For the first 20 minutes of his Round Three heat, Tomas Hermes struggled to even complete an average ride. Frenchman Maxime Huscenot and Californian Griffin Colapinto had raced out to a significant lead, while Hermes struggled to find any rhythm. But with time ticking away, Hermes made the connection through to inside and stomped a frontside 360 to revert. Elated, Hermes clenched his fists and let out a roar. The panel was impressed, too, and rewarded him with the highest-scoring wave of the morning -- an 8.50.
