Kelly Slater And Dane Reynolds Lead Amazing Quarterfinal Matchups at Nike US Open of Surfing

by: Cyrus

Kelly Slater and Dane Reynolds lead a strong contingent of surfers to advance to the Quarterfinals of the Nike US Open of Surfing at Huntington Beach.  It took a strong comeback by Reynolds to allow him to compete against Slater for the chance to reach the Semifinals of the event.

 

“I just surf a lot and try it over and over again,” said Reynolds. “When it’s a bad wave you feel less pressure because it’s up to you and you want to push it as hard as you can. I hate when I’m on a good wave and I feel like I need to surf it at 70 percent. I’d almost rather get a bad wave and try and surf it 150 percent. I’m really excited for the next round. I’ve never beat Kelly and it’ll be a fun challenge.”

 

John John Florence and Julian Wilson both posted strong showings to set up another amazing matchup, as the two young guns will face each other in the next round.  Wilson defeated local favorite and former two-time contest winner Brett Simpson.

 

“Brett (Simpson) had momentum,” said Wilson. “I had a good wave at the start that would have put me in a good position, but I fell. He got two good scores and put pressure on me. I was looking to go right and get an air, so I was just trying to bank one out the back and it came. I’m happy I made it.”

 

While Slater, Reynolds, Florence and Wilson are set on one side of the draw, the other side is completely dominated by Brazilian surfers.  Miguel Pupo will take on Filipe Toledo in one heat while Gabriel Medina will battle Adriano De Souza in a stacked Quarterfinal draw of the Nike US Open of Surfing.

 

The Nike US Open of Surfing and the Women’s Nike US Open of Surfing will conclude tomorrow with the Champions determined.   All photos credited to USOpenOfSurfing.com.  Visit their website for more information.