More speculation surrounds the outcome of the Billabong Pipe Masters than the Hollywood Oscars - or any other event on the ASP World Tour circuit for that matter.

There are plenty of Nominees for the Oscar-winning "Best Performance on a Tube of Consequence," but the winner is always a supporting actor to the wave itself. Pipeline's Hollywood-like stage set, Jerry Bruckheimer backdrop, and legendary crew members make the Billabong Pipe Masters a big screen epic for the surfing world.

No matter who takes home the Masters ‘Oscar', however, the cast is as colourful and as talented as Ocean's 11 - and there are 4 dozen of them. Along with the usual suspects (6-time Pipe winner Kelly Slater, current Masters Title holder Taj Burrow, and 2009 World Champ Mick Fanning) there are some contenders for best performance this year that could take home a trophy. Check some of this year's outstanding Pipe Masters cast members:

Jamie O'Brien has the odds on favourite from the Academy of Surf Observers Peanut Gallery to win the "best performance by a local surfer most likely to win the Pipe Masters" category. His new film "Who is JOB?" is a documentary that attempts to get at the unvarnished truth about Jamie, showing the good, the bad and the ugly. And the astonishing , as in his surfing prowess. An undisputed standout at Pipeline, his performances at the Masters will be highly anticipated.

Maui prodigy Clay Marzo has put in his own bid for "best surfer in a starring movie role" with the debut of "Just Add Water". This documentary film portrays the astounding surfing skills (that led the late 3x World Champion Andy Irons to refer to Clay as "hands down, the best 19 year-old surfer in the world,") it will go beyond surfing and tell the story of the challenges he faces on land as a result of being recently diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome. He will be in the starring cast of the Pipe Master's too, having won a berth through the qualifier.

ASP top ten-rated CJ Hobgood might eligible for the Clint Eastwood award having narrated one movie ((Wake Up) written the script for another (Walking on Water) and starring in yet a 3rd (Secret Machine.) As an east coast underdog, low key Christian, and under-rated World Champ, he's the sentimental favourite. But while CJ has never won a Masters, the Florida-born goofyfoot has earned victories at Teahupoo and Mundaka - two of the most challenging tubes on the World circuit. He's a veteran performer and one of the most dynamic tube riders on the tour. Note: could steal the show.

Then there is Joel Parkinson. Pipeline may be the director on this set, and when it comes to waves the producer too, but Parko is a star who has been out of the limelight all year and looking to regain a leading-man role. "Besides winning a world title, winning the Triple Crown is the most prestigious thing you can win in surfing," says two-time Triple Crown champ Parkinson. Rest assured, his mindset hasn't changed since he accepted his last title in 2009. In July he nearly severed off his heel, an injury that took him out of the 2010 World Tour. But he's back - yesterday at Sunset he scored a perfect 10 and the highest heat score of the contest. A huge global contingent is eagerly anticipating a triumphant return in Hawaii, and hoping for a comeback performance of the year. We will be hearing more about Joel, right here very soon (like tomorrow.) Stay tuned.