The good folks over at Vans have just dropped the trailer for their first ever surf film Get-N-Classic Volume 1. The accomplices are as follows: Joel Tudor, Nathan Fletcher, Pat, Tanner and Dane Gudauskas, John, Ivan and Nathan Florence, Dylan Graves, Alex Knost, Andrew Doheny, Kalani Chapman and Jason "Ratboy" Collins. The trailer is pretty amazing, can't wait to see the whole enchilada. It's gonna be available for download August 8th.

It's beginning to seem like groundhog day over in Ballito, except instead of waking up to Bill Murray every morning, its been a week straight of pumping barrels. This never-ending swell continues in South Africa. With light winds and well-overhead surf still wrapping into the sandbank at Surfer's Beach, the call was made to run the quarters through to the final.



After 4 quarterfinal heats packed with big tube rides and massive scoring exchanges, the swell and conditions began to hiccup as the semi-finals were preparing to paddle out.

Defending champion Jordy Smith fell victim to a wave starved semi-final 1 against Pat Gudauskas. In what has become typical, Jordy was able to nail one last hail-mary as the buzzer sounded: only needing a 6.48. Despite a couple of solid rail turns, the judges only gave him a 6.33, to the dismay of the large local crowd.

Next up Julian WIlson would fall victim to John John Florence's amazing tube-riding skills in semi number 2. Even during a slow heat with few open tubes, John John was able to secure the only high scoring ride of the heat with a 8.33 for a clean barrel ride and never looked back.

The 30 minute legend's heat was just enough time for the swirling wind crumble to settle itself, and the ocean seemed to glass off just in time for the final showdown. San Clemente's Pat Gudauskas against Hawaii's John John Florence. Pat Gudang would draw first blood with a giant swooping turn at the end of a racy wall for a 7.17.

Then, just as quickly as it had glassed off, the sea-breeze kicked up again, making the sections once again very difficult to make. The rest of the final would prove to be rather anti-climactic, with neither surfer getting any notable waves. And just like that, it was over. Congrats to Pat Gudauskas.

With his placing in this event, John John is now in position to join the World Tour.

Final
1) 11.84 Pat Gudauskas USA
2) 8.03 John John Florence

And then there were 8.

After an exciting day 5 of massive shacks at Surfer's Beach in Ballito, the 4 quarterfinal heats have been set.

The already pulsing swell that had competitors scrambling for a bigger board yesterday, was still stacking lines to the horizon this morning, and with more favorable winds today, there were some serious bombs out there.

The 3-man non-elimination heats of round 4 were sent out in the early morning light as Ballito did it's best Backdoor Pipeline impression. Defending event champion Jordy Smith continued his march through this year's draw with another emphatic win in heat 2. Jordy stroked into on of the biggest caverns of the day and drove through a winding barrel, emerging just as the lip detonated around him for a 9.8, the highest score of the day. He would win the heat and advance straight into the quarterfinals.

John John Florence had the heat of the day, however, and considering the type of waves in question and the young Hawaiian's mastery of Backdoor, it shouldn't be a surprise to anyone. The skinny blonde kid absolutely charged today, securing an 18.43 heat total. His best wave was a 9.5 for a late air-drop straight into a big slab and emerged clean a couple hundred feet down the point.

After the 4 round 4 heats, the 'loser's' round 5 begun in the still firing conditions.

Pat Gudauskas barely squeeked past Australia's Kieren Perrow with a 9.4 near the end of their heat for a screaming barrel ride and a spot in the quarters.

Julian Wilson took his opportunity for redemption after a close defeat in round 4. Wilson secured the highest heat total of the round, 15.53 to easily eliminate Brazilian Jano Belo.

Competition should finish tonight starting at 10:30pm on the West Coast, watch it live here.

