To the Nines: Pipe Goes Off for Huge Performances

During his Round 1 heat at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Championship Tour veteran Kai Otton (AUS) charged through a throaty tube, making it out the other side. The technical performance earned him a score of 9.73, putting him way out ahead of his heat opponents to start.

C.J. Hobgood (USA), who is due to retire after the Billabong Pipe Masters, scored a Perfect 10 in his first heat of the event. A "perfect" score is when all five judges give the surfer 10 points.

Kelly Slater (USA) may not be in the hunt for a World Title this year, but he reminded everyone why he's a seven-time winner of the Billabong Pipe Masters. The 11-time World Champion opened his Round 3 heat against Michel Bourez (PYF) with a massive barrel and a score to match.

John John Florence (HAW), whose backyard overlooks the site of the Billabong Pipe Masters, opened his Round 3 heat there with a 9.33 to take the lead over John John Florence (HAW).

John John Florence (HAW) dominated his Round 3 heat against Taj Burrow (AUS) while surfing in his own backyard. He opened with a 9.33, but wasn't done. This impressive backside barrel earned him a 9.93 -- almost a perfect, 10-point score.

Sebastian Zietz (HAW) dropped a perfect 10 in his Round 3 heat at the Billabong Pipe Masters. The Hawaiian stood tall in a hollow barrel, emerging behind the spit in a heroic display of commitment and was rewarded accordingly.

Julian Wilson (AUS) ended his 2015 season on a high note when he flew out of a deep barrel at the Billabong Pipe Masters for a 9.23 at the beginning of his Round 3 heat.

John John Florence (HAW) made his mark on the Round 4 super heat at the Billabong Pipe Masters when he dropped into a massive barrel and making a seemingly impossible escape for a 9.83.

With a World Title on the line, Mick Fanning (AUS) pulled out all the stops to win his Round 4 heat and advance to the Quarterfinals. He was in third place in his with just five minutes left when he found the wave he needed: He pulled into a huge tube at Pipe and came out with the spit to score a 9.30.

Wildcard Mason Ho shocked the elite field of competitors at the Billabong Pipe Masters when he ran through a drainer in pumping conditions for a 10-point ride in Round 4.