Stab Magazine | The First Half Of Men's Round Three Was (Almost) Painful To Watch

Early Access For Stab Premium Members Live Now — Episode 1 of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

344 Views

The First Half Of Men’s Round Three Was (Almost) Painful To Watch

Parko, John John and Jordy reflect on a mindless afternoon at Snapper. 

news // Mar 18, 2017
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

If Joel Parkinson is feeling butterflies, you’re watching something special. The Snapper local and former Quiksilver Pro champion confessed to as much as he lined up a careless Snapper grinder for a 9.67 during one of the several mind-boggling heats this afternoon.

“I did (get butterflies) on that one,” he said, “but it still had chatter on the wave,” he said.

He backed it up with a 7.67 for a comfortable win over Brazilian Miguel Pupo. When asked if these were some of the best conditions he’d ever contested at Snapper, Parko played it down.

“Probably not. It wasn’t that good,” he said, then added, “Maybe I forgot how good it was. I just thought it was an average three foot. If it had of been a touch bigger and a touch more east in the swell it would have been amazing but it’s kinda south and goes away from it, so it’s a bit cutback-central. As I said I’m looking for a dream wave, a barrel from top to bottom,” he said.

As the tide continued to bottom out, however, the surf entered another realm. Italo Ferreira was up next, dropping a 9.77 to knock out fellow Brazilian Caio Ibelli. It capped a remarkable day for the former rookie of the year who in round two dropped a perfect ten with a high-velocity rotation the heat prior.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/GNb5ULNLebo

Reigning world champ John John Florence struggled to find his rhythm against Australian wildcard, Mikey Wright. The south coast, mullet-man opened up with a dreamy one behind the rock, flying out of the tube and into a speed carve in the bowl. He controlled the heat for the majority, watching on as John John coughed up a set wave and blew an air reverse when classical lines and tube riding would have sufficed.

“It was definitely a high-risk option,” said John afterwards. “I think that was my free surf self coming out, you know. That wave I was pumping down the line and the wind was blowing back into it and I was like, how can I not do an air right now? Which probably wasn’t the best competitively,” he said.

With two minutes remaining, the world champ jagged an inside nugget under Wright’s priority glueing four stabs and hacks to the pocket before getting drained on the inside. He emerged and gaffed another turn, dropping down another ledge and into the tube for a 7.90 and a narrow victory.

“I have some things to work on from that heat, which is cool to have and make it,” he said. “I made some mistakes.”

https://www.youtube.com/embed/SIU8XEf_nZs

And finally, Jordy Smith who somehow escaped round three despite his opponent, rookie Hawaiian Ezekiel Lau racking up a perfect ten for the day’s best tube: a freighting, sheet-glass drainer in which he stood tall for a moment before stepping on the gas and weaving above the foam ball.

“To be honest, in that heat, that’s exactly why we do this tour because to get moments like that where you’re in an arena, going neck and neck, wave for wave. That’s it for me; that’s the pinnacle,” said Jordy.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Italo And Filipe Lost, But Surfing Won Today

No shortage of excellence on Day Two at Lowers.

Jun 11, 2025

Opinion: Griffin vs Filipe Was A Masterclass In Surfing & Judging

And the exact reason Lowers is on tour.

Jun 11, 2025

How Politics Canceled A WSL Pro Junior Event In The Basque Country

The Israel-Palestine conflict hits surfing.

Jun 11, 2025

Wait, Is Lowers A Left?

Day One of the Lexus June Gloom Pro is wrapped, and Kelly's free for drinks.

Jun 11, 2025

Stab Interview: The Secret Lives Of Keith Malloy

On surf films, big waves, sibling bonds, and stunt-doubling for Matthew McConaughey.

Jun 9, 2025

Why Kelly Slater’s Favorite Wave Isn’t Producing More Pro Surfers

A critical analysis of the Soup Bowl surf community.

Jun 8, 2025

CT Watch: Jacob Willcox And Francisca Veselko Rattle The Cage

Where you begin is where you return: The Newcastle SURFEST.

Jun 8, 2025

Stab High And The Unfortunate Inevitability Of The C-Word 

Does surfing have a culture after all? 

Jun 8, 2025

Jordy Smith Is World #1, Kelly Slater Is A Wildcard, And… Ethan Ewing Is Trying Californian Surfboards?

Your 2025 Lower Trestles CT preview.

Jun 7, 2025

Tom Lowe Suffers Second Near-Fatal Injury at Teahupo’o In 14 Months

Sage Burke and Kala Grace tell the story straight.

Jun 6, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 1

Our first loser goes home in this "king of the hill" showdown.

Jun 6, 2025

The Return of Surf100: Raw, Unfiltered, Serialized

Seven challenges across California before the OG 100 minute final.

Jun 5, 2025

Snow Bros, A Former WSL CEO, And The Multimillion Dollar Fight To Govern Surfing In America 

"This decision could have massive, cascading, and irreversible consequences," says the CEO of USA Surfing. 

Jun 4, 2025

Everything You Need To Know About The Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

8 surfers. 8 challenges. $100,000.

Jun 4, 2025

Coming Soon: Stab in the Dark X

Dear Diary, May was a good month.

Jun 3, 2025

If The Challenger Series Is The Answer, What Is The Question?

Surfing’s middle child returns: the 2025 CS preview.

Jun 2, 2025

The WSL Just Gave The Kids A Steak Knife

The Challenger Series gets a run at Pipeline, and a double-take at Newcastle.

Jun 2, 2025

Mason Ho Follows MP’s Trail, Discovers The Delicate Art Of Not Getting Arrested

"That’s it. We’re cooked. I just told the boys this lane was mine, now I’m…

May 31, 2025
Advertisement