Massive15- to 20-foot waves at Banzai Pipeline got the blood pumping on the beach and spilling in the water for day one of the Billabong Pipe Masters.
A spirited demonstration of perfect surfing by 19-year-old John John Florence (Hawaii) got the emotions flowing.
A maximum capacity crowd turned out to see what the North Shore's rising star could do on the biggest swell of the winter and they weren't disappointed.
Florence showed why he is the leader of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing ratings,picking up where he left off after winning the Vans World Cup at Sunset Beach last week.
The Billabong Pipe Masters is the third and final jewel of the Vans Triple Crown.
Scored on their best two waves in each 40 minute heat, the majority of surfers struggled to lock in two solid scores in the deadly, barreling waves.
But Florence and a handful of Pipe locals rallied with incredible performances that saw them streak ahead. Florence notched up not two, but five great tube rides in his heat.
His top two totaled 18.16 out of 20, including a perfect 10 for two deep and successful tube rides on a single wave.
Reuters