Heat 5: Boukhiam advances over Perez

In what was the battle of the day, Morocco’s Boukhiam started off heat 5 with a pristine, dreamy barrel ride to earn a 7.00. Boukhiam was holding in the top spot in the final minutes of the competition, when he and El Salvador’s Bryan Perez went wave for wave in a tube-fest.

Boukhiam, the goofy-footer, got deep in the barrel, finishing with a nice, stylish forehand carve. Perez answered back with an elite-level tube ride. But as the buzzer sounded and the judge’s scores came in, it was clear that Perez was unable to overtake the Moroccan, who advanced into round 3 with a combined total of 14.60. Perez finished his Olympic bid with an admirable 12.60 in a truly memorable heat.

Heat 6: Cleland advances over Criere

Heat 6 belonged to Mexico’s Cleland, who once again faced Spain’s Andy Criere after American John John Florence had relegated the two in round 1.

​​Cleland’s high score of 8.50 came early in the heat when he dropped in late to one of the biggest waves of the day. The goofy-footer rode deep in the barrel for several seconds before rocketing out onto the shoulder and powerfully carving down the face in an impressive display of speed and flow. He added in a 6.67 for a later layback barrel ride, upping his combined wave score to 15.17

Criere was eliminated after posting a total heat score of 4.43.

Heat 7: Robinson advances over Mesinas

Heat 7 saw Teahupo’o come to life, with incredible barrels rolling through, although only four waves were ridden during the 30-minute heat. Australia’s Robinson scored the wave of the day, paddling into a huge drop, knifing in and stalling perfectly, vanishing from sight, and then riding out after the spit to whooping cheers from the beach. Robinson earned a massive score of 9.87 (out of a possible 10) for his effort. He followed with a 7.0 for a heat total of 16.87 and the win.
Peru’s Lucca Mesinas locked into a tight barrel, earning his best wave score of 6.00. He finished with a combined score of 10.83.

Heat 8: Toledo advances over Stairmand

A two-time world champion, the Brazilian Toledo got the final heat underway after a slow start with the longest tube ride of the day, earning a 7.33 wave score.Twenty minutes in, New Zealand’s Billy Stairmand answered back with an 8.17. But then Toledo dropped into a big, heavy tube ride, pulling in deep, completely disappearing into the foam ball and finally emerging with arms in the air, emitting a primal scream, for a score of 9.67.
The win was Toledo’s, who finished with the biggest combined score of the day of 17.00.