In an event where many of surfing’s elite have looked a bit disinterested, the crown prince of disinterest, Dane Reynolds, set the pace in round 2 of the Nike U.S. Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, California, with an inspired performance. The tour mutineer rarely puts on a colored jersey these days, but Reynolds reminded everyone that he can still surf as well as anyone on the planet.

Throughout the day judges had become increasingly numb to the growing tally of tail-flick air-reverses being executed. Then Dane paddled out in heat 4 of round 2 and followed a left featuring two big backside fin-wofts, with a right where he did the most upside-down slob air reverse of the event. The judges were very impressed and gave him an 8.77 and a 9.77, the second highest single wave score of the event. His 18.54 heat total was only matched today by Julian Wilson in heat 20 of round 1 this morning; however, it should be noted that Julian’s first score in that heat, an 8.67, may have been a bit over-scored, which the event’s commentators pointed out. He also surfed very well nonetheless.

The contest has completed round 1 and six heats of round 2, and day two, Tuesday, included a slight drop in swell. So far during the event, the men have been forced to strap on their work boots in order to manufacture scores in the 2- to 3-foot Huntington dribble.

The men’s competition will be back underway at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

NIKE LOWERS PRO ROUND OF 48 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kai Otton (AUS) 15.93, Tim Reyes (USA) 13.00, Evan Geiselman (USA) 11.93, Tomas Hermes (BRA) 9.47
Heat 2: Jay Thompson (AUS) 12.43, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.27, Mitch Crews (AUS) 12.17, Alain Riou (PYF) 7.67
Heat 3: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 16.80, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 15.23, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.77, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.73
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.54, Nathaniel Curran (USA) 12.97, Kiron Jabour (HAW) 11.57, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.80
Heat 5: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 16.17, Yadin Nicol (AUS) 13.20, Daniel Ross (AUS) 10.13, Jay Quinn (NZL) 9.80
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.03, Stu Kennedy (AUS) 12.67, Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.50, Sebastien Zietz (HAW) 11.60

NIKE US OPEN ROUND OF 96 RESULTS:
Heat 19: Brett Simpson (USA) 13.67, Nat Young (USA) 12.27, Jano Belo (BRA) 9.60, Heath Joske (AUS) 5.27
Heat 20: John John Florence (HAW) 12.87, Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 9.87, Sunny Garcia (HAW) 8.23, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 6.00
Heat 21: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.54, Davey Cathels (AUS) 10.50, Billy Stairmand (NZL) 7.04, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 6.29
Heat 22: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 15.77, Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 14.24, Brian Toth (PRI) 9.83, Richard Christie (NZL) 8.94
Heat 23: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.10, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.83, Rob Machado (USA) 11.43, Kai Barger (HAW) 8.58
Heat 24: Keanu Asing (HAW) 16.76, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.33, Hizunome Bettero (BRA) 11.60, Jonathan Gonzalez (CNY) 10.73