Pro Surfing Event Starts Today at Lower Trestles

Some of the world’s best surfers will gather today for the first of six days of competition at one of the best surfing sites in California in the Body Glove Surfbout at Lower Trestles in San Clemente.

In men’s competition, Jeff Booth of Laguna Beach, ranked fourth in the world, and fifth-ranked Shane Beschen of San Clemente, will head the field of more than 190 surfers. World Champion Lisa Andersen of Ormond Beach, Fla., will join Rochelle Ballard of Hawaii, Kim Mearig of Carpinteria, Tricia Gill of Carlsbad and others in women’s field.

Longboarding and bodyboarding also will be contested and will include U.S. Open Champion Joel Tudor of Cardiff by the Sea, and Josh Baxter of San Clemente. In bodyboarding, a record-breaking 80 competitors are expected.

The seventh stop of the Bud Surf Tour, Lower Trestles offers a well-formed right break, which gives surfers plenty of room to maneuver. Because access to the competition is difficult--a long, dusty walk onto Camp Pendleton is required--crowds are minimal.

The purse for men’s shortboard is $20,000; $2,500 for longboarding and women’s surfing and $5,000 for bodyboarding. Competition starts at 7 a.m.