Matt Warshaw described it like this for SURFER Magazine: "The heavier the situation, the better Elkerton responded. He served notice 10 minutes into his season-opening heat just south of center, directed a massive fade into the pit, blended a chainsaw bottom turn into a 20-yard-line drive across the upper seam of the pocket, went north into another huge fade, turned up and, in perfect parade-rest stance, took a bull's-eye shot straight through the inside bowl. Animal and elegant." Photo: Jeff Divine.

DEREK FINDS PERFECTION: 1986

In 1986, the fourth year of the Triple Crown, a young North Shore resident named Derek Ho began a long tradition by pulling into a hellacious barrel during the semifinals at the Marui Offshore Pipeline Masters. Many surfers have scored perfect 10s at Pipeline. But Ho's ride was perhaps the most memorable. Ho went on to win the Pipe Masters and the Triple Crown.
Photo: Rob Gilley.