After nearly eight hours of waiting for tides and sandbanks to cooperate with each other, the Quiksilver Pro was finally called into action in the dying hours of daylight at La Graviere in Hossegor, France. Contest director Miky Picon was able to run seven of 12 Round 2 heats in the shifty double-overhead shore break.

Unpredictable and heavy waves can make for big upsets, which at this critical time in the year–more than midway through the World Tour season–can make or break a title campaign. Current world No. 2 Joel Parkinson was able to avoid a poor result by out-surfing trials winner Wiggolly Dantas in Heat 1, and world No. 4 John John Florence was able to dispatch of good friend Dusty Payne to keep his name in the world title conversation.

Adriano De Souza, world No. 5, would not be so lucky, as he ran into Taylor Knox, who found himself in perfect rhythm with the tricky beachbreak. At 41 years old, Taylor is the oldest surfer on tour, and by making this heat he matches his best result of the season.

The other upset of the day came at the hands of one of the tour’s youngest in Kolohe Andino, as he took down world No. 7 Josh Kerr. The 25th place is Josh’s worst of the season, but for the rookie Andino, who has struggled with injury and bad luck all year, the Round 3 berth equals his best result to date.

Solid swell continues to pour into the Bay of Biscay; look for the event to be back on sometime tomorrow.

Photos of Joel Parkinson (top) and Adriano De Souza (bottom) courtesy of Quiksilver