SAN CLEMENTE, CA/USA (Wednesday, September 10, 2014): Wildcards delivered major upsets in the Hurley Pro at Trestles today as Tanner Gudauskas and Carlos Munoz successively defeated top seeds Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina in non-elimination Round 1. The Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles was equally electric with Lakey Peterson eliminating reigning two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Carissa Moore, who will now relinquish her world ratings lead. The women’s Quarterfinalists have been decided after the completion of Round 4.

Gudauskas’ victory over Slater was a major feather in his competitive cap, given that Slater is the most proven surfer at Lower Trestles, with a total of six victories. Gudauskas used home crowd energy, full commitment and local knowledge to win with 14.93 to Slater’s 14.80, and Matt Wilkinson’s 10.13.

“It’s a good feeling to win but there was definitely an element of luck out there,” said Tanner Gudauskas. “At the beginning of the heat I was taking off on bad waves but then I got more into my rhythm. That was fun and I’m stoked on the result. It’s unbelievable to be here and have so much support, but before my heats I really need to relax.”

In contrast, Carlos Munoz harnessed the energy of a huge crowd of Costa Ricans before his heat, and drew upon it again in the last minute, for a final ride to victory over ASP ratings leader Gabriel Medina. Munoz and Medina delivered drama throughout the heat, repeatedly splitting the peak of the same wave. Munoz is the first Costan Rican to compete in a WCT event, winning the Hurley video trials with massive support from his countrymen. He advances directly to Round 3, while Medina will battle again in Round 2.

"I can’t believe how everything happened," said Carlos Munoz. "I got this chance, I prepared myself mentally. I heard everybody screaming and I knew I needed a score. I gave my heart to that last one, so I'm glad the judges liked it. I can't believe it. When I heard the score, I started crying."

Adrian Buchan scored a confidence boost when he defeated defending event champion Taj Burrow in the first heat of the day. Buchan, known for hard-charging, steep drops, showed off perfect backside snaps for a cheering crowd and stole the win to move directly into Round 3. Burrow will battle South African Travis Logie in Round 2.

"I'm paddling out confident and I know I've done everything I've wanted to do in terms of preparation," Adrian Buchan said. "We've had four or five days of really fun waves to warm up on here and we've seen some great waves today so it looks like it's going to be fun."

Filipe Toledo and Jeremy Flores returned to competition after a one event hiatus; Toledo with an ankle injury and Flores after a suspension. They faced current ASP World No. 4 Michel Bourez in Round 1 Heat 3. Despite an early lead from the Frenchman and a 360 from Toledo the pair couldn’t top Bourez, who won by the narrowest of margins, just 0.03.

"I was talking to my coach before and was thinking maybe it's better just to stick to my game and go 80 percent, but I couldn't do that," Michel Bourez said. "You never know surfing against Toledo because he can throw airs so easy. I guess I got lucky he didn't get the score."

  Owen Wright's heat got off to a high adrenaline start after a timing issue meant he was still on dry land when the horn sounded to end the heat prior to his. Despite the urgency to get to the lineup he secured the first nine-point ride of the Hurley Pro and the highest two-wave heat total of the men’s competition in his match-up against Alejo Muniz and Julian Wilson. Wright moves directly to Round 3 while Muniz and Wilson will have to surf again in Round 2.

"When I went out I thought, 'whatever comes, left or right,'" said Owen Wright. "Being a goofy, you tend to go on the lefts a little more, but the rights tend to score better. The froth-factor for the goofies is having that option there."

Round 4 of the Swatch Women’s Pro will be a moment eternally etched in Lakey Peterson’s mind. A progressive display of power turns and a clean air reverse by the Santa Barbara native shut the gate on two-time world champ Carissa Moore. 

“Carissa Moore is Carissa Moore. You have to surf the best you can to beat her,” said Lakey Peterson. “She’s No .1 in the world and one of the best female surfers out there. I just focused on sticking to my game and not worrying about her. I tried to stop thinking and just surf. Lowers is the perfect place for air reverses and progressive stuff.”

South African Bianca Buitendag started out strong with a 9-pointer that put her in the lead. Australian rookie Dimity Stoyle tallied two mid-range scores, but was left trailing her opponent. Buitendag backed up her first score with a 6.60, putting Stoyle in a combination situation and went to post an 8.63 to cement her victory and the highest two-wave heat total of the day, 17.73.

“Everyone has been surfing really well but I’ve had a good year starting with a great result at Snapper (Rocks),” said Bianca Buitendag. “I knew I had to step it up but this wave really really suits my surfing.”

The final heat of women’s Round 4 was a battle of the rookies with Johanne Defay taking the final spot in the Quarterfinals. She defeated Hawaiian Alessa Quizon who leaves the.

“The last ten minutes of that heat were really intense," said Johanne Defay. "She only needed a 1.50 and she got a wave, but she kicked out and ended up with priority. That’s not the kind of situation you want to find yourself in. I was just really really lucky that the ocean went flat.”

Hurley Pro at Trestles Round 1 Results:

• Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.10, Travis Logie (ZAF) 9.57, Taj Burrow (AUS) 7.67  
• Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.40, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.94, Brett Simpson (USA) 10.17
• Heat 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) 14.20, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 14.17, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.77
• Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.77, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 11.93, Kai Otton (AUS) 11.77
• Heat 5: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 14.93, Kelly Slater (USA) 14.80, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.13
• Heat 6: Carlos Munoz (CRI) 13.90, Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.70, Adam Melling (AUS) 11.56
• Heat 7: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 16.77, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 14.10, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 9.50
• Heat 8:  Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 15.43, Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.50, Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.97
• Heat 9: Nat Young (USA) 16.70, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.23, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 13.63
• Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.43, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.44, Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.27
• Heat 11: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.06, Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.73, Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.50
• Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) 15.27, Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.10, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.80

Swatch Women’s Pro Trestles Round 4 Results:

• Heat 1: Laura Enever (AUS) 13.90 def. Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.23
• Heat 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.67 def. Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.76
• Heat 3: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 17.73 def. Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 13.43
• Heat 4: Johanne Defay (FRA) 8.83 def. Alessa Quizon (HAW) 7.63