Derek Hynd has spent 37 long winters perched in his pyramid overlooking the Super Tubes’ Impossibles section, presiding over the tiniest exit keyhole, making notes on those surfers who ride the hallowed walls of J-Bay with skill, enthusiasm and aplomb. A timeless search for the vanguard of surfing revelation. Progress. Who better then, to give us a breakdown of what to expect from the current crop as they prepare to write their own surfing histories on these long walls.

But first, a little bit about Derek Hynd, for the youth are green and unlearned and our collective internet memories frequently suffer amnesia. Australian former pro surfer, Derek Hynd, is a writer, critic, legendary pioneer of finless surfing, or to ascribe one of his own quotes to himself: “freestyle jazz to surfing’s rock ‘n roll”. As if he needed an introduction. Hynd is the author of hundreds of insightful, witty and dry articles and columns since the early 80s, but is renowned for his unique coverage of the world pro tour. He practically defined the “Power Rankings” formula for Surfer magazine back in ’87. He has coached world title holders such as Mark Occhilupo, and remains one of the closest things surfing has to a “thought leader”.

In Part III of this Three Part series, Hynd offers insights on Nat Young, Wiggoly Dantas, Sebastian Zeitz, Adrian Buchan, Felipe Toldeo, Dusty Payne, Miguel Pupo and Kelly Slater. Read Part I HERE and Part II HERE.

Nat Young

With the one throwaway locked in at the Tour’s halfway point and a dynamic beyond vert presence at J-Bay, Young is incredibly well positioned to go Quarters or further to set up a sweet run home.

Strong legged and a little rougher style wise than similarly poised Buchan, what’s lost in the aesthetics is repaid in lip explosions. The way he bangs the roof with compact arcs sets up a ton of moves. If it gets to the old chestnut of counting turns then he’s as much of more of a threat than Ferreria.

And not so far shy from a rampant climb.

Wiggoly Dantas

Draws out the turns, arcs the huge fan, repeats. Perhaps the sum up is a little over simplified but the basics are just so strong. The Dantas method produces ease of scoring in any performance wave. There’s something here that judges find compelling; the initial eyeball focus isn’t under stress. The stronger one of his rides, the easier to digest.

Middling 2016 results seem to mirror his middle teen career rankings thus far. His first up heat with Jordy Smith and Adam Melling, both with big J-Bay results, will be a cracker.

Sebastian Zietz

Just by the numbers, a fair bit of career momentum hinges on a major result here. There’s likely one spot up for anyone’s further taking in the Top Five and, after two hiccups, Zietz still has a major shot. His win at Margaret River ensures it.

He faces the J-Bay moment knowing a season long stoush with Ferreira for that last spot is dead ahead – lest the gentlemen up his colloquial arse, Buchan and Ibelli, pass him by at Supers thus leaving an extended slide the likely alternative.

This will be his first chance since winning event three to lay over the best old school / new school hybrid move seen in years – let’s tag it The Vert Bert in tribute to Larry Bertlemann. Keep it in mind – this grab rail carve is a very VERY impressive piece of work.

Adrian Buchan

It’s been a good five years since he was last in the slot to break Top Five and he’s at a venue suiting his fluid yet completely vertical backhand attack. There’s an obvious dexterity involved in putting the board repeatedly over the lip in outrageous situations – but to do it with style, all limbs in flow, is to his advantage. Or should be to his advantage.

Like Zietz, Buchan has a major shot at pressing Ferreira here. Also interesting at some venues is the risky benefit of failing in Round One, thereby having all but empty perfection in the cut throat next round. J-Bay can be the absolute example. Mentioned because with Kolohe Andino as one of his first up foes, either stands to benefit. The crowd too.

Felipe Toldeo

The Event One injury didn’t just rattle this neo-Pottz. It shook the field via anticipations as to who would go farthest in 2016 but more to the point zeroed in on the hire wire and associated risks. One minor misfire and a star’s immediate future was shot.

Should he be at 95% and the waves more like mild Snapper Rocks than honking Supers, look out. Has not yet failed in three starts though, with the two throwaways now locked in and Tahiti next. His Title challenge is over. Could still hold basic form to finish Top 5 in this wild year.

Dusty Payne

On a small run of results. The talents that he can unleash go way further than general results suggest. Kanoa Igarashi. Nothing astonishing (as yet) to his talent. A firm head under pressure seems be the winner. Has not failed all year in five rookie starts.

Miguel Pupo

No failures all season, suggesting capacity to upset higher seeds. Full of slow and power at J-Bay.

Kelly Slater

By rights, on the stats, he shouldn’t be included. Two failures, one no show, one middling result, and a third place at the Fiji Pro in which he blew the doors off a few of his own backhand levels.

Focus is on the “banana board”. That it went superbly on the backhand at Cloudbreak is undeniable. Whether or not a similar board may or possibly be the same one goes as well at J-Bay is the big question.

Operating last year on banana boards there’s no doubt that a different type of Slater was performing. Given that his opening foray at the 2016 Quiksliver Pro with a radical banana variant was hard to rate as a positive watershed moment, his return to J-Bay will be enthralling.

Points of interest may hinge on his body torque technique in propelling the equipment, much like that of de Souza with limbs in markedly greater use than over the previous 25 years.

Leonardo Fioravanti. Despite ring-in status following a run of WCT injuries, he has continued his QS form onto the bigger stage. Yet to fail. Matt Banting and Alejo Muniz back in equal 30th but having both had a run of three 13th’s, enough to suggest solid rhythm.

*Read Part I of this Three Part HERE.

**And Part II of this Three Part Series HERE.

**Images © AvG