“Fives were like nines out there,” Joel Parkinson told Rosy Hodge in his post-heat interview.
Rain clouds and rough waters was the theme of the day with some sizable sets rolling through accompanied by heavy winds that kept things interesting out in the line-up.
Needless to say, the lingering hope that conditions would compare to last year’s epic event began to sound more like whispers in the wind as WSL Commissioner, Kieren Perrow, called off competition after only eight heats.
Kelly Slater started the morning off in impressive fashion. After arriving just 12 hours before the first heat took to the water, Kelly paddled out on a surfboard no one has ever seen him ride before and proceeded to combo both Jadson Andre and Brett Simpson, earning the highest heat total of the day, 15.10.
While Slater’s win may not excite most these days, the other heats were full of surprises with three surfers in white earning a spot straight into Round 3.
Aritz Aranburu, the injury replacement for Jordy Smith, used his experience at this event to earn the heat win against Filipe Toledo and Keanu Asing.
In an early exchange, Toledo found his best wave, a 4.50, on the first wave of a set. Taking off on the second wave right after him, Aranburu topped Toledo’s score, earning a 4.93 and the lead.
Shortly after, Aranburu found a bomb to secure the win. Fully committed, basically free falling on his takeoff, he grabbed rail and pulled right into a heavy pit getting spit out and earning an 8.17, the second highest single wave score of the day.
In Heat 6, Wildcard Bruno Santos defeated World No. 1 Adriano de Souza and local Michel Bourez with just an 8.67 heat total. Santos’ back up score, a 3.50, was De Souza’s best single wave score. Using the forehand advantage, Santos found a 5.17 to solidify the win and advance into Round 3. With a win at this event in 2008 there is no telling how far this guy will go, making him a threat to whomever he faces next.
Comparing De Souza’s performance to the two surfers below him in the rankings, you can almost guarantee a leader change already.
Speaking of World No. 2 and 3, Fanning and Wilson seemed to have put all fear and anxiety left over from the J-Bay incident behind them. Both answered the surfing community’s lingering question, “how will this affect their performance?” by dominating their heats and shutting down any doubts. Wilson earned the highest single wave score of the day with an 8.33.
While the conditions continued to dissipate, Dusty Payne earned a spot into the third round, sending Nat Young and Kai Otton to surf Round 2. This will only be his third time surfing a Round 3 heat this year. He’ll need a big result at this event to keep his chances of re-qualifying alive.
Parko ended the first day of competition finding two inside barrels for a couple 5-point rides, edging out Taj Burrow and Glen Hall who were probably wishing Perrow had made the call a few heats earlier.
