Brazilian Filipe Toledo posted the day’s highest two-wave heat total of 18.30, taking out Julian Wilson and Aritz Aranburu. Image: ASP / Smorigo

The Billabong Rio Pro got underway yesterday, with chest to head high clean, glassy surf. There were some barrels on offer but it was really all about the ramps as the results demonstrated.

Brazilian air whizz and youngest competitor on tour Filipe Toledo took full advantage of the home crowd to deliver the best performance of the day with a total heat score of 18.30, with Julian Wilson also throwing down a good show in the same heat.

“It’s so good to be here in Brazil and competing at home in front of all the crowds and my friends and family,” said Filipe Toledo. “My board is feeling good and I’m feeling really comfortable. The Brazilian crowd is great for me and it’s amazing to be here. When I’m surfing and I hear the crowd cheering it really motivates me.”

Full rotation airs straight on to the flats were pretty much the order of the day and further impressive performances came from other home favourites Gabriel Medina and Jadson André as well as John John Florence, Josh Kerr and defending champ Jordy Smith.

“Rio was my first event win outside of Africa,” said Jordy Smith. “I’m happy with performance in my first Heat. I love the waves here. They give you hollow and fun sections and the waves feel a lot like Durban. You can never count out Trav and Freddy, they’re both lethal, so I’m glad I got the win.”

There were a couple big upsets to get everyone excited about too, with both Mick Fanning and Kelly losing their heats with 3rd places. In the girls event, Steph Gilmore also lost. Mick and Kelly now face Brazilian wildcards David do Carmo and Peterson Crisanto respectively in Round 2 but there’s likely to be a couple lay days first as the swell is meant to be dropping out.

Billabong Rio Pro Round 2 Match-ups:

Heat 1: Mick Fanning (BRA) vs. David do Carmo (BRA)
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 6: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Dion Atkinson (AUS)
Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 8: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 9: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 10: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 11: Sebastian Zeitz (HAW) vs. Jeremy Flores (BRA)
Heat 12: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)

Billabong Rio Pro Round 1 Results:

Heat 1: Tiago Pires (PRT) 9.70, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.60, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 6.40
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.53, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 10.17, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 8.87
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.60, Brett Simpson (USA) 7.83, Adam Melling (AUS) 7.24
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.67, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.20, Glenn Hall (IRL) 8.67
Heat 5: Mitch Crews (AUS) 13.07, Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 8.53, Kelly Slater (USA) 8.64
Heat 6: Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.10, David do Carmo (BRA) 10.30, Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.07
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) 14.33, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.20, Dion Atkinson (AUS) 10.76
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.67, Fredrick Pattachia (HAW) 12.50, Travis Logie (ZAF) 9.60
Heat 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 18.30, Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.93, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 10.47
Heat 10: Nat Young (USA) 11.86, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.67, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.94
Heat 11: Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.13, Owen Wright (AUS) 11.60, Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.03
Heat 12: John John Florence (HAW) 12.16, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.53, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.80

Rio Women’s Pro Round 2 Match-ups:

Heat 1: Dimity Stoyle (AUS) vs. Alessa Quizon (HAW)
Heat 2: Coco Ho (HAW) vs. Johanne Defay (FRA)
Heat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Silvana Lima (BRA)
Heat 4: Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW)
Heat 5: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Alana Blanchard (HAW)
Heat 6: Pauline Ado (FRA) vs. Paige Hareb (NZL)

Rio Women’s Pro Round 1 Results:

Heat 1: Nikki Van Dijk (AUS) 14.20, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 13.47, Coco Ho (HAW) 13.17
Heat 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 12.50, Bianca Buitendag (ZAF) 9.17, Dimity Stoyle (AUS) 7.24
Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 12.77, Paige Hareb (NZL) 12.00, Silvana Lima (BRA) 11.77
Heat 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 12.60, Pauline Ado (FRA) 11.87, Tatiana Weston-Webb (HAW) 9.27
Heat 5: Laura Enever (AUS) 11.53, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 9.60, Alana Blanchard (HAW) 6.20
Heat 6: Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.67, Malia Manuel (HAW) 10.30, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 8.40