ASL-oha! 2011 Pipe Masters In A Nutshell

Big Waves and Beach Babes:

Pipe looked amazing on the opening day. They were calling the best start to the contest since 1997. This is Evan Valiere on his way to logging the highest heat score on day one. Photo: ASP/Kirstin.

All done and dusted in three magnificent days, it was a Pipe Masters to remember. It started with 10-12 foot pumping surf, and the occasional 15 footer powering through. By the third and final day the swell decreased a little but was still a hefty 6-8 foot. Boards were broken, skin, bones ligaments and surfers' pride were injured ... and the crowds on the beach were treated to one helluva show.

At Pipe you can always count on Jamie O'Brien to put on a show. He smoked Dane Reynolds in Round One. Photo: ASP/Kirstin.

Day Two had arguably the best wipeouts of the contest:

And ASL had a chat to Parko, Taj and a couple of Aussie beach babes on day two ... and Taj told us he enjoys watching the wipeouts.

Double-Barreled Name, Double-Barrelled 10's:

John John Florence showed us all that at 19 years of age he is already a force to be reckoned with.

Here is his day one 10-pointer...

And from day two...

ASL managed to pull John John and Jamie O'Brien aside for a chat on day one:

And so it was no surprise that little ol' JJ went on to claim the Vans Triple Crown for the best overall surfer on the North Shore this year.

The podium girls looked pretty impressed with JJ too, don't you think? Photo: ASP/Kirstin.

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi...

The Hawaiians might have been dominating the early rounds, but it was the Aussies who stood tallest at the end of day three.

Michel Bourez showed that he's a force to be reckoned with on any Pacific island, but came up against a rampaging Kieren Perrow in the Semis. Photo: ASP/Cestari.

Joel Parkinson reminded us how good he is in waves of consequence but couldn't beat man-on-a-mission Kieren Perrow. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

After narrowly being relegated to runner-up last year by Jeremy Flores, Kieren Perrow made sure to live his Pipe dream when he got to the final again this year. Photo: ASP/Cestari.

As the final hooter sounded KP started celebrating, punching the air all the way from the lineup to the sand ... Photo Andrew Shield

... And the celebrations didn't stop 'til he hit the podium and could share are well-deserved moment with his family. Photo: ASP/Cestari.

Highlights from the final day of the 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters.

For full results and to watch replays in the Heat Analyser go to the Billabong Pipe Masters page.

And for all the North Shore ASLoha action presented by Oakley go to our Hawaii 2011 page.