Dane Reynolds and a backside stab at Rocky Point, Hawaii

Dane Reynolds is in Hawaii and has a steam on. He’s doing the Triple Crown, for which we’re all thankful, and might, maybe, possibly be flirting with the idea of getting re-involved in the competitive game on a more committed level* (*purely speculative but let it please be true). It doesn’t take much to spin the rumour mill and Dane’s win at unspectacular Haleiwa was enough to switch it on. But, anecdotal evidence might suggest that the rumours have a little basis. “I can attest that I’ve seen what might be a different approach to Dane’s surfing over the past week in Hawaii,” says photographer Trevor Moran. “Marathon solo sessions far removed from the beaches lined with lenses, preferring to hone technique on tricky contest-esque waves instead of hunting for a Wave of The Winter clip at flawless sandbars. While experimenting with angles during a squall at Sunset with conditions far from ideal, I spotted a familiar white T-shirt testing wrap arounds from way out the back. There was no dedicated filmer recording The Shirt’s every movement, and it became clear that although it may be a familiar face out the back, there may actually be a brand new person coming to the tour sometime soon.”

It wasn’t just about winning the Haleiwa heat though, but more the way in which he did it: multiple, enthusiastic turns to the beach that looked… competitive, rather than his go-for-broke one move play of yesteryear. But, what’s Dane’s vibe on requalification? “Its pretty tough being a wildcard out there,” he said after his Haleiwa heat win. “Not so much in this event, but in the WCTs because you’re going up against the top seed first round and its pretty daunting. I was actually thinking out there after the first couple exchanges… I’d get eaten alive on the WQS, because I’m so bad at positioning and paddling and that is such an key element in competing in four man heats.”

Whether or not Dane requalifies, or indeed if he even wants to, we’re still gonna dig on photos like this.