Today Hurley will open the Hurley Pro Video Trials to the public, allowing fans to choose a wildcard surfer for the ASP World Tour event at Lower Trestles September 15-21, 2013.
The video contest will select the second of two wildcard competitors slotted for the event. The first wildcard was decided last week at the Hurley Pro Trials held at Trail 6 near San Onofre. In-form Australian Mitch Crews upset a stacked local crew for the coveted spot in fun, head-high surf.
The Top 16 contenders of the video trials were chosen from a pool of over 100 of America’s best surfers; from there, they were placed into man-on-man brackets by a judging panel including Pat O’Connell, Rob Machado and Bob Hurley.
“This whole process has been refreshing and fun,” said Hurley VP Sports Marketing Pat O’Connell. “Whoever the public chooses this week, it will be a very worthy wildcard.”
The first round comprises many well-known surfers, as well as some up-and-comers:
Dane Reynolds vs. Austin Smith-Ford
Mason Ho vs. Torrey Meister
Albee Layer vs. Taylor Clark
Aaron “Gorkin” Cormican vs. Cam Richards
Ian Crane vs. Sterling Spencer
Dylan Goodale vs. Kanoa Igarashi
Granger Larsen vs. Kalani Robb
Keanu Asing vs. Luke Davis
Now the public will have a chance to choose the next 2013 Hurley Pro wildcard. Users with a Facebook account can vote online at thehurleypro.com, choosing the best performing surfer per heat.
Round 1 commences today, July 29, with Quarters, Semis and Finals running each subsequent day through August 1. A round’s voting will end at midnight PST each night. The winner will be announced Friday, August 2, and will be flown out for the contest in September as one of the 2013 Hurley Pro wildcards.