What a day of drama. Pipeline wasn't pretty, but she definitely made things damn interesting today.

First John John gets Slater-ed by Slater, then Slater gets Slater-ed by Parko in the semis, then Parko runs out of magic in the final, submitting victory to last year's runner-up Kieren Perrow. Last second comebacks. Heartbreaking close calls. Michel Bourez came within one heat of stealing the Triple Crown from John John.

Florence would hold on to take his first of many Triple Crown Titles.

The waves and wind played a big part in the unfolding drama today. A fading swell and a wicked North wind putting giant ribs in the faces meant a lot of potential scores pinching shut.

The dropping swell meant curtains for the 3 remaining Hawaiians in the draw. As has happened in the past, including the last 2 years, the Hawaiian contingent came out guns-blazing when the swell was peaking, then dropped like flies once the juice was turned down.

Kieren Perrow went into this event needing a quarterfinal finish to qualify for next season, and with wife and some youngsters running around, you can bet the pressure was squarely on his shoulders, especially this late in his career as a touring pro. Kieren was a standout all event, posting huge scores and horrific wipeouts. A truly deserving Pipeline Master. Talk about a sweet first victory.

FINAL
1 - Kieren Perrow 13.17
2 - Joel Parkinson 7.00

Some of the feats athletes are able to accomplish in the sporting realm, whether using their hands, feet, boards, chutes, bikes or other devices or vehicles, are indeed awe-inspiring. But also amazing is the use of modern technology to capture and present these remarkable activities. Below is a "People Are Awesome" video uploaded recently by YouTube user derDon1234 (Don's Version.) It starts out slowly, with lots of slow-motion photography, and builds with more action and intensity toward the end. Though it's a bit long, there's a reason it has garnered more than 1 million views. See for yourself:

Kelly Slater, who has dominated pro surfing over the past two decades and has been referred to as the Tiger Woods of his sport, might be considering pro golf as a second career.

It's not as far-fetched as it might seem. Slater, who will turn 40 in February, is a two-handicap golfer who won a remarkable 11 world surfing titles with a blend of sheer talent, physical and mental toughness, and fierce determination. He has been recognized by many as one of this era's top athletes.

Most realistically, for Slater, would be the PGA Champions Tour, for golfers 50 and older, though as a non-established player he might have to wait until he's 55 to qualify.

He'd have 10-15 years, then, to hone his game if he retires from competitive surfing after the season-ending contest, the Billabong Pipe Masters, which is underway at the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore.

The surfer, who is famously coy about future plans, was quoted in a Reuters story this week as saying, "I like golf, I love it, I work hard on it and actually I'd like to become..."

The conversation between Slater and author Will Swanton but that's more than he usually offers about his surfing career at the end of each season.

But Slater is as passionate about golf as he is about surfing, and the Floridian has tested his game against PGA Tour golfers. He has played twice in the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, and twice he beat his Tour partner, Pat Perez.

Slater has strolled fairways with John Daly, Darren Clarke, Steve Stricker and Dustin Johnson, which certainly served to whet his appetite.

"I do think about it," Slater conceded. "Funnily enough, I just did an interview with the Golf Channel: they're doing a special for Christmas and the three golfers they followed were me, Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker. Point is, I'm pretty entrenched in the golf community now, even if it isn't at the competitive level yet."

Of reaching that level he said, "There are these vague dreams in my head about it. The trouble would be the amount of time it would take to be good and confident enough."

That's being realistic. There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of two-handicappers with unrealistic dreams of playing professionally. Slater recalled the first time he played with a pro:

"First hole, I was so nervous I sliced it so far right it was crazy. Second shot, I hit it way left into deep rough. It was a par-four. Third shot, I hacked it up to about 50 feet from the pin. I holed the 50-footer for par."

That's Slater. In surfing, competitors must get past several heats to make the final. Slater often dominates, but he also posses an uncanny knack for pulling out an unbelievably high score to edge his competitor on the final wave, as time expires.

That's the equivalent of sinking a 50-foot putt to save par. It's more about mental strength and desire than luck.

Does Slater have what it takes to play golf professionally? Maybe not, but those who know him would not bet against him.

-- Top image credit: Reproduced by Permission of the AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am. Second image is courtesy of ASP/ Kirstin Scholtz. Third image is courtesy of Quiksilver

For the second year running, Turtle Bay on the North Shore of Oahu played host to the biggest night in surfing, the 41st annual SURFER Poll Awards. The Top 10 men and Top 5 women--as voted by fans-- were honored.

Kelly Slater took home his 17th SURFER Poll No. 1 in a year he won an unprecedented 11th world title. "The first one I won was in 1992," says Kelly Slater. "I remember the cover shot was me, and it said Curren, Carroll, Potts' names too. That was pretty mind-blowing at the time to win against those guys. Now I'm still inspired by the crew of guys coming up right now--Dane, Julian, Medina, John John."



