To give you an idea of just how good Peniche's Supertubos is, the day started with Jordy Smith and wildcard Bruno Santos trading 6 gaping barrels back to back until one of them finally fell on a wave. Not all of them were scoring rides, but when's the last time you surfed a wave where you can get 6 tubes in ten minutes?

Round 2 was given the green light early this morning, in building swell and stellar conditions. With the swell peaking, today was a marathon of action, running a whopping 20 heats in ten hours.

Absolutely every competitor got barreled off their head today, which begs the question, did anybody really lose?

Well yes. Jordy Smith, Mick Fanning, Josh Kerr, and almost every single Brazilian, 5 of 7 in the draw, including a rampaging Gabriel Medina. In fact, Heitor Alves is the only Brazilian to make Round Four, with Adriano yet to surf Round Three. Typically the Brazilians dominate in the beachbreak events on tour, as their country is as famous for gutless beachbreak surf as thonged buns. Unfortunately for the passionate peoples, this is no ordinary beachbreak. As the name implies, Supertubos is far heavier than most sandbars, breaking almost right on dry sand with every bit of raw Atlantic energy intact when the wave detonates. It has even earned the nickname of 'Portuguese Pipeline.'

Keeping this in mind, it should come as no surprise that all 3 Hawaiian surfers in the event are slicing through the draw like butter. Freddy P took out World Number Three Jordy Smith in Round Three, with a masterful tuberiding display. Dusty Payne also looked very at home in the gaping pits, easily out surfing Jadson Andre. Not to be out-done, super-rookie John John Florence turned in one of the best performances of the year against poor Ace Buchan. His 19.53 heat total is almost as incredible as the fact that he threw away a 9.5, a 7.67, and a pair of 7's. His throwaway scores would have won every heat in Round Two. The youngster will now face title contender Owen Wright in heat 12 tomorrow.

Also of note, Kai Otton and Julian Wilson has an absolute slug-fest in their round 3 clash, with both surfers dropping 9 plus rides all heat before Julian was able to seal it with a 9.7 at the end. Poor Kai had a near perfect 18.40 heat total and still lost.

The swell is forecasted to taper off over the next three days, so look for another marathon day of tuberiding tomorrow.



RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL ROUND 2 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.74 def. Bruno Santos (BRA) 10.97
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.10 def. Francisco Alves (BRA) 6.57
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.83 def. Justin Mujica (PRT) 8.64
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.77 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 15.23
Heat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.43 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.90
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) 19.53 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.97
Heat 7: Heitor Alves (BRA) 15.50 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.20
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 16.04 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 15.87
Heat 9: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.97 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.93
Heat 10: Dusty Payne (HAW) 16.63 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 12.27
Heat 11: Travis Logie (ZAF) 16.43 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 14.76
Heat 12: Taylor Knox (USA) 13.73 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 9.30

RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.57 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 8.43
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.33 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 15.30
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 19.13 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 18.40
Heat 4: Chris Davidson (AUS) 14.10 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 5.10
Heat 5: Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.77 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.20
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.86 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 16.37
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 15.06 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.90
Heat 8: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 18.33 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.17

RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL REMAINING ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 9: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. John John Florence (HAW)

Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson will begin their ASP World Title showdown Saturday in what's expected to be epic conditions at Pipeline. But it's obvious they've got a lot more to worry about than each other, because the threat from this year's trialists and wild card entries is more lethal than ever.

Andy and Bruce Irons, John John Florence and Shane Dorian will be relishing their spoiler roles. And they're just the tip of a long Hawaiian spear that has already impaled a number of ASP stars struggling to survive. Torrey Meister, Hank Gaskell, Liam McNamara, Flynn Novak and Gavin Gillette have crushed more than a few dreams already. And the casualties are likely to keep mounting.

Yesterday, Bruce Irons closed the door on Timmy Reyes, who is now headed back to the minor leagues after a lackluster season.

Today, Andy Irons dealt Australia's Drew Courtney a similar fate. Both Reyes and Courtney needed only to advance out of one heat to stay above the line and make next year's tour.

Hawaiians Flynn Novak and Hank Gaskel, who qualified via the WQS contest at Pipe last winter, knocked out Tahiti's Michel Bourez and Australia's Ben Dunn, who, coming into the final event of the season, were sitting 21st and 22nd respectively. Luckily for both, almost everyone in their vicinity was knocked out too, so they stand a good chance of survival. But Roy Powers and Ace Buchan are hoping to pounce.

And one of the most talked about threats now is 16-year-old grom, John John Florence, who, while playing in his back yard out at Pipe, held a clinic today at Backdoor---undoubtedly stoked to be sharing the lineup with only three other surfers. "There are so many perfect waves coming in it was just crazy," he said, "It was really fun out there." Of course, his fun was somebody else's pain. Heitor Alvez's 2010 tour chances were ended by Florence.

