Pantin Classic Galicia Pro Runs Through Tricky Small Surf

Highlights Day 2

1:49

Competitors put it all on the line in tricky minimal surf at Pantin to advance through the early rounds of the men's event.

The Pantin Classic Galicia Pro ran through another mammoth day on Day 2 of competition to complete 24 heats of the men's event.

Dean Bowen (AUS) upped his game in Round 1 and belted the second highest combined heat total of the event so far, an excellent 16.50 out of 20 for his slick forehand turns.

Bowen took full advantage of the little lefts on offer. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"I had a good start and the waves just came to me so it's nice to surf a heat like that," Bowen said. "I ride Parrish Byrne's boards, who I used to compete against, he's started to really shape and we get along great, I feel like the boards are reflecting that."

In the very next heat, Jorgann Couzinet (REU) blew up and posted a nine-point ride and an 8.93 for his aggressive backhand hacks on the small sections of running lefthanders. The young Reunion Islander, fresh off an excellent fifth-place result in Lacanau, reigned supreme in the day's conditions.

"I'm really much more comfortable on the lefts when it's small so I was really enjoying that heat," Couzinet said. "I've trained a lot in these sort of conditions cause I know you need to be able to surf anything and everything. My boards work really great and I'm fit at the moment so I'm stoked all my efforts are working in my favor."

Andy Criere (FRA), a recent finalist of the Pro Anglet confirmed his new found form and dominated his Round 2 bout to get his ticket for the next round where he'll face familiar faces after two excellent runs through the Lacanau and Anglet French events.

Criere is a dangerous surfer in all sorts of conditions. - WSL / Laurent Masurel

"The forecast for this week is really difficult and we're all conscious that we have to surf in difficult conditions," Criere admitted. "But there's waves out there you know and some of the guys have posted big scores, so I'm happy I got my share and was able to get a couple in this heat."

Marco Giorgi (URY) was the first surfer to raise the performance level in Round 1, posting two near-excellent scores and leaving his opponents in combination situations.

"There were a couple lefts and I was relaxed," Giorgi said. "The waves are really hard to surf, with the cold water and the wind it's tricky, especially coming from warm temperature and pumping waves but I found a couple opportunities and I'm stoked I made it through this heat."

On the dying swell later in the afternoon, Giorgi was unable to repeat his morning dream scenario and couldn't find decent scoring opportunities, collecting a 65th-place result.

Tune in LIVE to see the men's event when it resumes as well as the women's QS 6,000.