FANTASY SURFER

Walsh in particular was charging and on one occasion after threading a huge Pipe barrel he launched himself from his board and was smashed in less than 30 cm (12 inches) of water.

For him, competing against the best of the best at Pipe is a huge honour.

"Just to put the jersey on and paddle out in the Rip Curl Pro Pipe Masters is a dream come true," said Walsh. "If you look at all the names of the people who have won it over the years, every one of them is my favourite surfer. It’s a real honour to surf out here."

Following the completion of round two of the main event the Foster’s Expression session was run and won.

Taking equal first place for riding epic tubes were Jake Paterson (AUS) and Bruce Irons (HAW).

Both picked up US$2000 for their trouble.

Conditions will be assessed tomorrow (Tuesday Dec 12) at first light and a decision will be made regarding running round three shortly after.

Stay tuned to www.aspworldtour.com or www.ripcurl.com for all the updates.

For heat by heat updates and transcribed athlete quotes head to the media centre of www.aspworldtour.com and the news section on the Rip Curl Pipeline Masters mini-site.

Round Two Results (1st and 2nd to round 3) Heat 1: 1. Kelly Slater (USA) 14.43; 2. Roy Powers (HAW) 13.57; 3. Owen Wright (AUS) 6.56; Paulo Moura (BRA) 2.17 Heat 2: 1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.00; 2. Jamie Sterling (HAW) 11.17; 3. Marcelo Nunes (BRA) 4.20; 4. Pedro Henrique (BRA) 3.26 Heat 3: 1. Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.07; 2. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 14.57; 3. Aamion Goodwin (HAW) 12.70; David Weare (ZAF) 8.67 Heat 4: 1. Luke Stedman (AUS) 13.83; 2. Tamayo Perry (HAW) 9.97; 3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 9.57; 4. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7.93 Heat 5: 1. Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.06; 2. Jake Paterson (AUS) 10.00; 3. Yuri Sodre (BRA) 9.20; 4. Randall Paulson (HAW) 9.17 Heat 6: 1. Ian Walsh (HAW) 15.96; 2. Tory Baron (HAW) 8.40; 3. Dean Morrison (AUS) 6.80; 4. Darren O’Rafferty (AUS) 4.69 Heat 7: 1. Makuakai Rothman (HAW) 13.63; 2. Rob Machado (USA) 12.00; 3. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 11.97; Taylor Knox (USA) 8.77 Heat 8: Dustin Barca (HAW) 13.83; CJ Hobgood (USA) 13.76; Trent Munro (AUS) 12.66; Nathan Carroll (HAW) 7.00

Round Three Heat Draw

Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA); Peterson Rosa (BRA); Rob Machado (USA); Tory Baron (HAW) Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS); Mick Lowe (AUS); Ian Walsh (HAW); Kalani Chapman (HAW) Heat 3: Bruce Irons (HAW); CJ Hobgood (USA); Dustin Barca (HAW); Hank Gaskell (HAW) Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA); Pancho Sullivan (HAW); Luke Stedman (AUS); Reef McIntosh (HAW) Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS); Chris Ward (USA); Nathan Hedge (AUS); Jamie Sterling (HAW) Heat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS); Cory Lopez (USA); Bruno Santos (BRA); Makuakai Rothman (HAW) Heat 7: Andy Irons (HAW); Jake Paterson (AUS); Roy Powers (HAW); Tamayo Perry (HAW) Heat 8: Bobby Martinez (USA); Travis Logie (ZAF); Jamie O’Brien (HAW); Evan Valiere (HAW)