Catch the best of the action from Day 4 at the Oakley Lowers Pro.
The Oakley Lowers Pro, the first World Surf League (WSL) QS 10,000 of the 2015 season, ran through Round 3 and the opening four heats of Round 4 today in chest-high surf. The event pits a selection of Championship Tour (CT) elite surfers against an array of up-and-coming talent looking to break through to the world's best.
Current No. 2 on the CT rankings, Filipe Toledo (BRA) earned his place in the Quarterfinals after a thrilling matchup with Conner Coffin (USA). Toledo went to town during the heat, delivering another impressive performance and posting a 7.10 and a 9.27. Coffin came back with an 8.23 to stay in contention, but the Brazilian improved his bottom score, delighting the crowd with his aerial acrobatics, and took the win.
Filipe Toledo put together another impressive heat total in Round 4. - WSL / Rowland/ WSL Handout
"I've been watching Conner (Coffin) surfing at this event and he's been ripping," said Toledo. "In the first five minutes of the heat I tried to get really busy and catch lots of waves. I knew if I landed some maneuvers I would get a good score. After that I was too excited so I had to take a deep breath, calm down and start again. It's great to get through and I'm the happiest guy ever because I'm at home and surfing Lowers."
In the upset of the day, CT surfer Adam Melling (AUS) eliminated 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in Round 3. Melling is currently ranked 26th on the CT, but his result at Lowers so far will certainly help his positioning on the QS rankings. He dominated his Round 4 with an excellent 9.17 for an exhibition of power surfing. His opponent, fellow-CT surfer Jeremy Flores (FRA), will also move through to the next round after securing a second-place finish.
"I got pretty lucky with that wave," said Melling. "You have to be light footed out there, tag it and throw spray. The Brazilians are going pretty mad at the moment and I think it's really fired the Australians up."
"Looking back it was a bad choice to take that last wave with priority," Slater said. "If I had finished that wave out and made my last turn, I probably would have got the score I needed. I was kind of bummed on that wave and I kind of gave up. As I fell, I thought to myself that I should have finished it off."
Dusty Payne defeated Alejo Muniz to earn a spot in the Quarterfinals. - WSL / Rowland/ WSL Handout
Maui's Dusty Payne (HAW), who rejoined the CT in 2015, faced former CT surfer and current no. 2 on the QS, Alejo Muniz (BRA) in Round 4. The pair were neck-and-neck though the heat, but a crucial exchange in the final moments saw Payne earn a 9.07 for a series of huge power turns. The Hawaiian took the win and an advancement to the Quarterfinals.
"The last wave gave me three sections and I've never seen a left do that for me here before," said Payne. "When I saw Alejo (Muniz) get his last wave, I knew I would need a 9 to get the win. I'm doing what I love to do and trying not to stress myself out. It doesn't get any better than this, so I'm having a good time."
Jack Freestone had the highest two-wave total with a 17.54 in Round 3. - WSL / Rowland/ WSL Handout
Jack Freestone (AUS), current No. 6 on the QS rankings, looked in fine form as he posted the day's highest two-wave heat total, a 17.54, in his Round 3 heat against CT surfer Miguel Pupo (BRA) and local hero Patrick Gudauskas (USA). An excellent 9.27 sees him advance through to Round 4 where he will battle Wade Carmichael (AUS) for a place in the Quarterfinals.
"I saw on the wall as I was walking in that there's only been one other Australian to win the event, and that was Nathan Hedge in 2000," said Freestone. "It would be nice to be on the wall alongside him and everyone else who's won it. My main inspiration right now is Filipe (Toledo). Just look what he's done this year. It's so hard for anyone to surf a heat against him."
San Clemente local and former event finalist Tanner Gudauskas (USA) looked strong during his Round 3 heat against Nathan Hedge (AUS) and Carmichael (AUS). Gudauskas will face Pupo in Round 4 tomorrow in a rematch of their 2011 Final.
"I'm stoked to be back in a jersey," Gudauskas said. "This is the first contest I've done this year and I think the break has been good. I was excited about the draw because Nate (Hedge) and Wade (Carmichael) are both really good. I thought it would be fun to go hammer and nails and do it for the power boys. Last year both Pat and I did a lot of events but I never made it past the Round of 48. Whatever happens, it's already been a good run and I'm stoked."
Thrills, Upsets at Oakley Lowers Pro
WSL
The Oakley Lowers Pro, the first World Surf League (WSL) QS 10,000 of the 2015 season, ran through Round 3 and the opening four heats of Round 4 today in chest-high surf. The event pits a selection of Championship Tour (CT) elite surfers against an array of up-and-coming talent looking to break through to the world's best.
