Kelly Slater earned a perfect 10 and a 9.30 in Round 4 of the Volcom Fiji Pro to advance to the Quarterfinals.

The world’s best surfers returned to action today at the Volcom Fiji Pro, completing Rounds 3, 4 and 5 to determine the event’s Quarterfinalists in perfect six-to-eight foot (2 – 2.5 metre) surf at Cloudbreak.

Event No. 4 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Volcom Fiji Pro was treated to a full day of world class ripping, setting up a possible finish for tomorrow.

Kelly Slater (USA), 41, current ASP World No. 4 and defending Volcom Fiji Pro Champion, was incredible while advancing to the Quarterfinals over Jeremy Flores (FRA), 25, and Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, in Round 4, earning a Perfect 10 and 9.30 for a near-excellent 19.30 out of a possible 20. Slater’s perfect score was due to a massive double-barrel, which saw the 11-time ASP World Champion drive through two deep tube sections covering the distance of the reef.

“That was unbelievable,” Slater said. “Those were some of the best waves I’ve ever had in a contest. On the 10, I was deep in the barrel and grabbed my rail, but I had to let go to get speed and then I hit the foam ball, I barely made that one. I did the turn and got another tube. On that one big one, it was so perfect and I just wanted to be in the right spot. As I was in the barrel, it spit really hard and there was lots of mist and I couldn’t see. The foamball pushed my tail up in to the wave and I just couldn’t come out the way I wanted to. I didn’t even care if I won or lost, because I’d get to surf again.”

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, current ASP World No. 1, got the best of a hard-fought heat against barrel-riding standout Jeremy Flores (FRA), 24, that saw a series of excellent exchanges. Flores took off on a last second wave in need of a score, but with Smith holding priority, the South African shut down Flores’ chances of exiting the barrel, solidifying his Quarterfinals position.

“That was an important heat for me,” Smith said. “Any ‘CT heat is important, but getting through Round 5 is especially important to make it to the Quarters. It’s too bad because Jeremy (Flores) is a good friend of mine and you hate to be that guy. I shouldn’t have gone on that wave at the end. I’m stoked though, I’ve never made it through to the Quarters in the South Pacific leg.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am local time for a possible finish to Volcom Fiji Pro competition.

When Volcom Fiji Pro competition resumes John John Florence will face off against Jordy Smith in Quarterfinal No. 1. Watch the Volcom Fiji Pro LIVE via www.volcomfijipro.com

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.00 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.50
Heat 5: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 11.60 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.73
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.87 def. Mitchel Coleborn (AUS) 11.03
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) 11.66 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 5.67
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.67 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 7.87
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.76 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 6.13
Heat 10: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.00 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 6.00
Heat 11: Nat Young (USA) 15.67 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.93
Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.20 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.40

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.43, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.43, Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.33
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.30, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.16, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.30
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.07, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.83, Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.77
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.14, Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.07, Nat Young (USA) 8.07

VOLCOM FIJI PRO ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.50 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.43
Heat 2: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.97 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.23
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) 18.76 def. Nat Young (USA) 7.83
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 19.53 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.34

UPCOMING VOLCOM FIJI PRO QUARTERFINALS MATCH UPS:
QF 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
QF 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
QF 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)