Vans US Open of Surfing (part four)

Waves, women and weather is the Californian recipe, and all three were present on Day 6 of the Vans US Open of Surfing. For the second day running, Jordy Smith displaced buckets of brine to clock up a 9.17 and 8.20 and secure passage to Round 16. “I knew that heat was going to be tough,” said Jordy. “Ramzi (Boukhiam) has been ripping and C.J. (Hobgood) started strong with that 8”. Patience is a virtue in the Huntington lineup, and the newly-engaged Mr. Smith is no stranger to the rewards that come with careful wave selection. “I got that 9 and that was the turning point for me. If you get the right waves out there you’re going to get high scores. I knew it was going to be a comeback heat for me and I’m happy to get the win.”

California’s prodigal sun Brother Andino also tasted success, dusting defending champ Julian Wilson and Kauai’s Seabass in Heat 2. “I have so much respect for Julian (Wilson) and Seabass (Sebastian Zietz),” said Kolohe humbly. “I wanted to beat them really bad. The waves are more fun today, they’re more peaky and I’m stoked on that.” And do y’think local knowledge helped? “I like these waves, I’ve surfed these waves my whole life and I’m really excited to make it to the next round”.

Adriano De Souza ousted countrymen Jadson Andre and Alex Ribero with a similarly polished air-and-rail game. “I was nervous because I creased my board twice, but I knew I couldn’t leave Jadson and Alex out there alone,” said Adriano. The current World No. 6 also commented on the dichotomy between camaraderie and competition in his all-Brazilian heat. “Everyone’s fighting for one spot out there and outside of the water we’re all friends, but in the water it’s business. We’re all there for the same thing and it involves money and points. I’m stoked to get that heat win.”

Round 16 of the US Open is set to run tomorrow. Prepare the fireworks! – Rupert Partridge.

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.73, Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.67, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 11.50
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.57, Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.23, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 5.36
Heat 3: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 12.83, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.27, Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.03
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.30, Kelly Slater (USA) 10.05, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.50
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.37, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.97, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 12.23
Heat 6: Granger Larsen (HAW) 12.84, Matt Banting (AUS) 12.24, Hodei Collazo (EUK) 7.50
Heat 7: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.77, Nat Young (USA) 12.33, Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 6.67
Heat 8: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.30, Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.17, Charles Martin (GLP) 8.33