Field Notes: Day One at the Quik Pro

Words by Damien Fahrenfort 

After a two lay days the Quik Pro France kicked off! The waves were pumping, the contest was delayed for the first 45 minutes while they moved the competition area a few hundred yards up the beach. The french beachie was cracking in classic form. Things tend to get a little chaotic when it’s that big and heavy. Today in France, it was all about the barrel. Here’s a few field notes from the ground level at Hossegor.

Slater concussed still ties with Simpo.
In a freesurf yesterday afternoon Mr Slater knocked him self unconscious. So naturally the King came out with a 7.17 early in round one. Brett Simpson put up an early eight and backed it up with a 6.67. The concussed Slater grabbed a nice tunnel late in the round to tie it up with Brett. Then lost in the recount. Must be all the Simpo love on Stab curving the judges to score him higher than Mr Slater.

This is how you John John.
The returning champ put on a flawless performance in the opening round. He probably could have won the heat based off his two finishing turns alone. The difference in JJF’s tube riding skill is apparent in conditions like this. Especially when in comparison to somebody like Alejo Muniz. The way he knifes in, tucks under the lip, makes his exit eyeing the closing section and whips in classic John John form. Looks like that ankles feeling fine, the brace is gone and Mr Florence’s feeling sprightly.

A charitable man is winning man.
A few days ago Dane announced he’d be giving all his winning to Surfers not Street Children, an organization out of Durban, South Africa that teaches kids to surf and takes them off the streets. There must be good karma involved in donating winnings to a charity. Last year Bianca Buitendag donated all of her winnings to a friends charity and had a killer year. The distribution of wealth does wonders for a man’s confidence. Hopefully will see this continue throughout the remainder of the event and into the tour next year. Dane’s tube riding was some of the day’s best. 95% of the surfers in competition wouldn’t have made some of the barrels he did. They looked like they were going to clamp on him but was able to power through. One things for certain Dane in heavy, hollow beach break is a treat.

Jules is engaged and’s putting up 9’s.
Jules went absolutely mad in his first round heat. Mr Wilson here got two of the days best barrels. Both were comparative to his final at the Pipe Masters last year. Taking off behind the peak, backdooring it holding his line and getting blown out the front. As he came out the barrel even his fly-aways were in form and stylish. They drew more of a scream from the crowd than the barrels themselves. Oh, French fans… they’re still learning.

Alejo Muniz’s out with injury. Italo to walks through to round three, bummer?
Mr Muniz had a bit of a shocker in the french shorebreak. He tweaked his knee and took a beating before having to be carried up the beach. We won’t be seeing him in the rest of the competition. Italo Ferreria will move directly into round three by default. Which well help his course towards the rookie of the year award.

The hometown struggle.
We were really hoping Jeremy Flores would revel in the conditions that he’s so used to. But unfortunately he couldn’t buy a wave. This is a common theme with european pros, Tiago Pires could never get out of a heat in Portugal. Hopefully J-Flo can bounce back in round 2.

Can we get some Hawaiians on the skis?
The French cowboys need to get their shit together. Nose diving and rolling skis! You almost killed the holy grail; John John Florence which is unanimously punishable by death regardless of what culture you live in. Actually fuck it, keep up the chaos it’s great entertainment.

Round two match-ups:

Heat 1: Filipe Toledo, Maxime Huscenot
Heat 2: Owen Wright, Caio Ibelli
Heat 3: Kelly Slater, Aritz Aranburu
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores, Dusty Payne
Heat 5: Italo Ferreira, Alejo Muniz
Heat 6: Nat Young, Ricardo Christie
Heat 7: Josh Kerr, Glenn Hall
Heat 8: Wiggolly Dantas, Michel Bourez
Heat 9: Joel Parkinson, Keanu Asing
Heat 10: Kai Otton,Adam Melling
Heat 11: Matt Wilkinson, Sebastian Zietz
Heat 12: Jadson Andre, Miguel Pupo