Top Seeds Debut; Wildcards Flourish at Vans Surf Open Acapulco

Playa Revolcadero continues to deliver for the Men's Qualifying Series (QS) Vans Surf Open Acapulco QS1000 with three-to-four foot, light offshore wind conditions on offer throughout Round Three of action. Top seeded surfers took to the water in their opening performances, displaying their dominance with nearly all advancing through to Round Four. Mexican native wildcards also debuted in exciting fashion amidst a talented field of seeded surfers and got off to an impressive start.

Diego Mignot (FRA) highlighted the day as he matched the event's highest heat total thus far, a 15.50 (out of a possible 20), putting on a showcase of high-performance surfing. Though competing out of the European region, the Sayulita, Mex., native posted a big Round Three win today -- earning a 7.83 (out of a possible 10) and backing it up on his last wave with a 7.67.

"I was happy to get a couple of good scores and make it through that heat," Mignot said. "The waves changed a little bit in terms of being less consistent but it was still just as sizeable. There were some really good opportunities out there, you just had to wait for them. I saw there were good sets coming to my right so I knew I just had to wait and not get stressed, and surf to my strengths. It's been about five years since I've been here so I'm stoked to be back."

Also continuing his in-form surfing from yesterday's action, Austin Neumann (USA) is into Round Four after some hardships on his 2016 QS campaign thus far. But, this is a good opportunity for Neumann to show what he's capable as he found his rhythm with the ocean when he needed it most -- earning the heat win in the final minutes with a 6.83.

"I didn't think the wave was going to double up like that and it gave me a great first section," Neumann said. "It kept going so I pumped hard to make the second section and ended getting a fun air reverse that I was able to stick for that score. I really hope the waves stay like they are, it's super fun out there. I stuck with my strategy from yesterday and I'm stoked to make it through another heat."

"The QS is a huge learning experience," Neumann added. "This is my sixth event and I've lost every first heat I've had up until this contest so it feels great to make a few heats finally. Acapulco is so rad, I love this place and would love to keep coming back here for more events."

The wildcards delivered great performances throughout the day as Dylan Southworth (MEX), Rey Hernandez (MEX), Jhony Corzo (MEX), and Trials winner Jose Trujillo (MEX) all advanced into Round Four. Uncle of day one standout, Vicente Trujillo (MEX), Jose was ecstatic with his trials win and is looking poised to give fellow surfers stiff competition moving forward into the weekend's action.

The Acapulco, Mex., native earned a Round Four berth behind an in-form Rafael Teixeira (BRA), throwing caution to the wind in the final minutes -- something he was prepared to do.

"I was so stoked WSL put on the trials event and to win it was so great -- it's such a big event for me and the local Acapulco surfers," Trujillo said. "This is the second time I've won the trials to get into the main event and couldn't be happier. Winning the trials was a huge victory in itself and gave me so much confidence coming into my first heat."

"I knew coming in that the guys in my heat were going to be tough with Noah and Sasha's experience, and with a guy like Rafael in the heat it's about trying to match him," Trujillo added. "When he went far into the lead I knew it would be a battle for second. Coming into the end I needed a score so I stuck with what I do best in these conditions, launching that reverse knowing I could land it. I had to go bigger than I usually do to really solidify that score so it was amazing to come out of that heat."

26-year-old Dylan Southworth (MEX) came into this event as one of the more experienced Mexican surfers and put that knowledge to use in his impressive heat win. Taking out the final heat of the day with a 14.70 heat total, Southworth earned a bid into Round Four as a wildcard for this event and is enjoying every minute.

"I've got some really good boards under my feet which feels great and I'm hoping this swell keeps rolling into the weekend," Southworth said. "I was stoked to get some waves and it'd be great to continue getting chances for some even better surfing. I don't feel that much pressure being here home in Mexico as opposed to being outside the country I feel a little bit more pressure. I just want to have some fun here and try to get some good waves under my belt. Staying positive is a big key for me so I'll just try to keep this going."

Tomorrow morning's 7:30am CDT Call will determine an 8:00am CDT Start. For more information on the event, go to worldsurfleague.com or download the WSL App.