Mark Healey finds one of the heaviest barrels of the day and emerges with the spit.
3:45 p.m. Mark Healey summed up the day perfectly with this grande finale: a perfectly-timed ride through a heavy barrel.
Landon McNamara gets in on the action with a deep tube ride and a close-call exit.
3:30 p.m. The sets are still hard to time but Landon McNamara's veteran status paid off. Landon ducked into the barrel and was able to time the escape just right.
Francisco Porcella finds his big ride of the day.
3:15 p.m.
As the fireworks from a big day begin to settle, Hawaiian Francisco Porcella informed the group there's still plenty of fun to be had with a massive drop.
The Californian nabs a giant gem at Cloudbreak during an epic session shared by several of the world's best big-wave riders.
2:45 p.m.
Dane Gudauskas just raised the bar with what's now being called wave of the day. The Californian drew a beautiful line through a wide open one, and stayed locked in there forever. Everyone in the channel was losing their minds. Dane was ecstatic on his way back out.
Hawaiian charger Mike Pietsch scores a clean one at Cloudbreak, May 23, 2016.
1:45 p.m.
The wind is coming up now and it's getting a bit unruly. There was a crowd of 20 or so chargers at the peak, but it's starting to thin out. Consequences are extremely heavy on the inside if the wrong wave is chosen so everyone is being a lot more selective. Given what went down this morning that makes perfect sense.
Damien Hobgood on another standout barrel at Cloudbreak.
12:45 p.m.
Damien Hobgood is definitely hogging the spotlight. He's scoring big time and is developing quite the fan following.
The sets at Cloudbreak are getting bigger and more frequent, but the big inside barrels are still hard to make.
12:00 p.m.
The wind is still holding in a good pattern. It's a little messy out the back in the takeoff zone, but it cleans up down the reef. The hollow section on the inside is also where the waves are standing up the most, with a few growers making things interesting.
Damien Hobgood finds a deep barrel and a couple bonus sections in thundering Cloudbreak conditions.
11:30 a.m.
Damien Hobgood hooks into the longest tube of the morning. It's a big one and he travels through countless sections before getting shut down. Everyone in the channel is losing their minds.
Radio chatter from the tower: 'It's cleaning up out here.' - WSL / Bill Sharp
10:45 a.m.
The winds are switching in a more favorable direction now, and it looks like some tubes are starting to open up. This should get interesting.
Shaun Lopez has been venturing to Tavarua for nearly two decades now, and it shows. - WSL / Bill Sharp
9:45 a.m.
After Gold is taken to the hospital in good spirits the rest of the surfers count their blessings and rally. They head back out to the empty lineup, which is cleaning up. Shaun Lopez (Gerry's nephew) is one of the first to catch a bomb.
Hawaiian big-wave charger Aaron Gold was revived thanks to a heroic effort from all on hand. - WSL
8:30 a.m.
Aaron Gold took off on an solid 8-foot wave and went down hard. He's picked up by a rescue ski and given CPR on a Tavarua boat. After roughly a minute of chest compressions, and about half way back from the reef to the resort Gold regained consciousness. Click here to read the complete story.
A view of Cloudbreak as surfers arrived for a Fiji strike mission.
Cloudbreak Strike Mission
WSL
3:45 p.m. Mark Healey summed up the day perfectly with this grande finale: a perfectly-timed ride through a heavy barrel.
3:30 p.m. The sets are still hard to time but Landon McNamara's veteran status paid off. Landon ducked into the barrel and was able to time the escape just right.
3:15 p.m. As the fireworks from a big day begin to settle, Hawaiian Francisco Porcella informed the group there's still plenty of fun to be had with a massive drop.
2:45 p.m. Dane Gudauskas just raised the bar with what's now being called wave of the day. The Californian drew a beautiful line through a wide open one, and stayed locked in there forever. Everyone in the channel was losing their minds. Dane was ecstatic on his way back out.
1:45 p.m. The wind is coming up now and it's getting a bit unruly. There was a crowd of 20 or so chargers at the peak, but it's starting to thin out. Consequences are extremely heavy on the inside if the wrong wave is chosen so everyone is being a lot more selective. Given what went down this morning that makes perfect sense.
12:45 p.m. Damien Hobgood is definitely hogging the spotlight. He's scoring big time and is developing quite the fan following.
12:00 p.m. The wind is still holding in a good pattern. It's a little messy out the back in the takeoff zone, but it cleans up down the reef. The hollow section on the inside is also where the waves are standing up the most, with a few growers making things interesting.
11:30 a.m. Damien Hobgood hooks into the longest tube of the morning. It's a big one and he travels through countless sections before getting shut down. Everyone in the channel is losing their minds.
10:45 a.m. The winds are switching in a more favorable direction now, and it looks like some tubes are starting to open up. This should get interesting.
9:45 a.m. After Gold is taken to the hospital in good spirits the rest of the surfers count their blessings and rally. They head back out to the empty lineup, which is cleaning up. Shaun Lopez (Gerry's nephew) is one of the first to catch a bomb.
8:30 a.m. Aaron Gold took off on an solid 8-foot wave and went down hard. He's picked up by a rescue ski and given CPR on a Tavarua boat. After roughly a minute of chest compressions, and about half way back from the reef to the resort Gold regained consciousness. Click here to read the complete story.
News
Jett Schilling's event-winning 9.73, plus a 9.50 in the Semifinals, another 9 from Taro Watanabe and explosive surfing from local hero
Jett Schilling Soars in Comeback Fashion to Claim QS 1000 Victory in Pumping Conditions
With Taro Watanabe pushing Jett Schilling to a 9.53 requirement, Schilling took to the air for a massive alley-oop and scored a 9.73 to
Soleil Errico teamed up with Traveller Surf Club (@traveller_surf_club) to host an invitational pro coaching workshop for the young rising
Taro Watanabe bagged himself two separate 9-point rides before Jett Schilling posted a 9.93 in the final heat of the Round of 16 to add