San Clemente TImes by San Clemente Times

Welcome to the HURLEY PRO A revolution is afoot. Come watch it play out at Lowers.

HURLEY PRO OFFICIAL CONTEST GUIDE PROJECT EDITOR: Cheyenne Arnold, Phil Bannan Produced in partnership with SAN CLEMENTE TIMES 34932 Calle del Sol, Ste. B Capistrano Beach, CA 92624 Phone: 949.388.7700 Publisher: Norb Garrett Senior Graphic Designer: Jasmine Smith Ad Sales/Marketing Director: Michele Reddick HURLEY PRO EVENT STAFF Hurley Pro General Manager: Jeb Siqueiros Operations Director: Matt Nuzum (IMG) Event Manager: Jennifer Lau (IMG) Event Coordinator: Tony Wodarck Contest Director: Pat O’Connell Hurley Media: Jeff Hurley ASP North America Manager: Meg Bernardo ASP North America Media Manager: Dave Prodan ASP North America Head Judge: Jeff Klugel ASP North America Tour Rep: Mike Martin SPECIAL THANKS: California State Parks, San Onofre Surfing Foundation, Arrowhead Water, Surfline, FCS, Surfing Magazine, City of San Clemente, Skullcandy

2012 Hurley pro official event guide | presented by san clemente times

2012 is an impor tant year for the Hurley Pro. Not just because Kelly Slater — the most dominant surfer of all time at Trestles — is chasing his 50th win. Not just because we’re at a turning point in a tight title race or the fact that we have great things in store on site and online. No. The truth is the 2012 Hurley Pro is impor tant because we get to witness a revolution in the making. Never before has a generation so young taken the establishment by storm. Never before have a group of kids barely old enough to drive redefined what is possible in a heat. When we watch teenagers like John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Miguel Pupo and Kolohe Andino surf their heats at Lowers, just remember that they’re making history. Sure, we’ve seen flashes of brilliance from individual future stars. But never have we seen such a large group of kids knock down the walls of the establishment with every wave at every event. Airshows are irrelevant because airshows are now regular heats. And these kids are far from just “air guys”. The great thing is, there’s no better wave to witness this revolution than Lower Trestles. The perfect speed, the split peak, the tapering wall and the limitless possibilities allow our most talented to perform the imaginable. And as that next genera-

tion goes up against heroes like Slater, Fanning, Parkinson and others, we will watch the level of surfing permanently turn up a few notches. Lowers and the Hurley Pro makes this possible and we’re honored to be a par t of it. We’re also honored to be working with the California State Parks and San Onofre Foundation to create an arena with a conscience. There’s no better place to watch surfing than Trestles, but we want to remind everyone that we build this event on sacred, sensitive ground. We try to minimize our footprint at San Onofre State Park and encourage everyone to do the same. We also want to thank our list of event par tners who help make this event possible. They’re all a valuable par t of bringing the best in surfing to life at Lowers: Bud Light Lime, Shark Freestyle, FlexFit, mophie, Spy, Sambazon, FCS, Surfing Magazine, Surfline, Schwinn and Comfor t Suites. What else? Now’s the time when I get nervous, watching the char ts to see what kind of swell is in store for our 7-day window star ting Sept. 16. It’s too early to tell yet, but I have a really good feeling about this one. Pat O’Connell Hurley Pro Contest Director

What’s at stake for you in this contest? Nothing is at stake for me in this contest. I’m going into the event looking to have a ton of fun and hopefully ride some good waves at Trestles. Who do you think surfs Lower Trestles the best? That’s a tough question because so many of the guys surf really well out there. I would say that Dane is probably one of the most enter taining guys at Lowers. Kelly is also always incredible out there. What’s your favorite part about San Clemente? My favorite par t about San Clemente is the town. I love the smaller par t of the town that is down on the beach. I just enjoy that par t of town and the small beach community vibe that it gives off.

THE

What’s your favorite part about surfing Lowers? Lowers is just really playful. During the summer time the waves are really bad in Santa Barbara and you usually only get to do one or two turns. After surfing those waves for a while and then heading to Trestles it just feels like you have so much freedom on the wave. The rights just have such a nice slope to them and really allow you to draw some unique lines.

