The Aussies are making a surge for the finals at the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons at Pipeline, Hawaii.
Joel Parkinson of Coolangatta (pictured above) advanced into the quarterfinals of the Masters winning his round 4 heat with this near-perfect 9.27 ride (out of a possible 20.00). Parkinson is reigning ASP World Champion and the defending Pipe Masters Champion.
Two-times ASP World Champion and current ASP World No 1 Mick Fanning of the Gold Coast (pictured right) advanced to round 5 of the Masters today.
In round 3, in clean two-metre waves at Pipeline and Backdoor, Fanning defeated local Hawaiian wildcard Kaimana Jaquias by placing him in a combination situation (requiring two high-scoring rides) to advance into round 4.
In the non-elimination round 4 Fanning placed third to John John Florence of Hawaii and Nat Young (USA) and must now win his round 5 heat to keep his hopes of a third ASP World Title alive.
The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons is the final event of the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour season and holds a waiting period from December 8 through 20.
The event is webcast LIVE via the The Pipe Masters website.