Non-Elimination Round of 12:
Heat 1: Junior Faria (BRA) 12.83; Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.44; Jesse Mendes(BRA) 5.20pts
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.97; Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 5.03; Kieren Perrow(AUS) 4.40pts
Heat 3: Heath Joske (AUS) 15.40; Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.24; Blake Thornton(AUS) 10.20
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 18.43; Kai Otton( AUS) 15.23; Jano Belo(BRA) 2.00

Elimination Round of 12
Heat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.90 def Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.44
Heat 2: Jesse Mendes (BRA) 13.50 def Shaun Joubert (ZAF) 12.26
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.53 def Jano Belo (BRA) 9.00
Heat 4: Blake Thornton (AUS) 8.37 def Kai Otton (AUS) 7.84

Upcoming Heats

Quarterfinals
QF 1: Junior Faria (BRA) vs Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
QF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs Jesse Mendes (BRA)
QF 3: Heath Joske (AUS) vs Julian Wilson (AUS)
QF 4: John John Florence (HAW) vs Blake Thornton (AUS)

GRINDTV NEWSWIRE via ASP - CULS NUS BEACH, Hossegor/France (Sunday, September 26, 2010) - Day 1 of the Quiksilver Pro France experienced the full range of conditions that French beachbreaks are renowned for, completing the twelve heats of Round 1 in everything from slabbing barrels to high-performance peaks.

Stop No. 7 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Quiksilver Pro France continued the race for the 2010 ASP World Title as well as the requalification campaigns of the world's best surfers in spectacular fashion today, with dramatic tuberiding and horrific wipeouts taking center stage.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, reigning ASP World Champion and defending Quiksilver Pro France Champion, was a standout this morning, netting the highest single-wave score of the day, an 8.33 out of a possible 10, with an excellent forehand barrel.

"I thought I was a little too deep but got my edge in early and was able to set my line," Fanning said. "It's pretty wild out there this morning. There're a lot of closeouts, but a few gems too. I was lucky to slip into that one."

Currently ranked No. 5 on the 2010 ASP World Title Race rankings, the calculating Australian will look to repeat his form from 2009 in order to mount an ASP World Title defense.

"I just need to win events," Fanning said. "It's a simple as that. I feel like I'm surfing well, but I've made a few tactical mistakes this year that have cost me. I love the rest of the events on tour so hopefully I can catch on a roll."

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 21, current ASP World No. 2, surfed a solid Round 1 heat this morning, dispatching of Luke Stedman (AUS), 34, and Julian Wilson (AUS), 21, with a flurry of barrel rides.

"It actually looks bigger than it is out there," Smith said. "I probably could have been riding a smaller board, but I thought some of the earlier heats had some pretty solid surf. The waves were actually really fun in our heat. There were lots of fun little barrels that came through."

Well in the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title, even temporarily holding the ratings' lead following the fifth event in Africa, Smith is cautious when discussing his aspirations for the remainder of the year.

"I'm just surfing and not worrying about anything," Smith said. "It's fantastic to be in the running and Europe is a place where I feel confident in my surfing, but at the end of the day, I'm just going out and having fun."

Patrick Gudauskas (USA), 24, 2010 ASP World Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 23, caused a major upset this morning, relegating former nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 1, Kelly Slater (USA), 38, to the elimination Round 2 following their opening round bout. The young Californian began his campaign in spectacular fashion, threading a deep forehand barrel before executed a lofty double-grab aerial.

"I was really fortunate to get that one and it definitely won me the heat," Gudauskas said. "I was battling for position with Kelly (Slater) and he took the first one which was smaller and I got the second one. I actually misjudged the wave and barely made the takeoff and when I pulled under the lip I could see the barrel just breathing and, when it let me out, there was a ramp section so it was just automatic to go for the air."

Following a disappointing 25th place finish at home in California last week, Gudauskas was elated to put that behind him and begin his European leg campaign in fine fashion.

"It was disappointing to lose early at home in Trestles but I did my best to shake it off," Gudauskas said. "I rationalized it by telling myself that everyone was surfing so amazing that it was just the way it went. I love Europe though. I want to move to France. I got my best result in Tahiti (Equal 5th) and my mindset is just to build on that through the next events. The goal is to be inside the Top 22 by the end of the year."

