If rainbows and bone-crushing barrels aren’t Hawaii’s North Shore season in a nutshell, than I don’t know what is. Photo: Ellis

Much like the Julian Wilson that we all began to know and love at Teahupoo earlier this year, the young Australian was unafraid to throw himself into the belly of the beast time and time again. Photo: Ellis

With each passing heat, Evan Valiere continues to prove that local knowledge trumps all else when it comes to choosing the most beastly Pipeline barrel and making it out in one piece. Photo: Glaser

After some horrific wipeouts today, its shocking that Damien Hobgood was still able to keep his composure and threat a few grinding tubes. It still wasn’t enough, however, and his Pipe Masters run was put to a stop by John John Florence, undoubtedly most dangerous competitor of the event thus far. Photo: Lowe-White

After his performance at Teahupoo this year, no one can second-guess Owen Wright’s skills in heavy left hand barrels. Unfortunately he came face to face with the unstoppable local Evan Valiere in Round 3. Photo: Lowe-White

It’s been years since Pipeline has shown its true form for this competition. But as long as conditions remain the same for the final day of the event, we can rest assured that the man on the podium after the final will have earned his champagne shower. Photo: Lowe-White

Josh Kerr got a few phenomenal rides at Pipe today, until he came up against last year’s Pipe Masters runner-up Kieren Perrow. Unfortunately, both surfers had close encounters with the unforgiving reef, ending in a few chunks of missing flesh for Perrow and a mild concussion for Kerr. Photo: Lowe-White

Gabriel Medina has proven himself to be the silent killer during his few months on tour, showing little emotion on land while blowing minds nearly every time he sets his feet on a surfboard. Photo: Lowe-White

Although the young Brazilian has had the most success this year in shifty beachbreaks that cater to his aerial prowess, Gabriel Medina has managed to put on a unexpectedly impressive performance in this event’s heavier tubes, earning himself a spot in the quarterfinals tomorrow. Photo: Glaser

Saying that today was rife with late drops would be serious understatement. Here Jordy Smith attempts to control his speed and sneak under a crushing Pipeline lip. Photo: Ellis

A Pipeline expert if there ever was one, Kalani Chapman was on a hot streak in the event, taking out another favorite out at Pipe today in the form of Dusty Payne. Unfortunately for Kalani, Kelly Slater put an end to his streak in the very next heat. Photo: Glaser

With perhaps only John John competing on the same level, Jamie O’Brien simply manhandled every late drop and heaving bowl with the highest level of confidence. If the conditions are nearly the same tomorrow, Jamie could be on his way to another Pipeline Masters victory. Photo: Noyle/SPL

Former Pipe Master Taj Burrow came into the event with guns blazing, but local hero Evan Valiere had plans to send him packing after their Round 5 match-up. Photo: Lowe-White

Kieren Perrow slides out of another epic barrel while Josh Kerr dives down to look for a nice piece of reef to hold onto. Thanks to Kieren’s amazing performance in his heats today, he has secured his spot back on the 2012 World Tour by making it into the quarterfinals. Photo: Ellis

In one of the best rides of the day, Kelly Slater gave the judges what they wanted by taking an incredibly late drop and refusing to grab his rail on his way through this freight train tube. Photo: Lowe-White

After each and every heat, the crowd excitedly awaits their chance to swarm our favorite shiny-headed champion. Photo: Lowe-White

Joel Parkinson has been one of the most well rounded competitors of the last decade, but the real challenge is on the horizon when he squares off against Jamie O’Brien in the first quarterfinal of the day. Photo: Ellis

Images like these prove the legends of Shane Dorian’s prowess at the North Shore’s most famed reef. In a strange twist of fate, however, he came up short against Gabriel Medina in one of the lowest scoring heats of the event. Photo: Ellis

Kelly Slater has been surfing like a man possessed, obviously eager to stand on the podium at the Pipeline Masters to properly punctuated another epic year and another world title win. Apparently winning never gets old. Photo: Ellis

Josh Kerr, enjoying what few on this earth ever get to experience: perfect Pipeline with only one other person to share it with. Photo: Noyle/SPL

John John Florence always looks calm and casual, both in and out of the water—even though the whole surf world waits expectantly for a Pipe Masters win for the young Hawaiian. Photo: Ellis

Simply competing on another plane entirely, John John posted the two highest scores of the day in the form of a 9.93 and a perfect 10. All eyes will be on his quarterfinal heat tomorrow when the Pipeline prodigy faces off against the 11-time World Champion. Photo: Glaser

Pipeline Masters: Day 2