Photos of 2012 Billabong Pipe Masters

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Tower. ASP / Cestari

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Wipeout number 2 for Josh Kerr (AUS). ASP / Cestari

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Billy Kemper (HAW) took on 11X ASP World Champion during round three where he was eliminated from the event. ASP/Kirstin

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11X ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) could win an unprecedented 12th tomorrow. ASP/ Kirstin

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Josh Kerr (AUS) showing he is more than just an air guy and is into the final 12 surfers. ASP/ Kirstin

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World title contender Mick Fanning (AUS) chance of winning his third world title have come to and end. ASP/DUNBAR

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Josh kerr (AUS) posted a pair of near perfect scores to advance into round four. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater (USA) kept his World Title hopes alive defeating Pipe specialists Billy Kemper during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Fomer Pipe Specialist Bede Durbidge (AUS) was eliminated by Josh Kerr. ASP/Kirstin

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Shane Dorian (HAW) knocking out world title contender Mick Fanning (AUS) ASP/DUNBAR

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Kolohe Andino (USA) rides one of the biggest set waves of the day during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Kolohe Andino (USA) rides one of the biggest set waves of the day during round two but was eliminated from this year's event. ASP/ Kirstin

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Migel Pupo (BRA) advancing through round 3 ASP/DUNBAR

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Although eliminated from the Billabong Pipe Masters, Kolohe Andino (USA) still has a very good chance at requalifying. ASP/ Kirstin

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Kolohe Andino (USA) takes off at Backdoor. ASP/Kirstin

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Gabriel Medina (BRA) standing tall at Pipe. ASP/Kirstin

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Joel Parkinson (AUS) will be feeling the pressure as we go into the final day of competition tomorrow. ASP/ Kirstin

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World No. 1 Joel Parkinson(AUS) keeping the Title race alive by advancing over Kalani Champman in round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater (USA) rides one of the bigger set waves of the day to advance in first place. ASP/Kirstin

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Jordy SMith (ZAF) eliminated in equal 13th. ASP/Kirstin

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Backdoor. ASP/ Kirstin

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Reigning Pipe Masters Champion Kieren Perrow (AUS) advanced into round five. ASP/Kirstin

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Owen Wright (AUS) ASP/ Kirstin

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Damien Hobgood (USA). ASP/Kirstin

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John John Florence (HAW) was perhaps the biggest upset of the day, eliminated during round three. ASP/ Kirstin

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With the world title on the line Joel Parkinson avoids the crowd to keep a clear head going into his round 3 clash against Kalani Chapman (HAW) ASP/DUNBAR

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Adriano De Souza (BRA) comes in for a board change. ASP/DUNBAR

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Gabriel Medina (BRA) has spent the last five weeks in the Rip Curl house overlooking PIpeline and is focussed to take out this year's Pipe Masters. ASP/ Kirstin

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Yadin Nicol (AUS) takes on Shane Dorian and Miguel Pupo in round five. ASP/ Kirstin

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Another perfect day at Pipe. ASP/Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) checking out the view from his bedroom ASP/ Kirstin

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Adam Melling (AUS) eliminated in round three. ASP/ Kirstin

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CJ Hobgood (USA) rated No. 13 in the world going into Pipe and will be looking to solidify his place on the 2013 WCT. ASP/ Kirstin

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CJ Hobgood (USA) took down Jordy Smith. ASP/ Kirstin

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Dane Reynolds (USA) enjoying some backdoor tube time. ASP/ Kirstin

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Beautiful conditions on day two. ASP/ Kirstin

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Sebastien Zietz (HAW) accepting his 2012 Vans Triple Crown Trophy ASP/Dunbar

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Sebastien Ziets (HAW) surfing his way to the stage to claim his title of VANS Triple Crown Champion. ASP / Dunbar

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Sebastien Zietz (HAW) wins the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. ASP/DUNBAR

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Backdoor looking very inviting on day 2. ASP/ Kirstin

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Afternoon crowd rushes out to free surf Pipeline ASP/DUNBAR

