In just three days time the world’s best will gather at the shifting sandbanks of Hossegor, France, for stop No. 7 of the ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro. For the first time since the U.S. Open in July, the field of 36 competing surfers will include the elusive Dane Reynolds, who many consider to be the best free surfer on the planet right now. Contractually obligated or not, Dane’s appearance at the Quik event will be savored by surf fans everywhere, as the man has famously shunned the world stage in favor of more leisurely pursuits like filming trips and hanging around his home base of Ventura, California.

Dane is famous for a lack of training, tactics, and preparation for events, letting pure talent carry him through heats, but for once he actually might be doing what could be construed as warming up. He’s been in France for a couple weeks now with his videographer, Mini, and pro surfer Craig Anderson, who is to be the star of their latest film project. They’ve been sniffing out the sand banks and sampling some vino. So not exactly “training,” but for Dane that’s about as close as we’re gonna get.

Photo of Dane in France from 2011 courtesy Quiksilver

QUIKSILVER PRO AT HOSSEGOR ROUND 1:

Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Damien Hobgood (USA), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF), Trials Winner
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Brett Simpson (USA), Raoni Moneiro (BRA)
Heat 9: Owen Wright (AUS), Michel Bourez (PYF), Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 10: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Heitor Alves (BRA), Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 11: Julian Wilson (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS)