Pictured: Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, 2009 ASP Dream Tour sophomore, exploded in his Round 3 heat today.

The Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast presented by LG Mobile completed the remaining eight heats of Round 3 today in three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Snapper Rocks, and ASP Dream Tour sophomores Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, and Dane Reynolds (USA), 23, dominated the day’s proceedings.

The opening event of the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast saw the ASP Top 45 light up the rippable banks of Snapper Rocks, and with reigning nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 37, out of competition, the remaining surfers in the event took full advantage.

Smith, current ASP World No. 26, survived a hard-fought battle against veteran Taylor Knox (USA), 37, posting the day’s high heat total of a 16.47 out of a possible 20 for his progressive-yet-controlled surfing in Round 3 of the Quiksilver Pro..

“Taylor (Knox) is such a great surfer,” Smith said. “If he gets any opportunity, just like we saw on his last wave, he can turn it into a good score. He always surfs really well at Snapper so I was trying to surf a smart heat and find some good waves.”

Smith will face current ASP World No. 2 Bede Durbidge (AUS), 25, in Round 4 when competition resumes.

Reynolds, who scored the first perfect 10 of the 2009 ASP World Tour season in his Round 2 heat, maintained his command of the Snapper Rocks lineup today, putting in an explosive performance to eliminate Roy Powers (HAW), 28, from Quiksilver Pro competition.

“It’s an awesome wave here at Snapper Rocks,” Reynolds said. “I’m stoked to be able to get out there and let loose on a couple. I try to just go out there and surf as if I was surfing my favorite break at home.”

Reynolds continues to push the limits of high-performance surfing, effortlessly executing tail-drifts and aerial maneuvers to net the highest single-wave score of the day, a near-perfect 9.40 out of a possible 10.

“I try not to think about it until I am out there on a wave,” Reynolds said. ‘Then you get that killer instinct and you really want to tear it up and do whatever you can.”

The Californian will come up against iconic veteran Taj Burrow (AUS), 30, in Round 4 when competition resumes.

When the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast competition recommences, Round 4 will open up with former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 29, up against ASP Dream Tour sophomore Jihad Khodr (BRA), 25.

Check the video section to see highlights from today’s Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast.