Improved two-to-three foot surf  for day 6 of this year’s Nike U.S. Open saw more amazing aerial performances from the Brazilian contingent.

Gabriel Medina continued his unstoppable tear on the competition today and was nearly flawless in his Round of 24 heat. In effect, the high flying Brazilian clocked up the highest total heat score of the comp, a 19.03 out of 20.“I just tried to have fun,” Medina said. “Today’s waves are better than the other day and I just tried to do my airs and make the heat, so I’m stoked.”

Brazilian compatriot Filipe Toledo also put on an impressive performance to win his Round of 24 heat despite an unfortunate interference. The progressive young talent fought back to amass one of the event’s highest scores, a 9.80, when he launched a fully committed air-reverse on the outside followed by a clean cutback and second air-reverse on the inside.

“I got the interference and I thought, I’m going to do airs and make up for it,” Toledo said. “I knew I needed to make up for it and the interference might have given me extra motivation. I’ve got a lot of heats left to surf in the juniors too and I’m stoked to defend my title.”

Meanwhile Kelly fell to an on-form Nathaniel Curran, but only in their Round 4 non-elimination heat so last year’s U.S. Open champ will continue his campaign for this year’s title as soon as the contest resumes in Round 5.

NIKE US OPEN OF SURFING ROUND OF 24 RESULTS: (No Losers)
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.24, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.17, Kai Otton (AUS) 10.30
Heat 2: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 16.44, Jay Thompson (USA) 10.43, Tim Reyes (USA) 10.27
Heat 3: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 12.40, Stu Kennedy (AUS) 11.50, Dane Reynolds (USA) 6.06
Heat 4: Nathaniel Curran (USA) 18.06, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.84, Kelly Slater (USA) 14.47
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 19.03, Granger Larsen (HAW) 15.20, Nat Young (USA) 9.27
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.30, Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 13.57, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 12.10
Heat 7: John John Florence (HAW) 15.57, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.44, Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 12.87
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.33, Brett Simpson (USA) 13.54, Keanu Asing (HAW) 12.33