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Hurley Pro Round 2

I’m going to keep this short and not so sweet. What should have been some great heats and great surfing in excellent conditions at Lowers today left me wondering why I wasn’t surfing Uppers. With the exception of a 7.67 by Dusty Payne and an 8.5 from Taylor Knox, none of the surfing on display today was in the excellent range.

Thankfully, the Expression Session hit the water and the highlights were nonstop. In classic afternoon California glass, the majority of the best surfers in the world went crazy and somewhere, Freddy P. and Travis Logie were reaching a boiling point as they realized their wind-blown Sunday evening heat could have been held today.

If the expression session is any indication, the return of the top seeds will see the standard of surfing skyrocket. Kelly in particular looked as if he was all too comfortable with the surf, his board, and his girlfriend’s hometown. I’m going surfing now because at 8 a.m. tomorrow I will have my butt planted on the beach at Lowers to watch Mick vs. Dusty in Heat 1 of Round 3. This is the round when WT events actually get serious. And all the action will be going down in lines stacked to the horizon.

Owen Wright launching his way past Luke Munro and onto Round 3. Photo: Van Swae

After receiving the injury wildcard, Kieran Perrow came back to beat hometown hero Pat Gudauskas. Photo: Van Swae

Adam Melling was able to move past Tom Whitaker and onto Round 3. Photo: Van Swae

Dane Reynolds airs during the Expression Session solidified his reputation as one of the most progressive surfers in the world. Photo: Glaser

Life Rolls on Founder, Jesse Billauer, took part in the afternoon expression session. Photo: Glaser

Kolohe Andino received a wildcard, but unfortunately lost to Dane Reynolds in Round 2. Photo: Van Swae

Dusty Payne's 7.67 was one of the highest scores of the day. Photo: Van Swae

Luke Stedman’s board caddy, Brad Gerlach, ready for the call. Photo: Van Swae

Luke Stedman surfed a smart heat to beat Kai Otton. He will face Dane Reynolds in Round 3. Photo: Van Swae

A rare air from Taylor Knox to overtake Roy Powers. Knox will go up against Bede Durbidge in Round 3. Photo: Van Swae