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Although there were waist-high surf  and top-notch surfers for round #1 of Revolt Magazine’s Surf Series, dumpy surf is what pushed competitors to the edge.

Between the closeout set waves and the inside open faces, contestants were scrambling for a high-score ride. And with the pressure-building reality of the clock, sitting and waiting for the magic ride wasn’t quite an option. Instead, high-caliber maneuvers became the play card. Competitors sought to optimize score in the fast closeout waves by pulling off radical tricks rather than increasing the number of turns.

That made for an exciting show. In fact, the push for a winning score on those quick rides arguably turned the contest into an entire expression session, undoubtedly pleasing the land-dwelling spectators. Watch the Contest Clip for some of that high-voltage search for the highest score.