Brazilian Pupo edges out HB’s Igarashi in Trestles Pro final, Brooks goes third win in a row

The first time Brazilian Miguel Pupo won a big surf contest at Lower Trestles,in 2011, he was an up-and-coming 18-year-old just starting his pro career.

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Now, 15 years later and still competing at the highest level, Pupo earned a big win at the iconic surf break on Friday, Sept. 18, this time beating Huntington Beach surfer Kanoa Igarashi.

It was the second year in a row the local surfer has been bested by a Brazilian competitor in the final matchup of the World Surf League event.

The Lexus Trestles Pro wrapped up on Friday, Sept. 18. For Canadian surfer and women’s winner Erin Brooks, it was her third consecutive win on the World Tour, after a lackluster start of the year.

“The first part of the year was such a bummer, this was worth it,” she said after being greeted by fans at the shore following her win. “So many hard heats made me just want to win it.”

While waves dropped in size slightly for finals day, conditions were glassy and clean, unlike the whipping winds that had plagued the event’s earlier days.

The local surf community had plenty to cheer for, as four local San Clemente surfers made it to the final day, along with Igarashi and Encinitas surfer Jake Marshall.

The women were up first in the 35-minute heats, with three San Clemente surfers, Sawyer Lindblad, Eden Walla and Bella Kenworthy, among the locals left in the hunt.

Lindblad went up against Walla, a young wildcard entry who showed she could battle against the world’s best. But at the end of the heat, it was the more experienced Lindblad who would move on.

One of the most anticipated heats in the morning came when Brooks matched up against five-time world champion Carissa Moore, who returned to competition after having a baby last year.

Brooks, who has yet to clinch a world title, put up huge scores just minutes into the heat, with a 8.0 and 7.33.

Moore got to work with a right-hander that earned her a 6.33. She kept busy as the clock ticked down, but she was in need of a big 8.56 score. With seconds left, a few small bumps showed up on the horizon, but none that had the potential before the buzzer sounded.

Brooks said it was stressful waiting 20 minutes for waves, after earning her first two scores. But she was glad the sets didn’t show up, allowing her to move on, knowing if given the chance Moore would be capable of earning the score she needed.

Next up in the quarterfinal matchup was Australia’s Molly Picklum going up against local surfer Kenworthy, who has struggled this year and is in need of big points to continue on the elite World Tour.

The ocean slowed down with a lull between sets, with no waves caught in the first 15 minutes, prompting a restart.

When the waves finally showed, Kenworthy earned a few solid scores, but Picklum landed a higher score, a 7.83, on her first wave, and a backup 7.50.

With seven sections left, Kenworthy gave a last-ditch effort, going to the air at the end of the wave, but falling in the end section.

When the men’s action got underway, Australia’s Callum Robson matched up against current world champion Yago Dora, who won the heat to earn a spot in the semifinals; Igarashi won against French surfer Marco Mignot.

Igarashi talked about his nervousness going into the semifinal against Dora, who had won in the finals last year against the local surfer.

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“It’s super intimidating, for sure; those are the moments you have to step up,” Igarashi said. “I feel like I’m surfing pretty good.”

Igarashi ended up getting his revenge in the semifinals.

“I feel like I’ve been doing some good surfing and I feel like that’s all I’m worried about,” Igarashi said. “At the end of the day, you just want to surf good — whether for a jersey, world title, Olympic medal or in front of your friends, it brings me a lot of joy that I’m surfing good.”

One of the more exciting heats of the day happened when Cole Houshmand, sporting an eccentric hairdo in the pattern of a spiderweb, posted a big 9, drawing a roar from the support crowd on the sand.

Then, Houshmand went huge for a 9.50, a near-perfect score, to land the best combined total of the entire contest.

“I’m just super stoked and now I’m just trying to get back in the zone and calm myself down,” he said after the heat.

The crowd of supporters was helping to fire him up, he said.

“For me, it’s what it’s all about, to see how stoked and supportive the whole town is,” Houshmand said. “I’m having fun, I’m enjoying it, but trying to lock in for the last two (heats). … I’m really just trying to stay in the zone.”

Houshmand, whose board broke during the next heat, would go down in the semi-finals to Pupo, leaving Igarashi to go up against the Brazilian in the day’s final matchup.

In the women’s semifinals, Lindblad was edged out by Hawaiian Gabriela Bryan, ending the run for San Clemente’s females. Brooks took out Picklum to earn her spot in her third consecutive final.

The women’s final heat was slow compared to others through the day, but Brooks ended up with the higher two-wave score over Bryan to clinch the title.

With a hard start for the earlier part of the season, the win on Friday was even sweeter, Brooks said.

“I was super down on myself. I lost faith in my ability in surfing,” she said. “I’m just stoked to be here right now.”

Igarashi led much of the heat against Pupo, but a big back-up score nudged the Brazilian to the top spot, the ocean shutting down and not giving Igarashi a chance to battle back.

As the buzzer sounded, Pupo put his arms up, wiping tears from his eyes, shaking his fist to the sky in victory as he rode the jet ski in to shore, a big smile splashed across his face.

Pupo talked about his connection to Lower Trestles.

“It’s been amazing and I’m so thankful to still be here winning events,” he said. “You just have to believe in yourself and keep doing the work.”

Igarashi said he has much respect for Pupo and the hard work he puts in, an inspiration on tour.

Igarashi, who also made the finals at the US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach a few months ago, thanked the crowds for supporting him.

“Thank you everyone for coming out, I love competing in front of you,” Igarashi said. “To make a couple finals here in California makes me super happy, it really means the world. Let’s keep it going.”

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