Jordy Smith, Snapper Rocks, Australia

This is Jordy Smith in round three of the Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast yesterday, en route to beating injury wildcard Cory Lopez.

To make it through tunnels like this, that seemed all too tight for a man of Jordy’s hulking (but admittedly more slender in 2011) frame, the South-African said that the trick is putting his arms in front of him to lead the way. Simple, yes? but effective as hell, clearly – he squeezed through enough low-tide drainers to come out on top of Lopey.

But it wasn’t all caves – Jordy also said that the board he rode, a combination between a CI Flyer and a Rookie called the ‘Modiflyer’, was chosen as a curvier piece of foam would fit more easily in the tighter pockets of yesterday.

Jordy came up third this morning to Brazilian Adriano De Souza and heat-winner Brett Simpson. He’ll surf again in round five (possibly held this afternoon) to try and make it into the quarters.