Bruce Irons was a standout today, taking off on some seriously gnarly oh-my-god bombs. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Adam Desposito, one of the wipeouts of the day. Photo: ASP/Robbo

Kerrzy said Gordo, pictured here, is famous in Brazil for being a maniac. There is even a company called GO GORDO because of him being a maniac. Photo: ASP/Robbo

This is what the apocalypse might look like. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Yeah, it was big. Waves swept through the lagoon and up onto the beach, flooding houses and causing all kinds of chaos. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Here's Rodrigo Koxa on an almost human-sized wave. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

The Tahitian government called a Red Alert this morning, forbidding boats from venturing out in the angry seas. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Nathan Fletcher on what many considered was one of the biggest bombs of the day. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Koby Abberton towed Bruce into some bombs; here, Koby has his own taste of Tahitian juice. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Alex Gray on one of the best waves of his life, no doubt. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Keala Kennelly was the winningest girl surfer out here, back when there used to be a girl's division of this event. Today, she was on fire. Photo: ASP/Robbo

A very optimistic line by Everaldo Pato. Photo: ASP/Robbo

Pacific Ocean, meet the island of Tahiti. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Go Dingo! He ended up hurting his ankle and had to bail after this one. Not a bad send off.

Ever wonder what the Teahupoo reef looks like as a water drains off it? Wonder no longer. This is almost as scary as all those other shots. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Here's a painting disguised as a photograph. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Here's what one might call a "grower", ladies and gentlemen. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

While most of the dramatic action was happening out at the reef, some real-life crisis stuff was happening on shore. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

No shortage of glorious wipeouts on Saturday. Here's one particularly gnarly cartwheel by Rodrigo Koxa. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Bruce again. He did lose his trunks on one bomb, and Koby drove him through the crowd in the channel trunkless. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Laurie Towner lives for days like this. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

The Great Backless Wonder! Photo: ASP/Robbo

Raimana found himself rolled over the reef first thing this morning -- that's how heavy it was. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Ryan Hipwood, outracing the spit. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Laurie Towner, all heels. Photo: ASP/Robbo

Mindsurfing is the safest place to be in waves like this. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

Kelly, get out there! Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Anthony Walsh is no stranger to Teahupoo at size, and it showed. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

We didn't catch this guy's name before he got engulfed in spit, but he sure is confident. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Kamalei Alexander was another Hawaiian who came for the Trials and stayed for the Swell. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

A look back at the carnage. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

Dylan Longbottom on the wave of the morning.

Saturday was one of the most public displays of tow surfing ever seen. Photo: tim-mckenna.com

You can bet the Hinanos tasted pretty good on Saturday night. Photo: tim-mckenna.com