FORMER Tathra surfer Kai Otton was waiting for his call for the round three heats of the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) Billabong Pipe Masters event in Hawaii Thursday morning (AEST)..
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Otton struggled in his first round heats last week, but advanced to the third round following a straight-forward win over the USA’s Brett Simpson in round two.
Held at Oahu, the Pipe Masters is stop number 11 on the World Tour.
Despite winning the second round heat, Otton was one of many surfers succumbing to some poor scores in the heavy conditions.
Otton managed an average of just 3.5/10.
However 10-time world champion Kelly Slater was the highest scorer during the second round and he struggled to average 6/10 from his heat.
Organisers said the round two swells provided some of the heaviest conditions seen at the Hawaii event, proving a difficult challenge for all.
However, Otton was unfased by the conditions and locked in his two-wave combined score within 10 minutes of entering the water.
Organisers said Otton had continued to “charge through some of the heaviest close outs of the day”, which left Simpson wanting scoring just a two-point ride in the session.
Otton is outside the standings for the world title, but every point will count in the rankings.
The Pipe Masters will have massive implications for the top three in Gabriel Medina, Mick Fanning and Slater.
Fanning and Slater still have a shot at the crown if Medina loses his round three heat, but Medina can close out the crown early if he wins over the other pair.