The conditions were marked by smaller surf and messy crosswinds on Day Two, but tapered walls were still on tap for both freesurfs and heats alike. Here, Dusty Payne loosens up and checks his speed. Photo: Miller

The early bird gets the ramp. Davey Cathels, punting at dawn. Photo: Miller

Nat Young is all for warming up his backhand attack in the early hours. Photo: Moran

Gabby Medina catches the sunrise on the red-eye flight. He’ll face Adam Melling in Round Three. Photo: Moran

Mick and Dusty, ready to get among the lengthy J-Bay lines. Photo: Moran

Michel Bourez floats an emerald lip during his Round Two heat. Don’t look now, but Bourez is currently sitting at ninth in the rankings. Photo Moran

Joel Parkinson, who is still sporting his high-and-tight Fijian haircut, has drawn some of the most beautiful lines J-Bay has seen since his opening ASP win in 1999. Photo: Miller

Adam Melling managed a come-from-behind win against Conner Coffin, dropping the wallet and picking it right back up. Photo: Miller

Miguel Pupo is still looking for a statement performance on Tour this season, and he’s one step closer after beating Jeremy Flores in Round Two. Photo: Miller

Adrian Buchan sidewinds down the point in bite-sized surf. Photo: Miller

Sebastian Zietz will be first into the lineup when the contest resumes for Round Three. Photo: Miller

Hard to say who can fly faster down the line. Photo: Miller

It was a low-scoring affair, but Kelly kept his wrap counter ticking on his way to a Round Three win against Adrian Buchan. Photo: Miller

You almost had us for a second. Bourez, with mammalian company. Photo: Moran

Interference? No, just a few of the locals sharing a ride together. Also a good sign that the lineup is shark-free. Photo: Moran

Is there any competitor more aesthetically pleasing to watch at a right-hand point than Joel Parkinson? Pocket 7s and beautiful surfing saw the Queenslander into Round Three, ending Banting’s run along the way. Photo: Moran

An early battle of Brazilian goofyfoots went down in Round Two, pitting Wiggoly Dantas against Jadson Andre. The bout was close, but it would be Dantas who cranked his way to a win. Photo: Moran

Miguel Pupo looking more like the lead-footed Dantas, throwing water to the sky and nixing Jeremy Flores. Photo: Moran

One of the most well-rounded surfers on Tour, Josh Kerr, showing off his rail game. Photo: Moran

Dusty Payne threw his weight around in the final heat of Round Two, leaving Stu Kennedy combo’d when the final buzzer sounded. That momentum would later screech to a halt when facing fellow Hawaiian John Florence. Photo: Moran

Weeks of preparation doesn’t mean much when faced against years of local knowledge. The proof came in the form of a combo that Jordy Smith (pictured) put on Kolohe Andino in the first heat of Round Three. Photo: Moran

Jordy Smith en route to a 9.5. You can catch the big man when Round Four commences as he faces off against Florence and Kerr. Photo: Moran

John John throws a new school trick at an old school venue. Photo: Moran

Kerrzy, up to his usual antics out the back, dismantling World No. 4 Italo Ferreira in the process. Photo: Moran

Displacement Theory