Frames: Power, Brilliance at Billabong Pico Alto

The shorebreak is challenging at 10-plus feet.

Jamie Sterling (HAW) (right) and Ramon Navarro (CHL) load up for Heat 2 of the opening round at the 2014 event.

Plenty of extremely large set waves graced the lineup.

Nic Lamb (USA), progressing through Round 1 Heat 3.

Gabriel Villaran (PER) was one of three locals who topped their respective Round 1 heats.

Villaran after his Round 1 victory.

Sofia Mulanovich (PER) is one of Peru's greatest athletes, and a former ASP Women's World Champion. She lives in Pico Alto and made sure to catch the day's action.

Rafael Velarde (PER) was another impressive local surfer, seen here winning his Round 1 heat.

Anthony Tashnick (USA) through Round 1.

Defending event champion Carlos Burle, in yellow, topped his Round 1 heat with a 19.56 two-wave total.

A monster wave rolls by, surfer-free.

Former BWWT champion Greg Long (USA) paddling out for more. His single-wave score (a 6.50) in the Semifinals, when doubled, was enough to get him into the Final.

Makua Rothman (HAW) enjoying the outside reef of Pico Alto, and riding his way into the Final.

Rothman's focus in the Semifinals paid off when he won the first heat with an 18.99 two-wave total.

An accomplished big-wave surfer but newcomer to the BWWT, Rothman showed no signs of intimidation when the larger sets came through.

Velarde being chased by the wave in the Semifinals. That ride didn't end well for the local charger.

Lamb found good positioning in the Semifinals, but still found himself at the bottom of the heat with a 17.03 two-wave total.

Lamb, scrambling for the horizon.

Long struggled in the Final, finding only a single wave to score. He placed sixth overall, an unusual spot for the San Clemente charger.

Reigning BWWT champion Grant Baker (ZAF) placed fifth in the opening event of the Big Wave World Tour's 2014/2015 season.

Baker placed fifth overall but was able to catch one of the biggest waves of the day.

Villaran was the highest placed Peruvian surfer placing fourth overall.

Shawn Dollar (USA) was able to paddle into perfect set waves throughout the event; this one was in the Final, in which he placed third.

Dollar capped off a solid day of surfing with a 20.26 heat total in the Final.

Anthony Tashnick (USA) took off on the same wave that wiped out Dollar in the Final.

Tashnick, in blue, makes the drop and places second overall.

Rothman found rhythm in the Final. He was able to take the Billabong Pico Alto title with an astounding 27.33 total (out of a possible 30).

Rothman on his outstanding 9-point ride in the Final.