A contest that will surely go down in history is underway in Hawaii, as big waves challenge the world’s best surfers – testing their skills in big, barreling waves during the Billabong Pipe Masters, which is expected to wrap up today.

The buzz on the beach was all about the match up during the quarterfinals with Slater, a 11-time World Champion, and John John Florence, a 19-year-old rookie on the World Tour who calls Pipeline home.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS OF BIG-WAVES AND WIPE OUTS ON THE NORTH SHORE FOR DAY 2 OF COMPETITION.

Slater was just 20 years old in 1992 when he won his first Triple Crown of Surfing and World Title

Will years of wisdom be what advances Slater  in the 10-15 foot surf? Or will it be local knowledge, and a freshness to the scene that will give us a glimpse into surfing’s future that takes the trophy?

Some say it was a rookie mistake that allowed Slater to come back from way behind during his 30-minute quarterfinal heat against Florence, who lead with high scores of 9.70 and a 7.0 against very low-scoring waves against Slater.

Florence had priority with just minutes on the clock – he could have sat on Slater to try to keep him off the waves, but went on a wave that ended up getting him a small score. Slater – with just minutes on the clock – took off off bombs that got him a 9.70, then with just a minute on the clock backed it up with a 7.83 – taking the win.

Florence was a favorite, especially after Round 4 when he basically showed the 39-year-old that just because he’s not even allowed to legally drink an alcoholic beverage – he should still be taken seriously.

In Round 4 Friday, Florence went up against Slater – posting a 17.67 against Slater’s 8.50, sending the veteran surfer to battle in Round 5 to advance to the quarterfinals. Now, they are in the same heat during the quarterfinals later today.

John John, 19, wasn't even born when Slater won his first Triple Crown title.

“This is definitely a dream, just surfing these waves at my home break, beating Kelly… This has definitely been the best year I’ve ever had,” he said.

It wasn’t an easy road to get where they are. The waves have battered surfers with wipeouts since the start on Thursday, sending surfers to shore with broken boards, and broken spirits. Limbs are torn out of sockets, blood drips from body parts after hitting the reefs. Kieren Perrow had chunks of his hands of feet ripped from him – but in the process, made the quarterfinals and re-qualified for the tour next year.

Even Florence, who knows this spot better than anyone, slammed his face on the reef during a practice session, his face swollen and scabbed up. Slater came out with a busted board, blood on his arm.

The contest resumes today in surf expected to be a bit smaller. The winner of the event takes $75,000, and the Vans Triple Crown champ earns a $10,000 bonus.

It was a great day for the Hawaiian surfers, with local John John Florence, just 19-years-old, dominating in his heats, showing he knows the spot as well as anyone. He’s leading in points for the Triple Crown of Surfing, and once again had a stellar performance today as he went up against Damien Hobgood in Round 3.

Florence had a high 9.17 and with seconds on the clock backed it up with a 9.3 just as he wrapped up his heat.

Even though the young Hawaiian probably knows this wave as well as anyone, he isn’t immune to the dangers of Pipe, his face cut up and jaw swollen from hitting the reef this morning.

“This morning I took off on a double up, and really hit my face on the bottom,” he said. “It’s a gnarly wave, and anyone can get hurt out there. I was feeling too comfortable and got a little slap. ”

His total score this morning came out to a 19.10 (out of 20), and he’s posted up the best scores of the contest, with a perfect 10 score on Day 1. He still has a few heats to go, but looks like the momentum is there.

“It’s kind of getting easier, but I still get nervous before I get out there,” he said. “The waves are big and it’s pumping Pipe.”

Even 11-time World Champ Kelly Slater took a beating, but winning his heat against Hawaiian Marcus Hickman.

His board came out buckled, leash plug out, scraps and blood on his body from taking some big falls.
“Basically we both went out there and couldn’t put it together,” he said. “I was just trying to get something going.”

Slater ended up falling to the same fate in the semi-finals – taking the wrong wave with 5-minutes on the clock in his heat against Australian Joel Parkinson, who needed a high score to overtake Slater. Parkinson was left out in the lineup alone, and got an 8.60 on a wave to clinch the win. Slater – even though he had a 9.23 on the board – didn’t have a second score big enough to win and was knocked out of the contest.

An all-Australian final is underway, with Kieren Perrow and Joel Parkinson going up against one another.

Watch the action live at vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com.

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