There's no denying that surfing is at a threshold, its toes perched over the precipice, ready to make the leap into the new and away from the old. It all began about a few years back when Dane began redifining the sport and steering the ship into a new direction. Dane, with enough apathy to make a niahlist jealous, may or may not have intended to give surfing a facelift, but that's exactly what he's done nevertheless. Yes, his surfing is raw, unfiltered and potent, but there's more to what Dane's doing than just that. From his style and composure both in and out of the water to his beard, Dane is changing the way we view the sport and "athletes" but I'd bet Dane wouldn't refer to himself with that term.

Never was this more present than his showing in the Hurley Pro. It's been written about half a dozen times since the final ended, but you can rest assured that we all sort of wanted Dane to win, thus ushering in a new age. No more stock turns, however swift and precise, we've had enough. It's time for surfing to evolve, put on a new outfit, reinvent itself. When did we become jocks? Taking nothing away from protein shakes, yoga, and medicine balls, but is that really us? I don't think so. We need massive punts, knee-shattering hacks, and a general disregard for pulling back in a heat if we're to evolve. It keeps the sport rough, the way it should be.

At the Quik Pro, Dane's been surfing true to form, which is to say he hasn't been holding back in the slightest. In his first heat against Nathaniel Curran and Jay Thompson, Dane came from behind in the last minute and threw down the punt of the event, moving him into round three where he surfs against Roy Powers. God speed to Roy.

If the words above don't ring true, check out the videos below. Surfing needs Dane.