Mark my words: In time, the 2017 J'Bay Open will come to be seen as a watershed moment in pro surfing. It was a competition where aerial surfing transcended its traditional home of small beachbreaks and was superimposed onto reeling point surf, plus the power approach ratcheted up with long tracts of real estate being scythed at speed.

In just a few days the performance level of pro surfing vaulted ahead, but it was also done on a canvas that crossed postcodes. Perfect double overhead point waves that required three baton changes as the director switched to the next camera down the point.

Andy Morris from 18 Seconds magazine was in South Africa for the contest, including the week leading up to the event. Most of us have already seen the contest surfing but here's a chance to watch the warm up sessions which were held in the first burst of swell.

It's long, but it's just one song, so click into the groove.