Much excite

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2014

Date: Thursday, September 18, 2014
Schedule: Quarterfinals (Heats 1-4), Semifinals (Heats 1-4), Final
Conditions: 3-to-5-foot faces, largest waves up to 8 feet at Lowers
Day 1 Recap
Day 2 Recap Day 3 Recap

Quarterfinals

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QF 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)

The veteran surfers of Quarterfinal 4 both opened their campaigns with midrange scores, the slight advantage favoring Joel Parkinson. Kelly Slater took off on a left, managing two extreme laybacks for a nine-point backup score and a solid command of the lead.

With 10 minutes remaining, Slater switched to his backhand and improved his situation, leaving Parko out the back looking for a near-perfect score. But his Hail Mary softened up and he will leave Trestles with an equal fifth finish.

"For me and Parko to be in the same heat is unfortunate because we're those ones really in a position to catch up to [Medina]," Slater said. "I'm surfed to be surfing against John in the Semis. I'm sort of hoping he peaked, though."

Result: Kelly Slater, 15.87, def. Joel Parkinson, 11.33

QF 3: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Adriano De Souza (BRA

Following his mind-blowing Round 4 performance, Hawaiian ingenue John John Florence had his own big shoes to fill and didn't disappoint. He opened his face-off against Adriano De Souza with a nine-pointer to set the bar. The Brazilian kicked off his scoreline with a seven-pointer, a far cry from some of his heroics the day before.

Florence seemed to lose some momentum in the second half of the heat. He threw every air he could, but didn't make the landings. De Souza, meanwhile, held on to priority but was mostly idle. When he let a smaller wave go, Florence capitalized and drove down the line to launch a feet-free air, landing in the foam and riding it out. In his second consecutive event, Florence finds himself in a crucial Semifinal heat.

"It almost seems like everything goes in slow motion for a sec," Florence said, referring to his stunning aerial. "You just sort of fall on a bunch and then try and try and try until you finally land on your board."

Result: John John Florence 17.37 def. Adriano De Souza 9.26

QF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)

Continuing his charge toward the World Title, Gabriel Medinaset the pace for Quarterfinal 2, popping off the lip for a midrange opener. Medina owned the initial exchange but Ace Buchan started moving and improved his scoreline with each ride. Medina had a small launch above the lip to narrow the gap but Ace held the lead going into the second half.

Both surfers stuck to what they knew best, refining their maneuvers as the heat rolled on: Medina picked up his air game, landing a full-rotation reverse, while Buchan's vertical snaps saw him completely inverted, parallel to the ocean floor. He earned the day's first nine-point ride and, with 10 minutes left, forced the Brazilian to hunt down a near-perfect score. In the end Buchan pulled off a huge upset, and was headed to the Semis.

"I didn't want to play his game," said Buchan. "I surfed my own heat and then controlled priority in the back half. Everything feels good, I want to keep surfing well and having fun."

For his part, Medina was not deterred after his loss. "I just want to make heats, and be prepared for every heat," he said. "It doesn't matter against who. God said, I can do it. I'm still working on it and I will train more."

Result: Adrian Buchan, 17.43, def. Gabriel Medina, 14.77

QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)

Mick Fanning, reigning World Champ and current World No. 5, took off on his first wave, earning a respectable 4.83. Jordy Smith answered back with his own midrange score before another lull.

It was in the final 10 minutes that Smith found his rhythm. Taking a medium-sized righthander, he pulled off a huge tail-slide before driving a bottom turn into a quick float for an 8.17. Fanning answered this time, pulling off his own float for an excellent score, but still trailed his younger opponent when the horn sounded. He was eliminated, and Smith was headed for the Semis.

"I haven't had an incredible heat, yet; I've had average scores, not really the bombs I'm looking for," Smith Said. "Mick's is my favorite competitor. He's so focused before his heats, it's kind of intimidating."

Result: Jordy Smith, 15.87 def. Mick Fanning 13.53**

Upcoming Heats:
SF 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
SF 2: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)

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