X FACTORS Evan Geiselman looks to make his new home proud down at Lowers.

Hurley rising stars Evan Geiselman and Conner Coffin get their big break on the Lowers stage. It’s hard to imagine being a Wildcard in an event like the Hurley Pro. But luckily we know a couple guys who are doing just that, Hurley’s young stars, Evan Geiselman and Conner Coffin, and they let us in on the experience. Evan, a recent San Clemente transplant by way of Florida, suffered an ankle injury earlier this year, throwing a kink into a few of his summer plans. But being invited to surf with the big dogs seems like a pretty good way to make up for time lost with an ice and elevated ankle. Evan talks wild card expectations below. SC TIMES: What went through your head when you heard you were a wildcard? EVAN GEISELMAN: I was super excited when I heard the news. I’ve never competed in a WT event so I can’t wait to get the oppor tunity to surf against those guys! What’s at stake for you in this contest? Umm.... Surfing my best is what I’d like to think is at stake for me. There no points for me to get so I really just want to be happy with how I surf. Who do you think surfs Lower Trestles the best? Kelly has won out there the most but everyone on that tour is good so it’s going to be fun to go up against them. What’s your favorite part about San Clemente? Well I live there so everything about it is great. Lowers is definitely a bonus. What’s your favorite part about surfing Lowers? I love the first section you get on the left — it offers a lot of variety. 2012 Hurley pro official event guide | presented by san clemente times

What’s your pre-heat ritual? Nothing just listen to music and star t getting really anxious to get out there. What are you most excited about as a wildcard? To be able to surf against the guys on tour. That’s where I want to be soon so by doing this Hurley has given me a great oppor tunity. You’re in the final. Who do you want to surf against? Conner would be pretty sick! Both WC making it to the final -I don’t think that’s ever happen so that would be cool...[Editor’s note: It did. In 1997 at Pipeline. Johnny Boy Gomes and Michael Ho.] You’re in the final. Who would you rather not surf against? Doesn’t really matter. If you win, what will you do with the prize money? I would do something fun for the night but I would save it haha. What’s your stance on claiming waves? I never have before so I want to see what it feels like haha.

What’s your pre-heat ritual? Just be relaxed and in the moment humming a good song in my head. What are you most excited about as a wildcard? I’m most excited about being a wildcard because you get a taste of what it feels like to be on the World Tour. You get a locker with your name on it, you get to hang with all of the best surfers, and you feel like you are on the Dream tour for one event. It’s rad. You’re in the final. Who do you want to surf against? It would be awesome to surf against Kelly or Julian. You’re in the final. Who would you rather not surf against? I would also rather not surf against Kelly or Julian. hahaha. If you win, what will you do with the prize money? I will probably save it and put it towards buying a house sometime in the near future. That is after I had an awesome night of celebrating of course... haha! What’s your stance on claiming waves? I’m not a fan. The first and last one I claimed was at NSSA Westerns when I was 14 and I felt like such a kook afterwards.

Conner Coffin just came off a huge win at the US Open, dominating every heat he surfed and taking the US Open Pro Junior title with ease. The consensus of those who watched said it looked like Conner was a man surfing against boys. But will Conner be feeling his age here at Lowers? Read on for Conner’s take on getting to surf against some of his personal heroes. SC TIMES: What went through your head when you heard you were a wildcard? CONNER COFFIN: When I found out I was going to be in the event I was really excited to have the oppor tunity of surfing Trestles with the world’s best surfers. It’s such a fun performance wave and I’m super grateful to gain experience against the top guys in the world.