With new ASP seeding rules going into effect in 2010, there's much more at stake at Pipeline. Making the Top 10 will earn surfers a late round seed all year. Making the Top 16 will earn a late round seed through the first half of the season. But everyone who qualifies will be instantly put on notice, since the field of 48 will be reduced to 32 by mid-season. The better your seed now, the better the your chances of survival.

Oh yeah, then there's that little title race thing. Mick Fanning has a clear advantage over Parko at this point. At last check Parko has to make it to the semifinals even if Fanning bombs. Both will have tough draws; Fannign will face Meister while Parko is up against Gavin Gillete, so anything is possible.

Stay tuned...This is going to get good.

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Dean Morrison (AUS)
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Torrey Meister (HAW)
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Andy Irons (HAW)
Heat 4: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Flynn Novak (HAW)
Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Michael Picon (FRA)
Heat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Hank Gaskell (HAW)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Liam McNamara (HAW)
Heat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 11: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Phillip MacDonald (AUS)
Heat 14: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Shane Dorian (HAW)
Heat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Gavin Gillette (HAW)
Heat 16: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW)

Reigning world champion Kelly Slater made the most of his surprise visit to Brazil today, by ripping his way into the Final, where he defeated Adriano De Souza. "I thought I was surfing against Pele or something," Kelly said on the winners podium, acknowledging the huge local crowd who was pulling for Adriano. "I felt like the crowd was with me right up until the final heat. But you guys have always been very good to me and I want to thank you." On the way to the final, Slater defeated Tom Whitaker, Taj Burrow, and CJ Hobgood, looking very impressive the entire time.

While Kelly did gain ground on Joel Parkinson, the current tour leader, Parko didn't give up much ground as he still managed to finish with a solid 3rd Place finish. Nevertheless, should Slater return to form things could get a bit more interesting this year. Slater traveled to Brazil with nine surfboards in his bags, keeping his options open. In the first round, however, he had to work with borrowed equipment as his boards failed to show up in the baggage claim. When they finally arrived, Slater was busy trying everything, from a four fin, to a 5' 9" epoxy thruster copied off of the board he dominated the Australian leg on last year. And in the final day, it looked like he was on the same board he won Lower's on last year.

"I definitely feel like I sharpen as the event moves into the later rounds,' Slater said. ' I started out pretty slow in Brazil, and I wasn't even planning on coming initially. I rode borrowed boards, ones that I shaped, epoxies, everything and I definitely think I found my formula today. I actually called my girlfriend before the Final and said, "every time I show up to an event after trying to pull out, I win." I guess that held true today. I have less pressure on myself and am free to perform to the best of my abilities." Slater's win ended the worst slump of his career, and even though he has a huge mountain to climb if he's to capture his 10th world title, he's happy playing the long odds.

"I feel like I have all those guys (ASP World Title contenders) right where I want them," Slater said. "I don't feel like I have any pressure on me, and I tend to do my best when I have no pressure. We're coming up on Jeffreys Bay, which is probably my best event historically and hopefully I can build off my result here today."

For De Souza, the Final was a dream come true. "When I was a little kid I used to come to the event and dream of competing here," De Souza said. "To be here today, in front of all my friends and family, competing against my hero in the Final, is a very special moment for me and one I will remember for the rest of my life."


Results of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro
1. Kelly Slater
2. Adriano De Souza
3. Joel Parkinson, CJ Hobgood
5. Bede Durbidge, Taj Burrow, Dustin Barca, Mick Fanning

After a few very necessary lay days, Round Three of the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro got underway Thursday in much cleaner 4-to-6 foot surf. While the wave at Imbituba is a bit of a burger, the boys did find a few lips to hit had lots of face to carve up. That's exactly what tour leaders Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson did in their heats, as they moved on into the next round. Naturally, all eyes were on Kelly Slater, who, this week, is allegedly still hanging on to his world title hopes.

Slater took care of Ben Dunn riding a 5' 9" epoxy thruster, a copy of the board he rode to victory last year in Australia at Bells. By making it to Round Four, the champ has already locked in his best result of the year, "It's funny, I feel like I just won a contest."

Slater seems happy playing the come-from-behind role for now,"It's either lose and go home or scalp people." He'll be hoping to nab Tom Whitaker's scalp in the next round. As for upsets, the big names to fall today were Jordy Smith and Taylor Knox, both who have been enjoying decent seasons to date.

There are some pretty solid match ups in Round Four, including Timmy Reyes vs. Taj Burrow, Bobby Martinez vs. Dustin Barca, CJ Hobgood vs. Mick Campbell, and Chris Ward vs. Mick Fanning.