The Brazilian Storm came out in force for the remainder of Round 3.
Condensed Heats
Recaps: Round 1 | Round 2, Round 3 (Heats 1-4)
Full Results
The remaining heats of Round 3 at the J-Bay Open belonged to the members of the Brazilian Storm.
Rookie Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) was the first to step up: He faced two-time J-Bay champ Joel Parkinson (AUS) in Heat 5. While Parko earned the highest heat total of the event during Round 2, a combination of spotty sets and Dantas' excellent-range score spelled doom for the Tour veteran, eliminating him from the contest.
The reigning World Champ carried his momentum into Round 3 at the J-Bay Open and scored big.
Dantas set off a chain reaction for the Brazilian contingent. In the next heat, rankings leader Adriano de Souza (BRA) easily defeated wildcard Dane Reynolds (USA). In Heat 8, meanwhile, reigning World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) scored a near-perfect two-wave total -- 19.07 -- throwing huge airs for three rides in the nine-point range.
"That was a pretty fun heat," said Medina. "The year has been tough for me and it feels good to make this Round 3. Now it's a no-loser round and it's more relaxed -- you can choose your waves and do your thing. I just want to keep going and keep the ball rolling."
Filipe Toledo and Alejo Muniz go head to head in the Round 3 heat cutdown.
The final heat of Round 3 featured two Brazilians -- World No. 2 Filipe Toledo took on Alejo Muniz -- continuing the charge of the Storm but with a new face added to the mix. Despite early heroics from Toledo, who went to the air multiple times for excellent-range scores, Muniz hacked up a larger set-wave for a 9.80, the highest single-wave score for the event so far. Competing in his fourth consecutive CT event this season, this time in place of Jeremy Flores (FRA) who was injured during a recent freesurf in Indo, Muniz has a chance to overtake a number of elite Tour surfers in the overall rankings.
YELLOW JERSEY WATCH: After the eliminations of Taj Burrow (AUS) in Round 2 and Owen Wright (AUS) and Toledo in Round 3, there are only two surfers left to challenge De Souza for the No. 1 spot on the Jeep Leaderboard: Defending J-Bay champion Mick Fanning (AUS) can steal the yellow jersey if he makes the Final. Julian Wilson (AUS), meanwhile, can move into the No. 1 spot if he wins the event.
Tune in Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. local time for the next call and more action. Take waves on the go with the WSL App.
Brazilian Storm's J-Bay Resurgence
WSL
Condensed Heats
Recaps: Round 1 | Round 2, Round 3 (Heats 1-4)
Full Results
The remaining heats of Round 3 at the J-Bay Open belonged to the members of the Brazilian Storm.
Rookie Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) was the first to step up: He faced two-time J-Bay champ Joel Parkinson (AUS) in Heat 5. While Parko earned the highest heat total of the event during Round 2, a combination of spotty sets and Dantas' excellent-range score spelled doom for the Tour veteran, eliminating him from the contest.
Dantas set off a chain reaction for the Brazilian contingent. In the next heat, rankings leader Adriano de Souza (BRA) easily defeated wildcard Dane Reynolds (USA). In Heat 8, meanwhile, reigning World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) scored a near-perfect two-wave total -- 19.07 -- throwing huge airs for three rides in the nine-point range.
"That was a pretty fun heat," said Medina. "The year has been tough for me and it feels good to make this Round 3. Now it's a no-loser round and it's more relaxed -- you can choose your waves and do your thing. I just want to keep going and keep the ball rolling."
The final heat of Round 3 featured two Brazilians -- World No. 2 Filipe Toledo took on Alejo Muniz -- continuing the charge of the Storm but with a new face added to the mix. Despite early heroics from Toledo, who went to the air multiple times for excellent-range scores, Muniz hacked up a larger set-wave for a 9.80, the highest single-wave score for the event so far. Competing in his fourth consecutive CT event this season, this time in place of Jeremy Flores (FRA) who was injured during a recent freesurf in Indo, Muniz has a chance to overtake a number of elite Tour surfers in the overall rankings.
YELLOW JERSEY WATCH: After the eliminations of Taj Burrow (AUS) in Round 2 and Owen Wright (AUS) and Toledo in Round 3, there are only two surfers left to challenge De Souza for the No. 1 spot on the Jeep Leaderboard: Defending J-Bay champion Mick Fanning (AUS) can steal the yellow jersey if he makes the Final. Julian Wilson (AUS), meanwhile, can move into the No. 1 spot if he wins the event.
Tune in Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. local time for the next call and more action. Take waves on the go with the WSL App.
Gabriel Medina
3x World Champ Gabriel Medina turned it on once again at Main Break in a battle of the goofy-footers facing Ryan Callinan. Medina's
A clash of the titans kicked men's action into high gear with 2022 event winner and Western Australia's own Jack Robinson facing 3x World
Featuring Gabriel Medina, John John Florence, Liam O'Brien, Yago Dora, Italo Ferreira, Carissa Moore, Griffin Colapinto, Tatiana
Featuring Jordy Smith, Gabriel Medina, Tyler Wright, George Pittar, Sawyer Lindblad, Caroline Marks, Samuel Pupo, Griffin Colapinto, Ethan
Medina has found his gear upon reaching stop No. 4 Bells Beach, dropping a commanding 17.33 Heat total which included a near-perfect 9.33 +
J-Bay Open
Ronnie Blakey, Peter Mel and Ross Williams discuss the rough starts of Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina in 2015.
After his encounter with a shark during the J-Bay Open, Mick Fanning spoke to a number of media outlets clamoring for information.
After an abrupt end at J-Bay, see who's up -- and who's down -- heading into Tahiti.
The contest with a harrowing finale had music behind the maneuvers.
US fans can catch all the action and terrifying finale of the 2015 J-Bay Open on ABC's World of X Games at 3 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.