2012 US Open Jr. Champ, Conner Coffin.

BUD LIGHT LIME SHOWCASE The Bud Light Lime series set to culminate at the Hurley Pro with team spirit and $10,000 on the line. Football isn’t the only spor t that pairs well with Budweiser. In fact, if you look at the early 90s when up-and-comers like Shane Beschen, Rob Machado, Taylor Knox, and Kelly Slater launched their careers, Budweiser -- better known as the Bud Pro Tour -- WAS American pro surfing. In that spirit, the Hurley Pro will feature the Bud Light Lime Expression Session Showcase — which pits World Tour surfers against athletes selected from the Bud Light Lime Surf Series in a team versus team format. Owned and operated by IMG, The Bud Light Lime Surf Series are invitational contests that feature 32 men and eight women with two stand alone events in 2012. “Many of the guys who par ticipate in the BLLSS have been on the World Tour and there are several who went the free surf route. It should be really interesting to see their mixture of talents and experience against the World Tour competitors on a high performance wave like Lowers and in front of hundreds of thousands of viewers on the webcast,” said Chris Conrad, IMG VP and BLLSS Event Director. Eight surfers invited from the BLLSS and four World Tour athletes will par ticipate in the BLL Showcase. Dylan Goodale, Nathaniel Curran and Torrey Meister were awarded slots in the Showcase for their finishes at the BLLSS Oceanside event in June. In addition Gabe Kling, Blake Jones and Michael Dunphy finished in the top three at the recent OBX Labor Day Cup in Nags Head, NC. Additionally, two wild cards will be awarded

LET’S GET DIGITAL

Money and fun take center stage during the BLL Showcase.

to one athlete from the Oceanside event and one from the Labor Day Cup which Aaron Cormican has received. The BLL Showcase will consist of three heats and culminate with a BLLSS Team vs. World Tour Team heat. The BLL Showcase final heat will occupy the time between the Hurley Pro Semifinals and Finals. In order to qualify for the final BLLSS team eight surfers will compete for four slots. Top two from each heat with advance: BLL Heat One 1. Dylan Goodale (Oceanside 1st place) 2. Blake Jones (Outer Banks 2nd place) 3. Michael Dunphy (Outer Banks 3rd place) 4. TBD BLL Heat Two 1. Gabe Kling (Outer Banks 1st place) 2. Nathaniel Curran (Oceanside 2nd place) 3. Torrey Meister (Oceanside 3rd place) 4. Aaron Cormican (Outer Banks WC)

and their heat score to win a FlexFit Hurley Pro hat. Bonus: if a Hurley athlete wins the heat, the correct guess takes home a Phantom Protect jacket. It’s like going to the horse races, without the fancy hats and suits. But, please, be our guest and get dressed up if it feels right. Play online on thehurleypro.com

TRUE INNOVATION AWARD An exper t panel at the Hurley Pro select a handful of waves to add to the True Innovation nominations each day. Throughout the event online voters vote for the wave they think captures the essence of inventive surfing. The surfer with the most votes at the end of the week wins a week’s stay at the Tur tle Bay Resor t on Oahu’s Nor th Shore this winter. Play online at thehurleypro.com

Exploring the infinite ways you can be connected to the 2012 Hurley Pro

ON DEMAND Missed a heat you’re dying to see? We have all of them available all the time in our Heats On Demand section. Available on the hurleypro.com and the Hurley Pro app.

TWEET OF THE HEAT Think someone got overscored?

The Hurley Pro is in your backyard. Always. Even if you live halfway across the world. Thanks to the website, Hurley’s social media channels and the Hurley Pro app, you’ll feel as close and connected as if you rented Nixon’s old house for the season. Here’s how:

PHANTOM FACE-OFF Lull in the action out in the water? Di-

THE WEBCAST Stream the contest live on your computer, iPhone, iPad or Android devices. Just don’t let your boss see you. 2012 Hurley pro official event guide | presented by san clemente times

WHO’S IN FIRST Correctly guess the winner of the next heat

In the final Bud Light Lime Expression Session Showcase, the four qualifying BLLSS surfers will compete against four surfers from the ASP World Tour. The heat will be held between semis and finals with the following format: • One wave score will be counted from each athlete and the team with the highest cumulative score will win. • The winning team receives $10,000 ($2,500 per athlete) • An MVP bonus of $2500 will be awarded to an athlete All in all, it’s setting up to be an expression session that has all the excitement of a Bud surf event we know and love. “All these guys are great surfers in their own right,” says Pat O’Connell, Hurley VP of Spor ts Marketing. “And to put them up against the best in the world will make for a fun event because anything can happen at Lowers. We’re excited to have Budweiser on board this year.”

