Vincent Duvignac pulling off a win and a ticket straight through to the Round of 16.

The Vans US Open of Surfing is approaching the business end of the event and some tough, big name heats went down yesterday for the non-elimination Round of 24 in improved, more peaky conditions.

While several of the day’s highlights came at the hands of ASP Top 34 members, Frenchman Vincent Duvignac also put in a banner performance to top Bede Durbidge and Michel Bourez to advance directly to the Round of 16.

“That was crazy,” Duvignac said. “Last heat I had Kelly (Slater) and I came here with nothing to lose. I just wanted to get points to get in to Prime events for the back half of the year. This week has been a huge contrast for me. Last week I was teaching surfing to kids, so it’s crazy to be here and I’m so stoked to surf against these guys. Michel (Bourez) is my favorite surfer and I’m so happy to win that heat. I didn’t have enough budget to get to Ballito and was looking only to do Huntington. I was here just looking to do my best and this gives me huge motivation.”

In other promising Euro news, fellow Frenchman Marc Lacomare was also able to secure a ticket straight through to Round 16, besting CT rookie Nat Young and South African Beyrick De Vries

Finally, a newly engaged Jordy Smith (to long time girlfriend Lyndall Jarvis) was clearly on a roll and had little trouble posting some of the highest scores for the second day in a row, belting a 9.17 and 8.20 for progressive surfing on a pierbowl right and wedgy lefthander.

“I knew that heat was going to be tough,” Smith said. “Ramzi (Boukhiam) has been ripping and C.J. (Hobgood) started strong with that 8. I got that 9 and that was the turning point for me. If you get the right waves out there you’re going to get high scores. I knew it was going to be a comeback heat for me and I’m happy to get the win.”

VANS US OPEN OF SURFING MEN’S NO-LOSERS ROUND OF 24 RESULTS:
(1ST advances to Round of 16, 2nd and 3rd relegated to elimination Round of 24)
Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.73, Jadson Andre (BRA) 11.67, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 11.50
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.57, Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.23, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 5.36
Heat 3: Vincent Duvignac (FRA) 12.83, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.27, Michel Bourez (PYF) 10.03
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.30, Kelly Slater (USA) 10.05, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 8.50
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.37, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.97, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) 12.23
Heat 6: Granger Larsen (HAW) 12.84, Matt Banting (AUS) 12.24, Hodei Collazo (EUK) 7.50
Heat 7: Marc Lacomare (FRA) 12.77, Nat Young (USA) 12.33, Beyrick De Vries (ZAF) 6.67
Heat 8: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 13.30, Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.17, Charles Martin (GLP) 8.33