Dane Reynolds, the man in which Slater urged fans to vote as No.1 came a close second, followed by current world number two Owen Wright. The fans let the surfing world know they have not forgotten fallen surfer Andy Irons, as they voted him the No. 9 surfer along with his brother Bruce 10. Watch the emotional acceptance speach by the Irons family.

Recently crowned ASP World Champ Carissa Moore ousted two-time SURFER Poll No. 1 Stephanie Gilmore to take the top slot continuing her magical year.

"I'm still grasping the situation," said a visibly shocked Carissa Moore, "but it's amazing to win this award. It's a great night in surfing and I'm so thankful for all my fans for voting for me."

After an amazing year that included two Pipeline event wins, World Tour qualification, and most recently, a win at the Vans World Cup at Sunset, Oahu's John John Florence was granted the prestigious Andy Irons Breakthrough Performer Award.

In the highly contested Movie of the Year category is was Globe's film Year Zero directed by Joe Guglielmino taking home the award. The Best Documentary award was won by Splinters directed by Adam Pesce and the Best Cinematography award went to Keith Malloy's Come Hell or High Water.

Everyone's favorite category Worst Wipeout was awarded to Rodrigo Koxa for his gnarly wipeout during Teahupoo's massive swell.

Here's the complete 2011 SURFER Poll Results

Top 10 Men
1. Kelly Slater
2. Dane Reynolds
3. Owen Wright
4. Julian Wilson
5. Taj Burrow
6. Mick Fanning
7. Joel Parkinson
8. Jordy Smith
9. Andy Irons
10. Bruce Irons

Top 5 Women
1. Carissa Moore
2. Coco Ho
3. Stephanie Gilmore
4. Alana Blanchard
5. Sally Fitzgibbons

Andy Irons Breakthrough Performer
John John Florence

Movie of the Year
Year Zero

Best Documentary
Splinters

Best Cinematography
Come Hell or High Water

Best Performance
Josh Kerr, for Kerrazy Kronicles

Heavy Water
Nathan Fletcher, for Teahupoo Uncut, Get-N-Classic, Rumors

Best Barrel
Alex Gray, for Teahupoo Uncut

Worst Wipeout
Rodrigo Koxa, for Teahupoo Uncut

Best Digital Short
Lost Interest

The 41st annual SURFER Poll and Video Awards will air live Tuesday night from the Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. The event is viewable at surferpoll.com beginning at 7pm Hawaii time (9 pm PST) and will air live on Time Warner Cable west region in Southern California at approximately 10 pm to 2 am PST.

Fans can like SURFER Magazine on facebook and follow on Twitter (#surferpoll) for live behind-the-scenes insight during the show.

The SURFER staff has their hands full this year with a list of deserving candidates, so we thought we would help them out in the main categories by offering some unsolicited advice on which way to go.

The most coveted video award of the night is for Movie of the Year. This year's five nominees are: Lost Atlas, Year Zero, Kerrazy Kronicles, Get-N-Classic, and Come Hell or High Water.

GrindTV selection: Lost Atlas. The all-star cast pushes the progression of aerial surfing to new levels. Kai Neville continues to follow in the footsteps of his mentor Taylor Steele.

Always a fan favorite is the Worst Wipeout category. This year's nominees include Kohl Christensen (Surprise Excitement Party), Evan Faulks (Surprise Excitement Party), Nathan Fletcher (Teahupoo Uncut), Mark Healey (Surprise Excitement Party), Rodrigo Koxa (Teahupoo Uncut).

GrindTV selection: The biggest swell to hit Tahiti in recent memory produced some of the heaviest surf we've ever seen and on that day the gnarliest wipeout was Nathan Fletcher's human rag doll impersonation. This may get the loudest applause of the night.



An important video category recognizing the quality of filmmaking in surfing is the Best Cinematography award. The 2011 nominees include Come Hell or High Water, Float: Archipelago, Lost Atlas, Sight / Sound, Year Zero.

GrindTV selection: Although it lost out to Lost Atlas in the Movie of the Year category Come Hell or High Water will win this one. The level of cinematography in this film rivals those of Hollywood produced films. Keith Malloy's movie about his passion for bodysurfing is another romantic triumph from the Woodshed clan.



Finally, one of the more prestigious and career satisfying awards is the Best Performance Award. This year's class is full of Surfing Superstars. John John Florence (Get-N-Classic), CJ Hobgood (Year Zero), Josh Kerr (Kerrazy Kronicles), Carissa Moore (Leave A Message), Dean Morrison (A Dingo's Tale), Yadin Nicol (Year Zero), Dusty Payne (Lost Atlas).

GrindTV selection: Carissa Moore is leading the charge for women's surfing. Their level of surfing is right there with the men. Her part in leave a message clearly states that Carissa is better than you at surfing.

Tune-in to the Surfer Poll live tonight or check back tomorrow for a complete wrap up from the show.

Channel Info:
* Los Angeles area - Ch. 101 (SD)
* San Diego area - Ch. 411 (SD)
* Hawaii (all islands) - Ch. 250 (SD) and Ch. 1250 (HD)