rect your attention to the Phantom Faceoff, the online contest where user-made boardshor ts go head to head to pass your style judgment. Choose your favorite shor t from two pairs shown on the screen or create your own shor ts at Hurley. com/create to enter the contest yourself. At the end of each day of surf competition, the Phantom Faceoff votes will be tallied and designer with the most voted on shor ts wins their Phantom Creates. Play online at thehurleypro.com

Underscored? Or maybe you just have something funny to say about the contest. Don’t keep it to yourself. Share your thoughts on Twitter using the #hurleypro hashtag for the chance to be featured as Hurley’s Tweet of the Heat. Hurley will be picking their favorite tweets from each heat and at the end of the day picking a tweeter of the day to win a pair of Phantom Creates. You’ve got 140 characters — let’s hear it.

ALERTS Sign up for aler ts so you know when you’re favor-

ite athletes hit the water and when impor tant heats go out.

PROTECT the parks

We all know how precious Lowers is: the wave, the trails, its seclusion and maybe most impor tantly, the ecosystem. The intricate and delicate ecosystem at Trestles has been a topic of conversation in the surf community for years, and this year we’re keeping the conversation going with the help of H2O, Hurley’s water initiative and The Ecology Center, the San Juan Capistrano-based establishment that teaches the local community about sustainable living. Keep reading to see how you can get involved, on and off the beach.

THE ECOLOGY CENTER

The Ecology Center in San Juan Capistrano is an educational center that offers hands-on activities that teach practical, environmental solutions at the household and community level. This year during the Hurley Pro, The Ecology Center is hosting a bike trip from the center to Trestles. The trek of a bike ride might leave you famished, but with a catered celebration at the end of the journey we think you’ll be just fine. Head to theecologycenter.org for more info on the ride. 2012 Hurley pro official event guide | presented by san clemente times

Interactive ways to save water will be on full display.

A few ways the Hurley Pro is trying to lighten the footprint at Lowers.

H2O

The updated H2O booth, which debuted at the US Open of Surfing, will be taking its first road trip and heading south for the Hurley Pro. The new display hosts an improved pledging station, more water faucets, a sitting area and videos of water missions carried out this year streaming inside. Stop by, buy a canteen and in doing so, help fund programs that give clean drinking water to people in Indonesia, Haiti, the Amazon and Chile, to name a few.

MOBILE WATER SHED

Accompanying the H2O booth on the beach is The Ecology Center’s Mobile Water Shed, which is not only a good play on words, but also an interactive way for kids and adults to learn how the Southern California water shed works. Two learning stations inform visitors on ways we can become more waterconscious in our everyday lives and in our own backyards.

The Ecology Center, San Juan Capistrano.

I am extremely fond of the overview from Pocket Mouse Hill. Christianitos Creek , Panhe and the San Mateo Lagoon are nice visually as well.

WALL OF FAME

You work in a lot of different mediums, where does photography rank in your hobby skill set? Someplace between welding and cire perdue bronze casting.

The Hurley Pro photo wall will capture the best and brightest moments for a good cause. The Hurley Pro Photo Wall will be an everchanging, living piece of photographic ar t that captures the nature of the event and the environment at Lowers. The wall will star t out as squares of yellow and black hazard stripes, interspersed with photos from the build out and snapshots from Hurley Pros past. Then, each day, squares will be replaced with photos taken from this year’s event by resident Hurley photographer Derek Bahn and Hurley’s resident ar tist/storyteller and the unofficial documentarian of Dogtown, C.R. Stecyk III, along with legendary Surfing Magazine photographer Steve Sherman. But it’s not just the professionals who can beautify the wall. While down at the event, just Instagram a photo using the #hurleypro hashtag

Which one do you want on your wall?

and you’re entered to have your photo printed and hung alongside the legends. All frames images will be up for donation, proceeds benefiting the San Onofre Foundation and H2O. Craig Stecyk adds a little more insight: How did you originally get into photography? My father had a darkroom and I used to steal his cameras and break them. After a while I

got several of my own and broke them too. Somewhere in there a pattern emerged, and here we are now shooting on Rancho Santa Margarita y Las Flores. What’s your favorite part or subject to shoot when you find yourself on a beach? Migrating breeching whales. What about Lowers? Does any particular facet of the landscape jump out at you and make you want to take photos?