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Dane Reynolds (USA) dominated his round one heat over Granger Larsen to advance in first place. ASP/ Kirstin

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Triple Crown of Surfing ratings leader Sebastien Zietz (HAW) won his round 1 heat over Glen Hall. ASP/ Kirstin

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Couldn't ask for more on day 1. ASP/ Kirstin

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A building swell saw some solid afternoon conditions. ASP/Kirstin

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Maui's Dusty Payne (HAW) eliminated in second place. ASP/ Kirstin

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Patrick Gudauskas (USA) was sidelined by Shane Dorian (HAW). ASP/ Kirstin

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Dane Reynolds (USA) off the bottom of a stormy Pipe wave. ASP/Dunbar

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Conditions improved all day providing a dream start to day 1 of the Billabong Pipe Masters. ASP/ Kirstin

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Flynn Novak (HAW) looking super comfortable at PIpe. ASP/ Kirstin

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Kalani Chapman (HAW) one of the standout PIpe Specialists during the opening day of competition. ASP/ Kirstin

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Tyler Newton (HAW) taken down by Kolohe Andino (USA). ASP/ Kirstin

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Pipe specialist Kalani Chapman (HAW) edged out Adrian Buchan (AUS) during round two. ASP/ Kirstin

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Kolohe Andino (USA) waiting for the final call on whether or not he won his heat. ASP/Dunbar

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Kolohe Andino (USA) advanced in first place. ASP/Dunbar

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Kolohe Andino (USA) narrowly Defeated local wildcard Tyler Newton (HAW) in round 1 to secure his spot in Round 3. ASP/Dunbar

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Small clean conditions at Backdoor on day 1. ASP/ Kirstin

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Kieren perrow (AUS) proving just why he is a Pipe Master. ASP/Dunbar

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11X ASP World Champion Kelly Slater kept his World Title hopes alive advancing in first place over Hawaiian Pipe Specialist Billy Kemper during round three on Sunday December 9, 2012. Slater posted a near perfect 9.73 (out of ten) point ride and will surf again in round four when competitiom resumes.

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Kai Otton (AUS) has the pin drop technique perfected. ASP / Cestari

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Almost a sin to see a perfect Pipe wave going by unridden. ASP / Cestari

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Seating or standing the surf fans were treated to an all time day of surfing. ASP / Cestari

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Joel Parkinson (AUS) receives a well done from Corone. ASP / Cestari

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All eyes and cameras were on Kelly Slater (USA) as he prepared for a possible World Title deciding heat in Round 3. ASP / Cestari

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Kelly Slater (USA) no hands standing tall and giving the crowd what they came to see. ASP / Cestari

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John John Florence (HAW) suffered an uncharacteristic loss at Pipeline during Round 3. ASP / Cestari

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If people could pay to sit in the channel during the Pipe Masters for a view like this of Miguel Pipo (BRA) they would. ASP / Cestari

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Shane Dorian (HAW) has an affinity with Backdoor matched by few others. ASP / Cestari

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Sitting on the edge of the qualification bubble Fred Patacchia (HAW) felt the sting of a Round 2 loss. ASP / Cestari

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Matt Wilkinson (AUS) exclaimed 'this is the best fun I've had loosing' in Round 2. ASP / Cestari

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By loosing in Round 2 Adam Melling (AUS) effectively handed Sebastien Ziets (HAW) the title of 2012 VANS Triple Crown Champion. ASP / Cestari

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Alejo Muniz (BRA) tried to beat Shane Dorian (HAW) at his own Backdoor game, it didn't work and was eliminated in Round 2. ASP / Cestari

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Kai Otton (AUS) was hit by the washback warble and wasn't too happy with his Round 2 loss. ASP / Cestari

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Travis Logie (ZAF) placed equal 25th. ASP / Cestari

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Kieren Perrow (AUS) is in Round 4. ASP / Cestari

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Damien Hobgood (USA) all the way to Round 4 so far. ASP / Cestari

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Miguel Pupo (BRA) defeated 2010 Pipe Master Jeremy Flores in Round 3. ASP / Cestari