Organizers Move Up Start of Competition

The Boost Mobile Pro Presented by Billabong, the only Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour event being held this year on the U.S. mainland, will begin Thursday at Lower Trestles near San Clemente.

The contest will be run over five days, with Saturday being a lay day. Organizers had anticipated a Sunday start but moved the dates up to take advantage of large waves already being generated by Hurricane Hernan off Baja California.

With another big swell expected to arrive Saturday or Sunday, the contest promises to be exciting for athletes and spectators. Andy Irons of Princeville, Kauai, is the world’s top-rated surfer with seven WCT events remaining. The top local surfers are Pat O’Connell of Laguna Beach, rated 24th, Taylor Knox of Carlsbad, 27th, and Shane Beschen of San Clemente, one of two wild-card entries in a field of 48.

Thursday’s heats begin at 8 a.m. at Trestles, within San Onofre State Beach. The contest will end Tuesday but a previously scheduled paddle-out ceremony, open to the public, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 11, after the raising of the flag at 6:30 a.m.