The results are in and the FireWire E-Pro USA presented by Futures has its finalists after another spectacle of action in the Semifinals. Only four remained with three of San Clemente, California’s, youth pool delivering more Lower Trestles dreamers alongside the lone East Coast threat poised to do damage.
Heat 1 featured 21-year-old Kei Kobayashi and Kade Matson in a Lowers clash with Kobayashi manhandling the running lefthander and finishing with a jaw-dropping aerial attack. His fellow San Clemente surfer Matson submitted a clean righthander to showcase his forehand power and utilizing his rail-game until blasting an air-reverse to put an exclamation point on the ride. In the end it was Kobayashi who claimed victory over Matson and moved one step closer toward his goal.
The classic rivalry of East Coast vs West Coast lives on to this day and this event put that rivalry on full display. New Jersey’s Rob Kelly electrified this event with his screaming barrels from home and submitted one more for good measure in an attempt to take down San Clemente talent Cole Houshmand. But, Houshmand’s immaculate Lowers lefthander offered the 20-year-old two dreamy sections that he laid waste to with his forehand.
Now, all the bragging rights are on the line with Kobayashi facing off against Houshmand to see who claims the San Clemente crown and FireWire E-Pro USA presented by Futures title.
Voting begins Tuesday, March 23, at 12 p.m. EST to determine the event victor.
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