In the 16 years Lower Trestles has hosted a regular-season Championship Tour event, Kelly Slater has won six of them. Lowers officially became part of the then-ASP World Tour in 2000 (won by Andy Irons) and was held annually from 2002 to 2017. In those 15 years, Kelly won 37.5% of the events at the famed cobblestones.
Can Kelly, now surfing as an event wildcard, make it seven wins? It’s a big ask for the 53-year-old considering how dynamic and consistent CT surfers are in the air these days. Plus, we still don’t know Kelly’s seed for the event. That’s because there’s still one more wildcard spot to be filled — the highest-ranked North American after the end of the Burton Automotive SURFEST Newcastle Challenger Series event. But it appears from the heat draw that for the Opening Round, Kelly will either face Jordy Smith (world No. 1, 2X Lowers winner) and local standout Crosby Colapinto, or Italo Ferreira (lethal on these ramps) and rookie upstart Marco Mignot.
Keen-eyed filmer Hayden Garfield recently spotted Kelly warming up at the comp site during a much-needed recent run of swell. Due to the south wind ruffle, it’s far from perfect Lowers. But Kelly, still young at heart, toys with it nonetheless. To watch more of the post-cut CT field pick the wave apart, click here and here.
Lexus Trestles Pro Women’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)
HEAT 2: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Luana Silva (BRA) vs. TBD
HEAT 3: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Sawyer Lindblad (USA)
HEAT 4: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Erin Brooks (CAN)
Lexus Trestles Pro Men’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Rio Waida (INA) vs. Cole Houshmand (USA)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Marco Mignot (FRA) vs. TBD
HEAT 4: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Crosby Colapinto (USA) vs. TBD
HEAT 5: Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW)
HEAT 6: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Joel Vaughan (AUS)
HEAT 7: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 8: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX)
Related: Backstage With Kelly Slater: 5 Trestles Moments That Mattered