Old, new ready to tackle surf
A combination of veterans and up-and-comers are expected to headline the Jeep-Body Glove Surfbout at Lower Trestles in San Clemente.
The surf contest is scheduled to begin today and run through Saturday’s final, scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Among the 192 professionals entered in the four-star World Qualifying Series event is Damien Hobgood of Satellite Beach, Fla., ranked 13th on the World Championship Tour.
The WQS is the final qualifying step for those hoping to reach the exclusive 46-man WCT. The top-ranked surfers on the WQS are competing this week at the O’Neill Highland Open in Scotland, a six-star event that offers more points toward qualifying for the WCT.
Other members of the WCT expected to compete this week at Trestles, considered one of the top beach breaks in the world, are Hobgood’s twin brother, C.J., Chris Ward of San Clemente, Gabe Kling of St. Augustine, Fla., and Dayyan Neve of Australia. Among the veterans entered is Peter Mel, 37, a legendary big-wave surfer from Santa Cruz.
The event is also the first of three in the Macy’s California Trifecta Surf Series, a competition that awards cash and a new Jeep Cherokee to the surfer who wins, or places the highest, at three events this year in California: this week in San Clemente, the Newport Beach Pro in September and the O’Neill Coldwater Classic in Santa Cruz in October.
Nathan Yeomans of San Clemente won the series title last year. He was undecided whether to compete in Scotland this week or Trestles, but an increase in prize money has kept him home.
“Now that the prize purse has been upped, I think I am going to do the series and try to defend my title,” he said.
Among the other top up-and-coming pros is Eric Geiselman of New Smyrna Beach, Fla. He was the Assn. of Surfing Professionals North America Pro Junior Champion last year.
Dustin Cuizon of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, returns to defend his Surfbout title. Cuizon, appearing in his first WQS final a year ago, took the lead in the opening minutes against Alex Gray of Palos Verdes, Asher Nolan of Neptune Beach, Fla., and Luke Stedman of Australia and never trailed.