Welcome back to the high-octane performances Southern California's gem can produce at the Lexus Trestles Pro Presented by Outerknown.
From Italo Ferreira and Griffin Colapinto's absurd progression setting the scale to Lakey Peterson and Gabriela Bryan laying down the hammer, it was lights out surfing all day long heading into the initial Elimination Round bouts. Bryan and fellow World No. 1 Jordy Smith continue to push the rankings with impeccable performances. More excellence ensued from the likes of Bettylou Sakura Johnson to send reigning World Champion Caity Simmers to the Elimination Round and Molly Picklum returned in decimating form - pushing World No. 4 Tyler Wright and No. 5 Isabella Nichols to the Elimination Round.
But, with every heat under a microscope in the World Title race, heavy implications arrived early for some of the Top 5 including Kanoa Igarashi and Barron Mamiya alongside perennial World Title contender Ethan Ewing. Igarashi flourished under pressure with Mamiya salvaging his campaign against the GOAT Kelly Slater before Ewing overpowered his way to the Round of 16. With plenty of swell on the horizon, the next start to competition will pick up with the stakes just as high and the crowd energy even higher heading into the weekend action.