The 2012 Hurley Pro at Trestles is on again today after a lay day put the competition on a brief hold, a good call by contest director Pat O’Connell, since Lowers is firing today! Round 3 kicked off with amazing waves, and the reigning Hurley Pro champion, Kelly Slater (USA) taking advantage with a layback snap under the pocket to start off the day of ASP World Tour competition.

“If anyone can get barrelled at Tresltes, it’s Kelly,” said Rob Macado on the live webcast. Slater looked like he was trying to get shacked at Lowers this morning, placing himself in the pocket and dominating the heat over Matt Wilkinson (AUS). At the Hurley Pro at Trestles last year, both Slater and Australian Taj Burrows were able to find a barrel at Lowers.

“Every heat is a world title,” stated Slater. Due to his zero score after skipping the Billabong Rio Pro this year, the statement is true and Slater will fight to win the Hurley Pro for a fifth consecutive time.

Slater takes a moment to say hello to stoked fans at Lower Trestles. Photo: Surf Channel/Vince Marin

Heat durration today has been bumped up to 35 minutes, due to lulls at Lowers. Yet when the sets come through, they are head high today with offshore winds. This is sure to be one of the most exciting days of competition, likely leading into the non-elimination round 4 in the afternoon.

Watch the Hurley Pro at Trestles LIVE now!

HURLEY PRO AT TRESTLES ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 8: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Michel Bourez (PYF)
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 10: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)

Shannon Q (92 Posts)

Shannon Marie Quirk is the Head Editor of the TheSurfChannel.com. She is a sports journalist with Bachelors of Arts degrees in English and Spanish Literature from UCLA, trained as a photojournalist by the Los Angeles Times. A San Francisco native, Shannon is a surfer, snowboarder, photographer, and believes that athletes have a responsibility to take care of their playgrounds. She has spent the last three years in South America working as an environmental activist, while shredding the hemispheres.