For the first time in three years, former XXL winner and Big Wave Tour Champ Makuakai Rothman, advanced out of Round One. After winning his heat on the back of one quality ride and a horrendous wipeout on a big set wave, Rothman seemed relieved, stating that he was just happy to have moved through to the Semifinals. He did more than that, taking the heat win despite wearing a thick lip on the head after a committed, deep drop on a Jaws bomb.
