Let Experience Be Your Guide
If you're wondering what guideline we'll be following for the Swatch Pro at Lower Trestles, try this one on for size: Don't overthink it. Go with proven quality over the trendy choices. With a less-than-stellar short-term surf forecast looming for Southern California, tactics and experience will become even more crucial to maximizing results. Smaller waves will mean fewer chances for massive, unexpected scores and upsets will be less common. Under pressure, veterans make smart choices, upstarts make rookie mistakes.
Can Tyler Wright once again find her laser-like focus and bring home a win at Trestles? - WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
Tier A
In Tier A, it's a fact that Sally Fitzgibbons has been the model of consistency and Courtney Conlogue might be the most in-form surfer on Tour, but our inclination it to go with the woman in the yellow jersey, Tyler Wright. As both the reigning World Champion and Swatch Pro champ, Wright is so strong and confident on her forehand it's tough to pick against the Jeep Leader on the shreddable rights at Lowers. She's averaged nearly a 3rd-place result in the first six events of the 2017 season. And while that doesn't match the level of her five event victories from 2016, Wright's been nearly a lock to reach the Semis. In the Fantasy game, those odds are too good to pass up.
The right walls at Lowers are the perfect canvas for Carissa Moore's progressive surfing. - WSL / Sean Rowland
Tier B
How often do you get the opportunity to pick a six-time world champ and a three-time world champ in Tier B? We'll buck the downward trend of Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore in 2017 and predict both will have bounce-back results at Trestles. Putting aside their impressive stats for the moment, the wave at Lowers falls right into their mutual wheelhouse -- Gilmore's stylishly sultry lines and Moore's radical progression make them relatively straightforward picks. So far, it's a no-brainer, right? Wright, Gilmore and Moore, that's three future Hall-of-Famers in your first three selections.
Steph Gilmore's surfed her way into the Final in both of her appearances at the Swatch Pro. - WSL / Sean Rowland
Tier C
In Tier C, the sentimental pick would be Malia Manuel, who's making her return to the CT after injuring her knee at the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. Manuel, whose 2017 stats are across-the-board better than the other women in this Tier, was having a breakout season before the injury bug bit her. But to return to Trestles not quite match-fit, without her competitive edge and expect an outstanding result is probably too big of an ask of the Hawaiian at this stage. While Silvana Lima and Laura Enever have the experience at Lowers and could use a solid result, our pick will be Pauline Ado. Ado's shown improvement as the season's progressed, and her 5th at the US Open should provide the confidence boost and momentum necessary to continue her climb toward requalification through her CT rank.
French surfer Pauline Ado had a breakthrough performance at the US Open of Surfing, earning a spot in the Quarterfinals. - WSL / Sean Rowland
Swatch Pro Fantasy Geek Guide
Brad Drew
Let Experience Be Your Guide
If you're wondering what guideline we'll be following for the Swatch Pro at Lower Trestles, try this one on for size: Don't overthink it. Go with proven quality over the trendy choices. With a less-than-stellar short-term surf forecast looming for Southern California, tactics and experience will become even more crucial to maximizing results. Smaller waves will mean fewer chances for massive, unexpected scores and upsets will be less common. Under pressure, veterans make smart choices, upstarts make rookie mistakes.
Tier A
In Tier A, it's a fact that Sally Fitzgibbons has been the model of consistency and Courtney Conlogue might be the most in-form surfer on Tour, but our inclination it to go with the woman in the yellow jersey, Tyler Wright. As both the reigning World Champion and Swatch Pro champ, Wright is so strong and confident on her forehand it's tough to pick against the Jeep Leader on the shreddable rights at Lowers. She's averaged nearly a 3rd-place result in the first six events of the 2017 season. And while that doesn't match the level of her five event victories from 2016, Wright's been nearly a lock to reach the Semis. In the Fantasy game, those odds are too good to pass up.
Tier B
How often do you get the opportunity to pick a six-time world champ and a three-time world champ in Tier B? We'll buck the downward trend of Stephanie Gilmore and Carissa Moore in 2017 and predict both will have bounce-back results at Trestles. Putting aside their impressive stats for the moment, the wave at Lowers falls right into their mutual wheelhouse -- Gilmore's stylishly sultry lines and Moore's radical progression make them relatively straightforward picks. So far, it's a no-brainer, right? Wright, Gilmore and Moore, that's three future Hall-of-Famers in your first three selections.
Tier C
In Tier C, the sentimental pick would be Malia Manuel, who's making her return to the CT after injuring her knee at the Drug Aware Margaret River Pro. Manuel, whose 2017 stats are across-the-board better than the other women in this Tier, was having a breakout season before the injury bug bit her. But to return to Trestles not quite match-fit, without her competitive edge and expect an outstanding result is probably too big of an ask of the Hawaiian at this stage. While Silvana Lima and Laura Enever have the experience at Lowers and could use a solid result, our pick will be Pauline Ado. Ado's shown improvement as the season's progressed, and her 5th at the US Open should provide the confidence boost and momentum necessary to continue her climb toward requalification through her CT rank.
Pauline Ado
The Rip Curl Pro Anglet comes back for a 10th edition at la Chambre d'Amour.
An eventful week ultimately crowned proper warriors as the 2024 Caparica Surf Fest winners.
Everything was set, the boards were lit by Action Glow, we were ready for the Caraïbos Surf de Nuit Anglet pres. by Rip CurL on Sunday
Former CT surfers Caroline Sarran and Tim Boal add their footprint and their name to the prestigious Anglet Surf Avenue alongside the likes
The QS3,000 Rip Curl Pro Anglet runs through the last four-surfer heats rounds to decide the event's Quarterfinalists at Chambre d'Amour.
Swatch Women's Pro
O sul-africano Jordy Smith, 28 anos, barrou o brasileiro Filipe Toledo, 21, nas semifinais.
Jordy Smith joined the world title race on the men's tour, while Tyler Wright took a huge step toward locking it down among the women.
Jordy Smith and Tyler Wright are victorious at the Hurley Pro and Swatch Women's Pro. The WSL desk team breaks it down.
The World No. 1 -- and eventual Swatch Women's Pro winner -- was subdued but focused in her post-heat comments.
Tyler Wright took another massive leap toward capturing her first World Title with a win over Stephanie Gilmore at Trestles.