Tim Reyes, despite this jem lost to Bruce and now it’s looking like he’s staring down the barrel of the WQS. Photo: ASP/Cestari

Miky Picon went batshit in his Rd 2 heat against Josh Kerr this afternoon, leaving Kerr so comb’d that despite having a 9, even if he’d have got a ten he’d still be combo’d. Oh la merde!

Miky was fairly fortunate to get through against Manoa Drollet this morning, but was masterful in the afternoon clash, getting an 8, then a couple of high 9’s by charging the backside option of the Backdoor. Although he needs an improbable 3rd here to have any hope of requalifying, it was a great way to set about that uphill struggle.
“That was the best heat of my life,” gushed Miky. “I was just trying to build momentum and I feel like all of the training I’ve done is paying off. It’s great to have this heat at Pipeline and in Hawaii. Today was all about the rights. We all knew that. I was going for the right too. I figured I’d go for the death, whatever.”

The FrogPak rejoices. Charly Martin, Tim Boal and Marc Lacomare enjoy Miky’s moment in the sun.

And then just about a minute later, a 9.8. Note Tim’s somewhat more measured response compared to that of Charly & Marc.

There was plenty o’drama at the Banzai today. The first round ran, which included 16 Hawaiian wildcards. None of them were Pancho Sullivan, which struck me as slightly amis. I’m pretty sure with the exception of Jamie O’B and Bruce, his competitive record is better than most of the other wildcards, but I could be wrong. In fact, Jamie O’B’s very inclusion in the event surprised me, seeing as last week the ASP chaffs had told me, “No way, no way he’s getting in after burning the rule book.”In the end it didn’t matter, he got knocked first round. Rob Machado has been campaigning for a wildcard spot for a while now, to little or no avail. He thought he was first alternate today, then when Sunny didn’t show for his heat with Nic Muscroft on time must’ve been rubbing his mitts together (even though he’s not into comps of course). Unlucky Mob, because looky here, Torrey Meister is now first alternate, and he’s paddling out. Oh shit look now, he’s in the baz, he’s spat out! Torrey Mesier ripped here today, ripped Sunset, and has impressed big time all round. Like him, I do.

It weren’t real big or life-threatening, but hot damn it was pretty.

Following Miky’s scorching performance, one of the best comments of the day came from Aritz, “He’s gonna be going mad on facebook tonight,” chimed in the cheeky Wasque rapscallion, in reference for Miky’s weakness for the book of the face. Aritz had a great Rd 1 heat by all accounts (I was pretending to surf Sunset), and you can expect to him surf real soon in this Round. You can expect to see the other dude pretty much every time the webcast does a competitors’ area shot. He’ll be the guy sitting next to Kelly.

Aa and Belly. Note Aritz’ shaka, even when he’s not looking at the camera. With that, his heat and the Miky comment all in one day, as far as I’m concerned, the guy is a fucking legend. Give him the keys to the city.

Jamie couldn’t get a back up to this’un and also lost today. See ya! Photo: ASP/Cestari

Drama unfolded in Saca’s heat with Shane Dorian. Shane won, Saca broke two boards, lost a toenail and quite a bit of skin on the reef, and collects a dirty turd. Unless he’s really unlucky though, he should be OK to requalify from there, according to Tim Boal.

Saca’s second board change over with Red Bull’s Andy King during his Dorian heat, this time onto a 6’6″. After this he pulled into a crazy Backdoor needing a 5 something and got reefed pretty good. Good job stripey Bermudas dude is there too, just in case.

There was a bit of ketchup on his pins and the big toenail on his left plate looked minging. He got patched up straight away though by the on site med team. Mahalo to them.