Waves gradually improved throughout the day and the performance level rose accordingly from the event's top seeds, namely Jorgann Couzinet who was the first surfer to break the 16 point barrier (out of 20) with two big scores for his attack of the clean Anza lefts. Couzinet was quickly joined by event wildcard Aboubakar Bouaouda) who lit up in the lineup and racked up his own high, combined heat total courtesy of an excellent 8.23 and 7.77, earned again on the lefts.
