Kelly Slater. © ASP
The Kelly and Andy Show
Dec 21 2006 / Lower Trestles, CA Irons and Slater Stand Out on the First Day of the Boost Mobile Pro Presented by HurleyIt's around 3:30 in the afternoon on the first day of the Boost Mobile Pro Presented by Hurley. Heat 15 of Round One is in the water, and Australians Dean Morrison and Troy Brooks are with Chris Ward, challenged by consistent, wind-blown bowly peaks going both ways: the lefts short and steep, the rights lining up for 75 yards along the cobblestone point, with big windy sections for smacking. The sun is up over the western horizon, glarey and a little hot. Summer is hanging in there and it's a little uncomfortable and windy sitting out and exposed on the beach, but up in the scaffolding, in the Media Area connected to the VIP Area, it's cool and comfortable and these are the best seats in the house.
Looking east, the carefully preserved wetlands of San Mateo Creek are a nice break from the relentless growth that is engulfing the rest of Orange County. Traffic is flowing by on Highway 5 and beyond that is the San Mateo Creek Valley that is nice now, but threatened by the Toll Road that Orange County is absolutely determined to build, to open up even more land to more development.
But Lord Byron had it right: "Roll on, deep and dark blue ocean, roll. Ten thousand fleets sweep over thee in vain. Man marks the earth with ruin, but his control stops with the shore."
Along the beach it is nice and out to sea, the ocean is large and in charge, with three surfers doing their best to handle the wind and the chop and the glare, and the occasional sets that are close to double overhead.
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In the VIP Area, sitting close by, taking a break from staring out to sea, is an ASP judge who wishes to remain anonymous. Judge X has been watching and scoring heats all day: So far a total of 14 three-man, half-hour heats with the best pro surfers in the world doing extraordinary things with one of the best small-wave performance waves on the tour. Beginning with Bruce Irons, Adriano Souza and South Africa's David Weare in Heat One, the day has seem some big names: Tim Reyes, former Boost Mobile Pro champion Joel Parkinson, Taylor Knox, Bobby Martinez, and Taj Burrow. But the talk of the day is on the Big Two: Andy Irons and Kelly Slater.
The other 46 surfers competing this day are pretty much resigned to the idea that either Andy or Kelly will be the 2006 World Champ, and no one will be surprised if Slater and Irons go at each other in the Final of the Boost Mobile Pro, like knights charging each other with lances. There is great surfing going on in every heat, but this is the Kelly and Andy Show, and everyone is dialed in to the rivalry,
In the VIP area there are TV screens showing the live play by play that is going out on the ASP Webcast, and every once in a while there is a flash back to the two highlight heats of the day, featuring You Know Whom.
There is a shot of Andy Irons taking off left, and ripping the guts out of the wave with big, lanky, backside floaters. But the Replay of the Day belongs to Kelly Slater. In Heat Eight against South African Greg Emslie and California upstart Dane Reynolds, Kelly Slater proved that he hasn't lost a step since he introduced himself to an incredulous world way back in 1990. Slater surfs Lower Trestles like he made the wave with his own two hands. He could probably do it all blind-folded, he is so comfortable with a wave that fits his style perfectly.
On one wave, Slater does a series of turns to the end, then finishes with a beautiful, aerial 360. Slater is in his 30s, he should be creaky, but he pulls off this move with a flow that makes the pelicans jealous.
Slater caused an uproar when he did it for real, and now even on replay it gets cheers.
Irons is great this day, but Slater is inspired. The ASP judge watches the replay, nods appreciatively and when asked who he favors, answers off the record: "Slater. Andy is great, but the things Slater is doing and where he is trying to do them are just a cut above."
You heard it here first. It is now 4:00 and the last heat of the day is paddling out. Marc Occhiluppo is the oldest surfer in the event. He is - gasp - in his 40s and old enough to be the father of some of the kids he is competing against.
But the Boost Mobile Pro was won by another veteran Australian surfer - Luke Egan - in the last five years, and that is proof that anything can happen.
The winners of Round One heats go straight to Round Three, while the second and third place finishers try to knock each other out in 16 two-man heats in Round Two. The prediction is for the swell to even increase a little in size over the next couple of days, with plenty of energy left for the final day on Saturday,
To tune in, go to www.aspworldtour.com or www.boostmobilepro.com
--Ben Marcus