Owen Wright (AUS), 20, 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 8, continued to his excellent run through his rookie year on tour, posting the day's highest heat total, a 14.13 out of a possible 20, for a commanding performance on the lefthanders.

"I'd seen Ace (Adrian Buchan) sneak off down there to the left earlier," Wright said. "I figured that it's a left, I'm a goofy-footer and it could work out. It's hard work out there. I didn't really feel like I got amazing barrels, but given the conditions, I guess it worked out okay."

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 22, current ASP World No. 21, rebounded sensationally in the opening heat of the day, recovering from a challenging start to take the win in the final moments. The young Frenchman was unable to penetrate the powerful shorebreak on his first attempt, but after collecting himself on the sand, made a second charge successfully and tenacious scored the winning wave in the final minute of the heat.

"It's really challenging out there," Flores said. "I got smashed trying to get out and I barely made it out at the beginning. And I couldn't really find anything out there until the very end. I made my way up the beach and got some small ones then got that nice one at the end. So it was an exciting finish."

The lone Frenchman amongst the ASP Top 34, Flores holds the weight of expectations for an entire nation on his shoulders and appreciates the opportunity to represent his country.

"I've never done very well at this event so to get through the first round is a great feeling," Flores said. "I want to do well in front of all my family and friends. It's pumping today. There are some bombs coming through and I'm very happy to get through after a shaky start."

When competition resumes, up first will be Kelly Slater (USA), 38, up against Maxime Huscenot (FRA), 18, in the opening heat of Round 2.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 8am to assess conditions for a possible 8:15am start.

Highlights from the Quiksilver Pro France will be available via http://quiksilverlive.com/profrance2010/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 9.36, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 8.50, Daniel Ross (AUS) 3.06
Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.70, Luke Munro (AUS) 9.83, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 6.84
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.93, Travis Logie (ZAF) 5.43, Adam Melling (AUS) 5.36
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.00, Taylor Knox (USA) 2.24, Gabe Kling (USA) 1.96
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.00, Luke Stedman (AUS) 8.27, Julian Wilson (AUS) 8.03
Heat 6: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.10, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 5.40, Kelly Slater (USA) 4.00
Heat 7: Brett Simpson (USA) 10.94, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.60, Chris Davidson (AUS) 6.87
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 10.60, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 7.73, Michel Bourez (PYF) 5.43
Heat 9: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.03, Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.97, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 8.90
Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.83, Tiago Pires (PRT) 7.77, Roy Powers (HAW) 2.03
Heat 11: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.13, Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.10, Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.87
Heat 12: Andy Irons (HAW), Bobby Martinez (USA), Kai Otton (AUS)

QUIKSILVER PRO FRANCE ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)
Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 4: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 7: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. Tom Whitaker (AUS)
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 9: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 10: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 11: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 12: Adam Melling (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)

San Clemente is a town filled with alluring surf talent. There are many triumphs and train wrecks among them. It was in this perennial hot bed that the Gudauskas brothers: Tanner, Pat, and Dane grew up surrounded by icons. Today they're playing a vital torch carrying role.

Sadly, because the Gudangs are out chasing points most of the time we don't get to see nearly enough of them. Charting their progression gets tough when they're slogging it out on the world stage.

Fortunately Graham Nash and Chris Steblay have been keeping tabs on 'em. Specifically Pat Gudauskas of late. The two very prolific videographers have put together an impressive opus on Pat for his InnersectionTV segment.

While it's Pat's progressive surfing--including his high-flying rodeo flips -- are what earn him a lot of his points and print, the nice surprise in this Innersections part is his big-wave charging.

I guess that combination is one we should have expected since he grew under the watchful eyes of other San Clemente chargers like Greg Long and Mike Parsons.

Pat's segment is beautifully shot, and while it's up against some solid performances in the video competition, what I like about this piece is you can tell it wasn't shot in a single day. There's something to be said for pieces that actually educate you on what makes a person tick.

Click the play button below to see the clip.