Dan Ross, Supertubos, Portugal

The new ASP WT format can be an unpredictable little so-n’-so. One minute you’re down n’ out, coming last in your heat with nought but a glimmer of hope – the next, you’re three-quarters of the way through the contest, with the final in sight.

Dan Ross knows all about that path. At the Quiksilver Pro, France, he came third to Bede Durbidge and Jeremy Flores in his first round heat. In round two, he managed to take down Bobby Martinez, but then drew a dangerous-looking Taj Burrow for round three. Things didn’t look great.

But Dan hammered out a 16.40 two-wave combination, throwing Taj onto the ropes. Next thing Dan knew, he’d placed second in his round four heat, beaten an in-form Owen Wright in round five, and was sitting pretty in the quarters. It was in the first quarter final that Dan fell to the competitive machine that is Brett Simpson.

Regardless of the lack of a finals berth, the France contest showed Dan that the new format is all about second chances, and your contest campaign is only as strong as your determination.

In the first round of the Rip Curl Pro, Portugal, Dan fell to Mick Fanning and Marlon Lipke. But as Dan’s already seen in France, it ain’t over ’till it’s over. – Elliot Struck