With surf slightly smaller (6ft sets) and more co-operative than Tuesday’s false start, Round 1 played out in beautiful Culs Nus peaks before as solid a first round crowd the Quik Pro France has witnessed.

Joan Duru had John John and freesurf hero Conner Coffin (loooong bs tube) in headlocks, before John, late in the heat, broke the wrist and walked away, so to speak, tunnelling his way past ondres’ finest for the Rd 3 escape chute.

Previous to that, Medina looked annoyingly in control, albeit without going scoreboard bonkers, while all around them, red jerseys were left puking up blood.

Slater, Parko, Smith, Wilko, Wilson are among the vermilion villains that’ll have to improve their behaviour if they want to get off the Rd 2 naughty step.

Meanwhile, in the Roxy, held after the wind came up and conditions worsened a bit, Tyler looked dangerous striding out of the opening round, while Courtney couldn’t get past a sharp Van Dijk, and has a whole lot to do. The women’s world title could even be decided Friday am – if Conlogue loses to Tuach.