Top Seeds Light Up Competition in Brazil

Highlights: Red Nose Pro15 - Day 2

3:31

Praia do Santinho was pumping for the second day of competition at the QS6,000-level contest.

Despite a short delay due to heavy thunderstorms, Day 2 of the 2015 Red Nose Pro Florianopolis SC presented by Costao do Santinho finished off Round 1 and ran through Heat 12 of Round 2 before calling it off for the day. Athletes were kept on their toes at the World Surf League Men's QS 6000 event as conditions seemingly changed heat by heat. El Niño's influence could be felt as winds switched from light offshore to strong onshore and back, with consistent rain throughout the day. However, plenty of waves in the 3-4 foot range (1 meter) at Praia do Santinho provided ample scoring opportunity as the event's top seeds entered competition.

Krystian Kymerson (BRA) once again took to the air and continued his torrid pace as an early event standout. By combining an 8.17 with an 8.47, Kymerson obtained the day's highest heat score total of 16.64 in Heat 8 of Round 2.

Krystian Kymerson (BRA) - Photo: Daniel Smorigo - WSL / Daniel Smorigo

"I'm real happy that I was able to find the right waves to throw some big airs again," said Kymerson, who eliminated current Top-10 QS surfer, Ryan Callinan (AUS). "Everyone in the heat was getting good waves, so I'm stoked that I advanced in 1st place. Even though it rained all day, the waves are great and I'm going to try my hardest to make more heats and get a good result here."

In Heat 2 of Round 2, Nathan Hedge (AUS) looked explosive as he took an early lead by tearing apart a long lefthander for an 8.33. Despite competing at the Red Nose Pro after recent knee surgery, Hedge's competitive experience and volatile efforts in the water awarded him a Round 3 berth.

However, it was the young Frenchman, Nomme Mignot (FRA), who obtained a 15.60 (7.60 + 8.00) heat total to advance in 1st place over Hedge, eliminating Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) and Robson Santos (BRA) in the process.

Nomme Mignot (FRA) - Photo: Daniel Smorigo - WSL / Daniel Smorigo

"It was a tight heat," said Mignot. "There were some big scores and I knew I needed to get a good backup score because the waves went flat and you never know how long a set will take. So I just waited out the back with priority and that's when I got the 8-point ride. Conditions are super fun. I'm not really thinking about passing my heat, just surfing because it's so fun out there. I'm happy to be in Brazil and get another heat done and I hope to keep my rhythm going."

Up-and comers Deivid Silva (BRA) and Kanoa Igarashi (USA) looked zippy as they strung along consecutive maneuvers to defeat Willian Cardoso (BRA) and Lucca Mesinas (PER) in Heat 4 of Round 2.

"I made a mistake in the beginning of the heat and gave up a good wave to Kanoa (Igarashi), so I had to work hard to make up for it and I'm stoked I was able to advance in my first heat at my sponsor's contest," admitted Silva. "I remained calm and chose good waves and that's when I found a good rhythm to get a 6.93 and then an 8.60. Everything worked out in the end and I'm happy I made it into Round 3."

Deivid Silva (BRA) - Photo: Daniel Smorigo - WSL / Daniel Smorigo

Currently sitting in 7th place on the QS standings, Igarashi had this to say about the day's competition and his CT aspirations:

""I felt pretty nervous in that heat actually. The waves were hard to find and I didn't know which ones would be good. The wind came up during my heat and conditions changed, but I still felt like I got some good ones that were easy to surf. So I'm just glad to get through that heat and on to the next round. My goal for this event is to win. I'm not thinking about making some heats and increasing my points, I'm thinking about winning. I think these waves suit me pretty well and I've got some really good boards, so I'm just going to do the best I can."

Overcoming Igarashi in the Final at the US Open in Huntington Beach earlier this year, Hiroto Ohhara (JAP) looked solid in his opening performance at the Red Nose Pro at Praia do Santinho.

"That was a tough heat. I started off with an 8.00 then backed it up with a 6.50 and then the other guys didn't catch any waves," said Ohhara. "I had priority, so I felt confident and just waited for like 10 minutes for another good wave and that's when I got the 8.20. I was looking for lefts at the start, but if a right comes, I'll usually take the right (laughs). I won the US Open and that gave me a big boost in the rankings, but I don't have any other good results, so I hope to do well here and then get another good result in Maresias (November 2-9)."

Hiroto Ohhara (JAP) - Photo: Daniel Smorigo - WSL / Daniel Smorigo

The race for significant results has heated up on the 2015 WSL Qualifying Series rankings. Only the top ten ranked surfers at the end of the year will make it onto the 2016 Championship Tour. With only a handful of QS events remaining, every heat is pivotal.

A call is set for 7:30am local time on Thursday. First in the water will be Maxime Huscenot (FRA), Luel Felipe (BRA), Garrett Parkes (AUS) and Renato Galvao (BRA) in Heat 13 of Round 2. Watch all the action live: www.worldsurfleague.com