The best day of professional surfing since Tahiti

All photos by Tom Carey Exhale… what a day to be glued to a screen! No one could’ve thought the dribble that chaffed Snapper Rocks this morning would deliver the finest day of pro surfing since Tahiti last year. Let’s just take it all in for a second… Unless you misplaced your internet you’re aware Gabriel Medina headlined today in the Quiksilver Pro. Not for surfing, though. After going down to Glenn ‘Micro’ Hall on an interference call in round three, Gabs offered Commish Kieren Perrow his first-event performance review. He then dropped a “fuck you” and offered what appeared to be some other lessons to Micro. Stab understands Gabriel and Micro will be doing the WSL Morning Show together from 7am, the post-heat discrepancy being put down to a language barrier “It’s great to beat Gabriel,” said Micro. “It was a good heat. The end result was a bit wild with the interference but he was way too close to me for me to be able to get a clean take off. I really like Gabriel and I was legitimately stoked for him last year. He’s passionate in the water and a legend out of the water. We did have words out in the water but it’s nothing personal.” Regardless, KP still wasn’t stoked about his honourable mention and issued a statement (read it here). It will still be a tough evening for Charlie and the champ. Freddy Patacchia then showed the nu-skool what’s up and boardslid a rock. The tour sure would be a bland place without a gent like Freddy P who’s all shades of awesome. “Judging criteria – speed, power and flow. I believe I ticked all the boxes, not to mention innovation,” he wrote. “Under scored? I think so. Haha.” Josh Kerr then sparred his fibreglass because frustration, Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson also lost in round three, and for the rest of the day you’ve been too scared to leave your keyboard. We don’t blame you. If the WSL was worried about losing viewers over the waiting period extension, cooping up the world’s best surfers for 10 days in out-dated hotels on the Gold Coast will get you results. And, all before midday. Despite such internet virality you couldn’t script, there were actually jerseys in the water delivering the fibreglass jive we love. How about Matt Wilkinson beating John John Florence? Wilko banked a 8.73 and 9.10 in the first 10 minutes and then sat pretty. The ocean said nuhuh to JJF, who couldn’t back-up a fin-ditch-to-reverse he combo’d to a 9.23, and exited way earlier than anyone really wanted. “I was so close to falling off tour (last year) and it scared me, it put a bit of fire under me. Instead of trying to requalify I may as well go for the title,” said Wilko. Filipe Toledo was a standout today. He beat Kolohe Andino in round three, Jordy Smith and Wilko in round four, and will have Bede Durbidge in the last quarter tomorrow. “The long wait was good for my mind and to figure out my boards,” he said. “I’ll just keep going and having fun, doing what I loved to do, I’m super stoked. I think this year is going to be a great year for Brazil and for the younger guys on tour.” Wiggolly Dantas (into the quarters) and Italio Ferreira (out) were, unsurprisingly, devilish in the waist-high conditions. Their Q’y experience served the rookies well and reminded every gent on the CT that small-wave game still swings hard. “The rookies are all on fire, they came out so strong,” said Taj Burrow. “I didn’t take Italo lightly at all (in round five) and I knew he’d be tough. I tried to be really selective and it was a close heat. I’m hoping for a few more feet on the swell tomorrow.” Julian Wilson is the quietest contender for an event win tomorrow. He took Nat Young this morning, skipped round five in the afternoon and is looking very on point to re-match Taj Burrow. Alongside Mick Fanning, who could endure a 400-day waiting period like it ain’t no thing, are sure favourites tomorrow. “Everyone on this tour has the ability to win this event, it’s whoever gets the waves,” said Mick. When competition resumes, countrymen Miguel Pupo and Wiggolly will go heelside-to-heelside, Jules and TB reacquaint, Mick Fanning and Adriano de Souza meet and Filipe Toeldo and Bede Durbidge will paint a beautiful antithesis of surfing in 2015. Oh, and then there’s the gals.   QF 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) QF 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS) QF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA) QF 4: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS) Heat 1: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) Heat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA) Heat 3: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Courtney Conlogue (USA) Heat 4: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)