Patrick Gudauskas Wins Shoe City Pro Title
The World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) Shoe City Pro QS1000 finished competition in consistent four-to-six foot, rebuilding swell as Patrick Gudauskas (USA) and Maud Le Car (FRA) earned their respective titles in the Men and Women divisions. Ending with the Men’s Final, Gudauskas took full advantage of the unrelenting waves throughout this event and capped it off with an incredible win.
“I’m so stoked to come out of this one with a win at the first event of the year,” Gudauskas said. “It was so fun out there but wave choice was huge because there were some really long ones and if you snagged one of those then you had to make that tough paddle all the way back out. I’m just really psyched to win this contest after an incredible day of surfing - there were some really good battles all day and that just topped it off. Nate’s been surfing well this whole event and to come against him in the Final was great.
”It was not an easy road to the Final for Gudauskas, dealing with Chris Waring (USA) in a dramatic Semifinal. The San Clemente native sat and had to watch Waring take off on a last minute wave that he rode all the way to shore, but was unable to complete the finishing maneuver to pull off a comeback - putting Gudauskas into the Final.
“Waring knows this wave better than anyone,” Gudauskas said. “He was surfing so great out there and when he caught that last wave I wasn’t sure I would’ve been able to do anything out there if he had gotten the score. Those are the sickest heats to be a part of and really test you as a surfer. I had those all day long and couldn’t be happier to make them. I’m really excited for this year after that win.”