On a day where great waves were hard to find, Huntington Beach star Kanoa Igarashi was right at home in the water and the man of the hour out of it.
Mobbed by fans as he left the water, Igarashi put up the highest heat total of the day, with a 14.10 mark in advancing on to the round of 48 in the opening day of the Vans US Open of Surfing.
The men completed their first 16 heats with 8 more scheduled tomorrow before the women begin their event.
San Clemente stars Kei Kobayashi, Crosby Colapinto (pictured on right) and Cole Houshmound all advanced to the next round. Kobayashi scored a 12.23 heat total in winning his foursome, Crosby advanced with a second place 9.50 total in his heat and Houshmand's 9.53 got him through.
A pair of former Encinitas standouts Jake Marshall and Levi Slawson (pictured on left) both won their heats. Marshall scored a 7.80 in his 13.33 total and Slawson's 13.27 included a 7.27 wave.
Ventura's Eithan Osborne also won his heat, while scoring a 12.17 heat total.
The final two USA representatives to advance were Michael Dunphy from Virginia Beach, Virgnia and Evan Geiselman from New Smyrna Beach Florida. Both finished second in their heats and will surf on Monday.
Sunday will see USA hopefuls Nolan Rapoza, Conner Coffin and Jett Schilling see action.