Following a month long flat spell, the North Shore has had a late flurry of storms culminating in today's oversized NW swell. Before it got to big and the exits shut down, the Pipe/Backdoor stretch awoke creating a rush for surfers starved of heavy water.

Among them was John John, who in two weeks will return to competition after a six month recovery to his knee injury. There was no grand statement from JJF, but a solid showing altogether.

And the guy on the lid? JOB.