What’s your take on the event/world tour/competitive surfing as a whole? The world tour makes for great spectator events in general. The Hurley Pro is the premier experience of them all in terms of enjoyability. The serene natural State Park environment combined with the close proximity to the action and superior wave quality creates an ideal situation for riders and viewers alike. Do you have any advice for someone who wants to get their photo up on the wall? Just hit #hurleypro and go from there! Is there anyone you look forward to watching surf at Lowers? The old school answer would be Smitty Von Sternberg and Red Mike Marshall. The Contempo local call out response would be any one of the Fletchers or better yet all of them at once. My choice of tourists to watch would include Slater, Yades and the Coffin Brothers.

One of our many still lifes to be featured down at the beach.

2012 Hurley pro official event guide | presented by san clemente times

ATHLETE HOSPITALITY

THE CURRENT

ASP TOP 10 1. MICK FANNING: The 3-time ASP World Champ is on a roll, fresh off a Billabong Pro Tahiti win 2. JOEL PARKINSON: A second-place finish in Tahiti and an always-consistent performance at Lowers makes him an event favorite 3. JOHN JOHN FLORENCE: A talented rookie, looking to take over the World Tour –do not miss his heats 4. KELLY SLATER: Watch for the 11-time ASP Champ to continue his dominating run at Trestles as he goes for the three-peat in 2012

Ace Buchan.

Getting to surf one of the one of the world’s best and most crowded waves with only one other guy out isn’t the only thing the ASP Top 36 look forward to when coming San Clemente for the Hurley Pro at Lower Trestles. Things like a new and improved athlete area and personalized accommodations help make this one of the most enjoyable events of the year for the world’s best. First off, instead of making the usual halfhour hike from the Carls Jr. parking lot, the athletes will valet their car at the top of the beach trail in a personalized parking spot, ordered by their current World Tour ranking. Waiting for them at their parking spot is a VIP shuttle that takes the athletes down to

Current ratings leader, Mick Fanning will be treated like a king at the Hurley Pro.

the contest venue within minutes. From there, the athletes arrive at the Hurley Pro locker room, which is complete with custom jerseys displaying their name and current World Tour ranking. Also in this year’s locker room are personal gift bags for each surfer along with a few other surprises up Hurley’s sleeve. When it’s time for a warm-up or actual heat, the athletes have access to a stretching area equipped with yoga mats, training balls, back rollers and warm-up exercise bikes — everything they need to prepare and loosen

up for the next big heat. Post-heat hospitality includes a warm shower for the athletes as soon as they exit the water and the oppor tunity to dig into healthy, high-quality food. Athletes will be able to refuel on local restaurant catering and Sambazon acai bowls as they keep tabs on their fellow competitors out in the water. All the new and improved athlete hospitality topped with this year’s rise in prize money — $105,000 for the winner — has the ASP Top 36 fired up and ready to raise the bar of surfing at the world’s most rippable wave.

5. TAJ BURROW: One of the most consistent surfers to never win at Trestles – a shoe-in for the final day of competition 6. ADRIANO DESOUZA: His recent years of local knowledge and string of good results make him hard to bet against 7. OWEN WRIGHT: Ready for redemption after coming eight tenths of a point shor t to Kelly Slater in the 2011 final 8. JOSH KERR: His all-or-nothing approach makes his surfing a must-watch 9. JEREMY FLORES: Now that he’s proven himself in big waves, look for Jeremy to show off his small-wave bag of tricks 10. JULIAN WILSON: Fresh off a US Open of Surfing win, watch for Julian to continue his competitive SoCal success

The better they feel, the better they surf. Julian Wilson.

2012 Hurley pro official event guide | presented by san clemente times

Owen Wright.