Quik Pro Rd 3

BIG barrels for the morning (completion of Rd2) and evening (start of Rd3) at La Graviere for the Quiksilver Pro France. Quads are in, claims are in (apart from Dane's 10), the adjective 'tricky' is in, 10s are in, but back-up scores are not. Out went, Taj, Fanning and Julian Wilson, all strong contenders for the event. Heavy waves, smashed egos, long waits and people going out with a 10 pointer tucked under the rashie is par for the course in France. Particularly so at the moment with the big morning and evening tides restricting the swell hitting the La Graviere bank throughout the central portion of the day. Fortunately the trend is toward neap tides (higher lows, lower highs) and a good wind pattern on the final heats. Check the full forecast here. © 2013 Quiksilver

Event dark horse Miguel Pupo. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Taj Burrow has to probably give up on 2012 as a title year despite another hungry performance. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Kolohe is suddenly a contender at the most unlikely of venues. Perhaps the pressure is off? © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Bourez is always a threat in France, he loves it here. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Julian Wilson looked in control, until he lost. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

John John Florence schooled Taylor Knox with a ridiculously chilled barrel hound performance after electing to sit a bit further down from Captain America. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Tiago Pires will now be looking forward to Portugal after losing out to Kai. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Heitor Alves on his way to a loss against a resurgent Bede Durbidge. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

The fans' man, JJF, the younger hairier version of Kelly Slater? © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Kolohe has started winning, he needs to in order to stay on tour and near drowning incident aside has looked comfortable in and amongst the the heavy water at La Graviere. All this just as people were writing him off in 2012. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Taj Burrow feeling the post-heat defeat frustration. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Julian Wilson kicked a 10 out the previous day and had his Rd 3 heat under wraps before letting Miguel Pupo go on the last minute needing a 6 something under his priority. Pupo turned it into a 7 something and again Julian Wilson was out early again. It's hard this tour, there are no gimmies in 2012. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Everyone is beatable out there with a rampaging Jordy Smith stopped by a close judging call in his heat against Bede Durbidge. He was owed one by the judges from Trestles but they don't work that way. © 2013 Lucia Griggi

Family life seems to suit father Parko on tour, he's sliding through the heats © 2013 Lucia Griggi