Let’s start with the equal thirteenths… the equal JUDASES!
by Julien ‘Vico’ Hamel
#15 Kolohe ANDINO – Trestles #13 – ASP #24 :
Local lad Kolohe picked the best waves, elevated his heat scores (15,33pts, 4 points more than his 2011 season average), and showed momentum and rhythm on his backhand. He surfed smart by not wasting too much space on his blowtails and was able to mix in just the right amount of variety to please the judges. However, he did make some silly mistakes in Rd 3 against Taj and in doing so, shot himself in the foot. Anyways, Brother is already on the 2014 ‘CT thanks to his two good results in H.B and the Azores on the back up Tour.
#14 Fiat TOLEDO – Trestles #13 – ASP #17 :
Bad result for Filipe. Was obviously looking for better than 13th being the lightest, most technical air surfer on the Tour in the piss weak piddle of the Trestles ‘skatepark’. Surprisingly though, he got his best score (8.83pts) on a pure face turn wave, no air. Wow! Did everything right, surfed smartly with close to no mistakes, was just suffering by comparison to Julian’s more powerful turns and combos. No shame in losing to the event’s best surfer though. Already requalified for 2014, let Filipe get a little more weight on his board, so the judges will eventually score his already adult turns less like a pro junior standout.
#13 Sebastian ZIETZ – Trestles #13 – ASP #16:
Lost to Michel by two tenths of a point, a maddening gnat’s cock width of a margin, in 2ft wind and tide-affected slop. Infuriating! In some of the worst conditions he surfed fast and strong, finding rebounds and power in the weakest sections to add the extra flair, the bonus tweak that got him the points he needed. Was just a little less experienced, patient and powerful than Michel, and enters the European leg with another equal Judas added to his account. With three venues fitting his surfing perfectly, Seabass is definitely still in the run for the Rookie of the Year title, for which he might even get twenty pieces of silver.
#12 Nat YOUNG – Trestles #13 – ASP #10:
One good air pushed him from Rd 1 to Rd 3. Not surfing the spot in the changing and decreasing conditions for too long, Nat was somehow off tempo compared to lil’ Trav Logiebaby. In 2ft waves, there was no way any goofy footer, even Nat, would surf any sharper, stronger and would hook his turns as well as Trav. Still with a lot of room to grow, Nat just could not match Travis’ heat management and eventually got done out by the experienced Saffa (Travis entered the CT when Nat was only 13). Rookie mistake to count Travis out, but well, who didn’t?
#11 Adriano DE SOUZA – Trestles #9 – ASP #8:
At Trestles, Adriano showed some improved linkage and power, occupying more of the whole wave face and pushing harder throughout all the turn, bouncing back with ease and thus building momentum during all the wave, finding proper sections and ramps, not pops. His ratio power of the turn / power of the wave was most of the time on point, but even if he was sometimes pushing too much, trying a little too hard, he was always smart enough to get back fast into rhythm and finishing his waves. He came short too many times and was unable to find the excellent range (apart in Rd2). 9th is still better than his recent fiascos, but still, 2013 will definitely not be his glory hole, I mean year.
#10 CJ HOBGOOD – Trestles #9 – ASP #9:
Another strong performance for CJ, definitely on a roll this season. Always sharp and crispy, he constantly elevates his level during his heats regarding who he is surfing against, going blow for blow but with this extra amount of experience and vista, adding some parsimonious progressive maneuvers to one of the most solid and technical faceturn surfing. He is always on the best options, extremely precise on his body placement and the way he choses to fit his board on the wave sections, with more flow and ease than most of those annoying youngsters. Wouldn’t be surprised by a final before the end of the season, Prime or WCT. CJ is currently pissing confidence in the morning and loves the smell of it, and this, ladies and gents, is priceless.
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