During a day where the conditions were very tricky and tide affected, the winner of the last event on the Foster's ASP Men's World Tour, Bede Durbidge (AUS) was a shock elimination and will take no further part in the Quiksilver Pro France presented by Evian.
The quiet spoken natural foot surfer was knocked out by tour rookie Adrian Buchan (AUS) in a very close affair.
The two were struggling to find big-scoring waves throughout the encounter and were left drifting in the shifty lineup at Les Culs Nus for quite some time.
And while Buchan held the lead Durbidge only needed a small score to come from behind to take the gong.
But his luck from his victory in California ran out today as a huge set of waves washed through the event arena leaving Durbidge without the score he needed to win.
Buchan meanwhile, in only his second event after returning from an ankle injury which sidelined him for over six months, had done enough and he now is anxiously awaiting his next top tour challenge - a third round duel with three-time Quiksilver Pro winner and three-time world champion, Andy Irons (HAW).
"You just have to back yourself," said Buchan. "I'm really looking forward to surfing against him (Irons). You come here to surf against the world's top guys... that's what it's all about."
Buchan also didn't seem too fazed about his lack of time in the water of late showing plenty of confidence and enthusiasm.
"I feel pretty comfortable," said Buchan. "When you're injured you have everything taken away from you. It makes you really appreciate being on the tour and being in France in September is always good!"
Also claiming a major scalp in Bobby Martinez (HAW) was 2007 Foster's ASP Men's World Tour recruit Jeremy Flores (REU).
The youngster is always exciting to watch and last year he turned many heads when he almost took seven-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) out of the event.
Drawing on the huge crowd support he dug deep to come from behind in the dying seconds to win against Martinez who has been one of 2006's hottest prospects.
It was a hard heat," said Flores. "I can't say it was an exciting heat to watch really, the waves were really difficult. I'm just happy I made it, but I hope that in the next round I get to show more of my surfing, cause I couldn't really show anything out there."
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