Teenage rookies ripped through waves with high-difficulty maneuvers and impressed onlookers at the Lower Trestles surf spot in San Clemente, California, for the 6th tournament of the ASP World Tour this year. But after nearly a thousand waves were ridden by 38 competing surfers last week, 40-year-old veteran Kelly Slater rose above all and took the top rank in pursuit of winning his 12th World Champion title.