Check out this pretty slick clip of the hard-charging Vans surf team as they slay some of the best waves to hit the famed reef at Pipeline all year. Featuring Reef McIntosh, Kalani Chapman, and the Gudauskas brothers...

Nobody is going to present Rusty's Kalani Chapman with a public speaking award, but he is hands down one of the best Pipeline surfers at the moment...Check out his first barrel in this clip—it's one of those "Oh My God!" moments as he nearly loses it at the bottom of a second reef bomb.

Sorry to blatantly self promote, but hey, why not? Rocky Point in early December. Thanks to Rusty for loaning me the board!

So far this season on the North Shore you've seen the cavernous Pipeline barrels and dramatic contests...now it's time for some high performance hammer-time! All photos Chris Straley

After one of the best week's worth of surf we've ever encountered on the North Shore, here's a huge photo gallery from our ace Senior Photographer Seth Stafford that backs up the bold claim.

Surfing's most famous stretch of sand opens its arms for the world's best from near and far. All photos: Brian Bielmann/SPL

A quick little slideshow from a recent afternoon at Rocky Point. Are you gearing up for the North Shore? We are! All photos Brian Bielmann/SPL.