Day two of the 2006 Lost Energy Drink ISA World Surfing Games took place yesterday with the Men’s Open division where the top surfers of the world displayed tremendous talent amongst the 33 competing countries. All the competitors set their best foot forward with a constant execution of explosive tricks despite the slow sections within the 2 to 4 foot waves.

The morning began with 32 heats competing on both podiums and kicked off with Julian Wilson of Australia dominating heat one with a combined 12.47 score. Three intense heats highlighted the range of talent within the first Qualifying Round with French surfer Joan Duru, the 2006 ASP World Junior Champion, wowing judges in heat 11 and posting a huge 9.5 score bringing his combined score to the days high with a 17.67.

“It is great to hear that I got the highest combined score of the day. The conditions were not great but I love to surf amongst all of these WCT surfers,” said Duru.

Heat 12 was a solid battle with Chris Ward of the USA team grabbing some long rides and posting a combined score of 13.04, followed by Brazilian Jadson Andre whose impressive performance earned him a combined score of 11.34 moving both of them forward to the Qualifying Round two. Tatsuki Inoue of Japan and Freddy Roux, the only surfer from Cote D’Ivoire was knocked into the repercharge, but not before executing some solid snaps.

The USA and Australian teams continued to fare well through out the day as they dominated all of their heats. US surfing legend Pat O’Connell earning a 12.17 combined score leading heat 24, while Mexico’s Diego Cadena rounded out heat 32 with a remarkable 14.17.

In the Qualifying Round 2, heat three initiated the action with Damien Hobgood of the USA team and David Rutherfold of Mexico splitting a wave in the first ten minutes of the heat. It was a confident Alan Stokes of Great Britain who executed a chest high wave coming in second in the heat with a combined score of 9.80 knocking Eusebio Rodriguez of Ecuador into the Repercharge.

Heat 8 brought some more favorable waves with Hawaii’s Gavin Gillette of Kauai earning the days second high score 16.0, Australian Luke Stedman posting 14.56 followed by Alexandre Ferreira of Portugal and Maximiliano Siri entering the Repercharge.

Other high scores included heat 14 saw Miguel Ximenez of Portugal, a goofy foot rider take first with a solid 11.40 combined score followed by Armando Daltro of Brazil scoring a 10.90. About his heat Ximenez said: ”The beach is awesome and the waves remind me of my home town of Lisbon. I am very excited about the upcoming heats.”

Conditions are expected to improve today with the Open Men’s Qualifying Round 3 and Repercharge 2. Also the Open Womens Qualifying Round 1 and Qualifying Round 2 kicked off this morning.