In the slowest heat of the day, Australian Stu Kennedy grinded out a win against an in-form Nat Young. Young's smooth Santa Cruz backhand attack put Stu against the ropes in the final minutes of Heat 6. Then, in the final exchange, Kennedy clicked a tail-high air reverse for a 6.23, and took the win.
This win was huge for the rookie, as he continues to build a cushion for CT re-qualification. With a newborn baby at home, every heat matters. Nat, on the other hand, will need to regroup, and post a solid result in Portugal.