Mick Fanning (AUS) won the Hurley Pro at Trestles and Carissa Moore (HAW) won the Swatch Women’s Pro Sept. 18 at Lower Trestles on a day that saw close calls and heavy battles each heat. Their victories also earned them the yellow jerseys signifying the men’s and women’s Jeep Leaders.
The men’s Final saw Adriano De Souza and Fanning face off in increasingly bumpy conditions that now matched the tension in the air. The stakes were high: For De Souza, it was about keeping his lead going into the European leg. For Fanning, it was about overtaking the lead, and possibly having another shot at glory. From the start, though, it was Fanning who had the rhythm and ease. At the halfway mark, he had De Souza comboed.
The women’s Final saw Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) take on Moore, one of the Tour’s toughest opponents. The Hawaiian has two Titles to her name and it only took a few waves to remember why: She made the most of every wave and, despite Bianca’s skill, read the waves better and made it all look seamless.
In the men’s Semis, Filipe Toledo (BRA) was less authoritative against countrymen de Souza, who surfed away with the win. Similarly, Gabriel Medina (BRA) went down to Rip Curl teammate, friend and mentor Fanning who earned two nine-point-range scores during the bout.
In the women’s Semis, Buitendag, who has been steadily improving with each event, defeated Lakey Peterson (USA) in the opening Semifinal of the Swatch Women’s Pro with two mid-range scores. Peterson has also been in solid form, seeming to find her feet and rising to No. 5 on the rankings.
“I can’t blame anyone but myself,” said Peterson. “I made a lot of mistakes at the start of the event I think. I got one good wave and was feeling confident but then it went really quiet. I’m really disappointed in myself and the situation but I’m trying to look at the positive.”
For both the men and the women, Europe is calling next: Watch the Top 17 face off at the Cascais Women’s Pro live daily at www.worldsurfleague.com starting Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 8 a.m. local time. The men will surf next at the Quiksilver Pro France starting Oct. 6.
