Four Results:
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore 18.90 def. Tyler Wright 8.83
Heat 2: Lakey Peterson 14.17 def. Johanne Defay 11.84
Heat 3: Courtney Conlogue 16.63 def. Nikki Van Dijk 14.13
Heat 4: Keely Andrew 14.40 def. Pauline Ado 14.03
 
Swatch Pro Quarterfinal Results:
QF 1: Silvana Lima 17.36 def. Stephanie Gilmore 16.30
QF 2: Lakey Peterson 19.57 def. Carissa Moore 18.00
QF 3: Courtney Conlogue 14.06 def. Sally Fitzgibbons 13.43
QF 4: Keely Andrew 18.47 def. Sage Erickson 10.83

Swatch Pro Semifinal Match-Ups:
SF 1: Silvana Lima vs. Lakey Peterson
SF 2: Courtney Conlogue vs. Keely Andrew