Surf Conditions Poor on First Day of Contest

Small waves and long lulls made it tough for the world’s best surfers to show their stuff Tuesday during the first day of the Billabong Pro at Lower Trestles, but Southern California surfers had the best of it most of the day.

Cardiff’s Rob Machado, who has won two of the last four World Championship Tour events to vault into the No. 4 spot in the rankings, Laguna Beach’s Pat O’Connell, brothers Shea and Cory Lopez and Shane Beschen, all from San Clemente, won their first-round heats.

“I know the lineup, I know where to sit,” said Shea Lopez, ranked No. 11 in the world, one notch below his brother. “Positioning is really important in these conditions. And you have to be right in the sweet spot [of the wave] to really maximize your turns.

“It’s a shame because this is about as bad as Trestles can be in September. But it’s still fun.”

Three surfers compete in each first-round heat with the winners advancing to Round 3. Second- and third-place finishers are reseeded into today’s second round.