Mick Fanning's bid for a third world surfing title has been stalled for a third successive day of small waves at the Pipe Masters in Hawaii.
Organisers called another lay day, but are hopeful there will be more favourable conditions on Sunday Australian time, with a large north westerly swell forecast to rapidly build through Saturday.
"As expected we have a third day of small surf here on the North Shore," Triple Crown contest director Marty Thomas said on Friday, local time.
"We are watching a new swell that is expected to build throughout the day today and we could finish the contest tomorrow.
"It's looking solid for tomorrow, 12 to 15 foot Pipeline, it should be a classic day."
When the season-ending competition resumes, Australian Fanning needs to win two more heats to secure the title and shut out his only remaining challenger, 11-time champion Kelly Slater.
The 41-year-old American has to win the final event of the season and hope Fanning doesn't advance beyond the quarter-finals.
Fanning 32, the 2007 and 2009 world champion, is scheduled to meet American CJ Hobgood in the opening heat of the fifth round.
A win there would catapult him into a quarter final against fellow Australian Yadin Nicol.
Slater is already through to the quarter finals, where he will meet the winner of the fifth-round heat between Australian Kai Otton and Hawaiian big wave specialist Sebastian Zietz.
Reigning world champion Joel Parkinson is through to the quarter finals where he will meet the victor of the heat between Frenchman Jeremy Flores and Brazilian Miguel Pupo.
Another Australian, Julian Wilson, will go up against American Nat Young for a place in the last eight against Hawaii's John John Florence.
