Jordy Smith and Mick Fanning got their Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay surf campaigns off to the best possible start with convincing wins on day one in South Africa.
Smith is currently ranked the second best surfer on the planet behind nine-times ASP World Champion Kelly Slater and is in prime form after a win last week in Durban and the South African eased through to the next round with an excellent score.
The home hope racked up an impressive 16.37 out of a possible 20 in defeating Tom Whittaker (Australia) and Joan Doru (France) and Smith claims not to feel any added burden of expectation from the South African fans, who came with their vuvuzelas to show their support.
"I think the only kind of pressure that exists is that which I put on myself," Smith said. "Winning last week in Durban was a great feeling, but this is where I love to be and getting to surf a firing Jeffreys with only two other guys out is an incredible experience.
"Being number two in the world and in South Africa is an interesting feeling," he continued. "Obviously I want to get a good result and make my country proud, but all that really isn't on my mind when I'm out there and Jeffreys is firing. All you can think about it surfing your best. Hopefully I can continue the momentum throughout the next few days."
Defending ASP World Champion, Fanning (pictured above) also enjoyed a comfortable first round win and the Australian even managed to eclipse Smith's score by posting the best total of the day – a 16.70 in defeating Sean Holmes (South Africa) and Roy Powers (USA).
'This is where I love to be' – Jordy Smith
And Fanning may even have improved on that sensational effort, but for changeable conditions.
"The conditions changed a bit in our heat and we were slightly out of sorts," Fanning said. "We were all hunting for the barrel because a lot of the previous heats had them, but they didn't pan out for us. After I readjusted to the conditions, I was really focusing on my turns and if a barrel presented itself, I would go from there."
The 29-year-old is currently in fourth place in the ASP overall rankings and he revealed his current approach to competition in defence of his title.
"This year, you have to take every heat seriously," Fanning said. "There are so many threats and even the rookies can do damage. I feel like I've been surfing well all year and I'm just focusing on every heat, and hopefully that takes me to a solid result."
Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 1 results
Heat 1: Adam Melling (AUS) 12.17, Taylor Knox (USA) 10.80, Luke Munro (AUS) 10.17
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 14.77, Jay Thompson (AUS) 10.56, Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.24
Heat 3: Nate Yeomans (USA) 15.83, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.74, Luke Stedman (AUS) 11.43
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) 15.30, Marco Polo (BRA) 12.97, Daniel Ross (AUS) 12.10
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.43, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.37, Blake Thornton (AUS) 7.60
Heat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.23, Tim Reyes (USA) 13.27, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.07
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 16.37, Joan Duru (FRA) 11.90, Tom Whitaker (USA) 10.57
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.93, Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.40, Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 12.37
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.20, Dale Staples (ZAF) 13.34, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.83
Heat 10: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.70, Sean Holmes (ZAF) 10.27, Roy Powers (HAW) 8.33
Heat 11: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 13.60, Neco Padaratz (BRA) 9.60, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.17
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.60, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.34, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.27
Heat 13: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 13.53, Dean Morrison (AUS) 11.76, Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.43
Heat 14: Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.17, Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.86, Brett Simpson (USA) 11.63
Heat 15: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.87, Ben Dunn (AUS) 11.50, Dusty Payne (HAW) 10.77
Heat 16: Owen Wright (AUS) 15.56, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.93, Drew Courtney (AUS) 7.73
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