Well folks, things finally returned to normal here in France (or at least as normal as they get). For the most part everybody that was supposed to win today did. Round 2 is now in the books, and it’s looking like there’s going to be a day off tomorrow. A new swell’s looking promising for Tuesday and Wednesday, so for now just chew on the latest news and don’t forget to tune in as this sucker wraps up in what could be pretty good conditions.

Top Five Moments of Round 2:

1. This isn’t so much contest-centric, but as part of the festivities that is the Quik Pro France, Tony Hawk hosted a skate show on Saturday night in which over 10,000 people showed up to watch. Needless to say, Saturday night was a big night for a lot of people.
2. Adriano De Souza showed up this morning ready for business. But unlike a few tour surfers, he skipped the Tony Hawk show and instead opted for a good night’s sleep. It obviously paid off.
3. The Lipton girls walking up and down the beach giving away free iced tea. As far as promo girls go they were all exceptionally eye-pleasing…or at least all but the one with ultra hairy armpits.
4. The lefts have been offering up the scores, and the goofy-footers took full advantage. Bobby Martinez and Damien Hobgood seemed especially enlightened (even if deep down Bobby’s bummed to be missing the best part of the year at home in California).
5. My Fantasy Surfer prediction of both Kai Otton and Luke Stedman as safe-bets didn’t disappoint. Both made their heats today, which for now helps keep my team (and self-esteem) afloat.

Most Defining Performance:
This one’s pretty much a toss up between Adriano De Souza and Jeremy Flores. Both Hot 100 surfers came out today, and in tricky conditions showed that Generation Next is now. Going forward it became more than evident that they’re going to be the ones to beat…or at least once Kelly retires.

Upset of the Day:
Not too many upsets to speak of today. After a wild and crazy Day 1, heats were won and lost in considerably more predictable fashion. The only thing that may even come close to resembling an upset would be Tiago Pires beating Timmy Reyes, but then considering Tiago’s back on his home turf, and is the only tour surfer to beat Kelly all year, it probably doesn’t much count as an upset.

Insight That Would Have Helped Your Team If We’d Only Known:
Consider this your warning, Andy Irons is about as over it as a fella can get. After failing to show up to his early-morning heat against Jihad Khodr he pretty much made it apparent that you won’t see him don a jersey until he’s in Hawaiian waters.

Talk of the Beach:
Today was a day filled with mathematical tabulation. Bede and Taj are the only two that even still have a remote chance of slowing Kelly’s march towards his ninth title, and in the competitor’s area everybody busied themselves trying to figure out exactly who needed to do what. But this is the ASP not MIT, and by the day's end everybody was just more confused.

Wildcard Report:
The wildcards did their damage yesterday. Gabe Kling and Michel Bourez taking down Mick and Parko, respectively, flipped this contest on its head. And while Kelly’s still the man to beat, with two of the heavies eliminated there’s a feeling that this is pretty much anybody’s contest to win. In a Round 3 heat that could have world title implications, the unknown Tahitian Bourez faces Bede Durbidge. Will he help Kelly’s cause? Only time will tell, but after upsetting Parko it appears anything’s possible.

Round 2 Quiksilver Pro France Results:
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.50 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.90
Heat 6: Jihad Khodr (BRA) 9.93 def. Andy Irons (HAW) n/s
Heat 7: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.5 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 11.83
Heat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.17 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 7.10
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) 12.26 def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 11.34
Heat 10: Mick Campbell (AUS) 12.66 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 2.10
Heat 11: Luke Stedman (AUS) 15.43 def. Ben Bourgeois (USA) 14.84
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.00 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 10.23
Heat 13: Chris Ward (USA) 12.43 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 10.93
Heat 14: Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.50 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 14.84
Heat 15: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.67 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 13.17
Heat 16: Heitor Alves (BRA) 15.17 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 4.77

.

.