Johanne Defay simply dominated her Round One heat at the Vans US Open of Surfing, kicking off what could be her bid to win the event for a second time. The French surfer had already scored an 8.00 in a three-woman battle with Carissa Moore and Silvana Lima, but this backhand attack sealed the deal and sent her straight to Round Three. Defay won this event in 2014, her rookie year on the Championship Tour, and it signified her role as a serious player among the world's best. Now in her fourth season, she has continued to achieve top-level results, but just outside World Title talk. With a US Open start like this, however, that could all change this week.
