Ian Crane of SC Wins Local Hurley Pro Wildcard

San Clemente-based surfer Ian Crane earned a spot into the Hurley Pro at Trestles as winner of the trials at T Street

San Clemente-based surfers Ian Crane (left), the Hurley Pro local wildcard winner, and Griffin Colapinto check in for a heat at the Hurley Pro Trials at T Street on July 23. Photo: Andrea Swayne

By Andrea Swayne

Ian Crane of San Clemente won the locals’ slot into the Hurley Pro Trestles at the event’s wildcard trials on Thursday, July 23 at T Street, beating runner-up Patrick Gudauskas, also of San Clemente, 15.77 to 14.47 in the final.

“It feels awesome to have the Hurley Pro wildcard spot,” Crane said. “I’m so excited to be a part of the event and get to surf Trestles with the best surfers in the world. I’m inspired to put on a good performance and represent for San Clemente.”

The other San Clemente surfers competing for the wildcard were Tanner Gudauskas, Griffin Colapinto, Chris Ward and Nate Yeomans, and from Dana Point/Capistrano Beach, brothers Luke and Jake Davis.

The trials were run in a round robin format with two separate brackets—the Hurley Team Bracket (eight surfers) and the Locals Bracket (eight surfers). Each competitor surfed twice—once in Round 1 and again in Round 2—and the four highest three-wave total points-earners moved on to the man-on-man semifinals. In the semis and finals each surfer’s top two waves were scored and one surfer in each bracket was awarded a wildcard slot in the upcoming Hurley Pro.

Hurley Pro wildcard runner-up Patrick Gudauskas of San Clemente earned a spot in the trials semifinal and ultimately in the final with winner Ian Crane. Photo: Andrea Swayne

Hiroto Ohhara of Japan was the Hurley bracket winner.

The two newly-crowned wildcards then went on to face each other in the Super Heat. Crane again came out on top, winning a trip for two to the Kandui Resort at Indonesia’s Mentawai Islands for his efforts.

“I thought it was cool the way Hurley had two qualifying brackets for the trials,” Crane said. “It made everyone happy and it was fair at the same time. They got their Hurley team rider in the event and a San Clemente local was guaranteed a spot. It took the pressure off knowing one of us would end up in the event for sure. And the Indo trip is definitely a super bonus.”

The Hurley Pro at Trestles, event No. 8 on the World Surf League Championship Tour, is set for September 9 through 20 at San Onofre State Park, Lower Trestles.