Current No. 2 on the CT rankings, Filipe Toledo (BRA) earned his place in the Quarterfinals after a thrilling matchup with Conner Coffin (USA). Toledo went to town during the heat, delivering another impressive performance and posting a 7.10 and a 9.27. Coffin came back with an 8.23 to stay in contention, but the Brazilian improved his bottom score, delighting the crowd with his aerial acrobatics, and took the win.
"I've been watching Conner (Coffin) surfing at this event and he's been ripping," said Toledo. "In the first five minutes of the heat I tried to get really busy and catch lots of waves. I knew if I landed some maneuvers I would get a good score. After that I was too excited so I had to take a deep breath, calm down and start again. It's great to get through and I'm the happiest guy ever because I'm at home and surfing Lowers."
In the upset of the day, CT surfer Adam Melling (AUS) eliminated 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in Round 3. Melling is currently ranked 26th on the CT, but his result at Lowers so far will certainly help his positioning on the QS rankings. He dominated his Round 4 with an excellent 9.17 for an exhibition of power surfing. His opponent, fellow-CT surfer Jeremy Flores (FRA), will also move through to the next round after securing a second-place finish.
"I got pretty lucky with that wave," said Melling. "You have to be light footed out there, tag it and throw spray. The Brazilians are going pretty mad at the moment and I think it's really fired the Australians up."
"Looking back it was a bad choice to take that last wave with priority," Slater said. "If I had finished that wave out and made my last turn, I probably would have got the score I needed. I was kind of bummed on that wave and I kind of gave up. As I fell, I thought to myself that I should have finished it off."
Maui's Dusty Payne (HAW), who rejoined the CT in 2015, faced former CT surfer and current no. 2 on the QS, Alejo Muniz (BRA) in Round 4. The pair were neck-and-neck though the heat, but a crucial exchange in the final moments saw Payne earn a 9.07 for a series of huge power turns. The Hawaiian took the win and an advancement to the Quarterfinals.
"The last wave gave me three sections and I've never seen a left do that for me here before," said Payne. "When I saw Alejo (Muniz) get his last wave, I knew I would need a 9 to get the win. I'm doing what I love to do and trying not to stress myself out. It doesn't get any better than this, so I'm having a good time."
Jack Freestone (AUS), current No. 6 on the QS rankings, looked in fine form as he posted the day's highest two-wave heat total, a 17.54, in his Round 3 heat against CT surfer Miguel Pupo (BRA) and local hero Patrick Gudauskas (USA). An excellent 9.27 sees him advance through to Round 4 where he will battle Wade Carmichael (AUS) for a place in the Quarterfinals.
"I saw on the wall as I was walking in that there's only been one other Australian to win the event, and that was Nathan Hedge in 2000," said Freestone. "It would be nice to be on the wall alongside him and everyone else who's won it. My main inspiration right now is Filipe (Toledo). Just look what he's done this year. It's so hard for anyone to surf a heat against him."
San Clemente local and former event finalist Tanner Gudauskas (USA) looked strong during his Round 3 heat against Nathan Hedge (AUS) and Carmichael (AUS). Gudauskas will face Pupo in Round 4 tomorrow in a rematch of their 2011 Final.
"I'm stoked to be back in a jersey," Gudauskas said. "This is the first contest I've done this year and I think the break has been good. I was excited about the draw because Nate (Hedge) and Wade (Carmichael) are both really good. I thought it would be fun to go hammer and nails and do it for the power boys. Last year both Pat and I did a lot of events but I never made it past the Round of 48. Whatever happens, it's already been a good run and I'm stoked."
Jack Freestone
Before CT hopefuls can book their tickets for 2022 they need to shine at a notoriously tricky North Shore venue.
Season 3, Episode 1
Go behind the scenes with Jack Freestone as he starts his road to the Rip Curl WSL Finals.
WSL Leaderboard frontrunners Gabriel Medina and Carissa Moore set the pace at Strickland Bay, but there are more high-powered heats on tap.
With more east in the swell, Narrabeen came alive as World Title contenders made their presence felt with some nail-biting heat wins.
Jack Freestone recently said he's a World Title threat this year, and then backed that up with one of the waves of the day at Backdoor.
Oakley Lowers Pro
Tour Manager Al Hunt on what's at stake, and who could win the wildcard for the Oi Rio Pro.
Full recap of the first QS 10,000 of the year, which ran at Lower Trestles.
The Brazilian wunderkind dominated on the final, thrilling day at Lower Trestles.
Catch the best of the action from Day 4 at the Oakley Lowers Pro.
Tough matchups define the day as the QS 10,000 powers through the rest of Round 1 and the beginning of Round 2.