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John John Florence of Oahu, Hawaii (pictured) advanced into Round 4 of the Ripcurl Pro Bells Beach, defeating Kai Otton (AUS) with a heat total of 15.83 points (out of a possible 20.00) in Round 3 at Bells Beach today. Photo: Cestari/ASP
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Joel Parkinson of Coolangatta, Gold Coast, Australia (pictured), advanced into Round 4 of the Ripcurl Pro Bells Beach, defeating Aritz Aranburu (ESP) with a heat total of 15.10 points (out of a possible 20.00) in Round 3 at Bells Beach today. Photo: Cestari/ASP
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Aritz Aranburu of the Basque Country, Spain (pictured) placed equal 13th in the Ripcurl Pro Bells Beach, being defeated by Joel Parkinson (AUS) in Round 3 at Bells Beach today. Photo: Cestari/ASP
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Jordy Smith of Durban South Africa won his Round 3 heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach advancing into Round 4 in Australia on Monday April 21, 2014. Smith defeated Sebastien Zietz (HAW) posting a near perfect 9.57 score (out of 10.00). Photo: Kirstin/ASP
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Owen Wright of Lennox Head, NSW, Australia (pictured) advanced into Round 4 of the Ripcurl Pro Bells Beach, defeating CJ Hobgood (USA) with a heat total of 13.43 points (out of a possible 20.00) in Round 3 at Bells Beach today. Photo: Cestari/ASP
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Nat Young of Santa Cruz, California, USA (pictured) placed equal 13th at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach when he was eliminated by Fredrick Pattacchia (HAW) during Round 3 in Australia on Monday April 21, 2014. Photo: Kirstin/ASP
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Taj Burrow of Yallinup, Western Australia (pictured) won his Round 3 heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach defeating Mitch Crews (AUS) on Monday April 21, 2014. Photo: Kirstin/ASP
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Gabriel Medina of Maresias, Brasil (pictured) won his Round 3 heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach defeating Bede Durbidge (AUS) on Monday April 21, 2014. Medina posted a pair of excellent 8-point rides to advance into Round 4. Photo: Kirstin/ASP
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Julian Wilson of the Sunshine Coast, Australia (pictured) won his Round 3 heat at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach posting the highest individual wave score of the round, a near perfect 9.93 (out of a possible ten) on Monday April 21, 2014. Wilson defeated Miguel Pupo (BRA) to advance into Round 4. Photo: Kirstin/ASP
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Kelly Slater of Cocoa Beach, Florida, USA (pictured) advanced into Round 4 of the Ripcurl Pro Bells Beach, defeating Glenn Hall (IRE) with a heat total of 15.53 points (out of a possible 20.00) in Round 3 at Bells Beach today. Photo: Cestari/ASP
While there is a lot that went down at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach event in Rounds 3 and 4, there is one thing that stands out: John John Florence.
In his heat with Kelly Slater and Gabriel Medina, Rincon was pretty much sitting at high-tide and looking a bit swamped – though still amazing. Bells is a wonderful place. While Slater opened up the heat with some ridiculously powerful Kelly-carves, John John sat back and waited. What he did next was insane. Reminiscent of his air heard ’round the world at the Oakley Pro Bali, JJF hucked himself up and out, went almost upside down, and spun into a full rotation aerial that was loftier than the drones buzzing around the lineup. And of course, in typical John John fashion, it was as casual as can be. The judges awarded him a 10, the crowd collectively gasped, and the other competitors threw up their white flags. Well, not really… but maybe they should.
