Swell Builds, Performances Through the Roof at Martinique Surf Pro

Martinique Day 3 Highlights

Day 3 of the QS3000 Martinique Surf Pro witnessed incredible performances and huge scores at the fun righthand pointbreak of Basse-Pointe.

The Martinique Surf Pro resumed on day 3 of the event's waiting period with an incoming swell in the 3-to-4 foot range and longer walls to exploit along the rocky point at Basse-Pointe.

Reo Inaba (JPN) 18, dominated the field on his backhand, to collect the highest heat total of the event so far, an impressive 18.77. The young Japanese surfer selected the best waves during an exciting 30-minute exchange, surfing the long righthanders with excellence. Inaba built his scoreboard consistently to finally net a near-perfect 9.77 and a 9.00 point ride in the final minutes.

Inaba was lethal on his backhand. - WSL

"I feel super lucky those two waves just came to me when I had priority," Inaba stated. "I'm really comfortable on my backhand and this wave here is a lot of fun. I'm very happy to be here in Martinique and make a couple rounds, I'm looking forward to the next!"

Joshua Moniz (HAW) 18, was in sizzling form, lacerating the Basse-Pointe walls with unmatched speed and flair to collect his own 9.57 and 9.00 point ride in the first few minutes of the heat. The Hawaiian found similarities to his home in the Pacific and looked comfortable in the lineup.

Moniz, radical and committed. - WSL

"I was getting a bit nervous before my heat 'cause there weren't that many sets in the previous heats," Moniz said. "But I was super happy to get those two scores right off the bat, this doesn't happen too often in surfing. I'm so stoked on the quality of the wave I wasn't expecting it to be that good. On the North Shore it has a similar kind of vibe, everyone's nice here and super polite. I want to come back here for sure maybe on a surf trip without the pressure of the event."

Michael February (ZAF) 21, launched his Martinique campaign successfully with an assault on the early morning conditions to advance into the third round of competition. The stylish regularfooter displayed a variety of repertoire from aerial maneuvers to big carves and sharp top turns.

February on a sharp top turn. - WSL

"I felt good, I got my first wave really early and got a good score, that got the nerves gone," February reflected. "The conditions this morning are very similar to some of the points back at home in South Africa and I just had a lot of fun. After a good heat like that, I want to come down and stay focused, off course it feels good but I'll take it one heat at a time. There's a lot of guys from France and the Caribbean who have a good understanding of the wave so they'll probably be dangerous here."

Hiroto Arai (JPN) 20, psyched up watching compatriot Inaba tear apart the long righthanders and went blow for blow in his exchange with Hawaiians Ian Gentil (HAW) and Kaimana Jaquias (HAW).

Arai, up close and personal. - WSL / Damien Poullenot

"I saw Reo's heat where he got two 9s and I was so stoked for him and super excited to go out myself," Arai said. "To have the four-man priority system here is awesome, I was able to be patient and wait for the good waves. That heat was incredibly hard, Kaimana got a 9 and Ian had two solid scores so I'm stoked to come out on top! Waves are super fun and I look forward to tomorrow with even more size."

Local hero Louca Jourdan (MTQ) 21, came up just short of advancing through his round of 64 bout, but excited the local crowds with his numerous attempts to get back into the top 2. A former Junior competitor on the European tour, Jourdan appreciated the opportunity to compete at home and see some of the world's best surfers perform on his home ground.

Jourdan enjoyed the opportunity to compete at his homebreak. - WSL / Damien Poullenot

"I was very nervous before my heat started but I managed to get back in focus a few minutes in," Jourdan admitted. "Overall I'm happy with my performance, I was missing a better wave to get into the good range and make it through. All my friends were here to support and it felt great to perform here at home. I think it's a tremendous opportunity for all of us locals to see all the pros come here surf at that level, and to share the lineup with them on the off days."

With a building swell and favorable wind conditions, contest officials and surfers will reconvene on Friday morning at 8AM local time, for a potential early start of Round 4 in epic conditions.