Australian Joel Parkinson was among the surfers to shine on day three of the Hurley Pro at Trestles, California.

Parkinson, currently third in the ASP world title race, notched an impressive 17.0 total from two waves to see off the challenge of Brett Simpson of the US in round three.

"I was hoping for just a couple waves and we got a couple of set waves each,” Parkinson said. “I watched the first two of Brett’s waves after I got my scores and wanted to stay involved, but I just couldn’t worry or watch.

"He’s an amazing surfer and beat me in Tahiti so it was kind of good to get one back. We’ve surfed the last three events together and there are those little rivalries that pop up.”

Parkinson went on to score a 9.13 in round four against his compatriot Julian Wilson to secure the day's highest heat total and advance directly to the quarter-finals.

“Julian’s wave was sick,” Parkinson said. “I don’t know what to say about it though, I’m a purist. That wave of mine was a long wave, my legs were burning at the end.

"Me and Julian were hassling and I thought ‘I don’t care if I get an interference or not, I’m losing anyway.’ Mick got that wave before it too, that was a great heat.”

Another Australian, Owen Wright, came from behind to beat Hawaiian John John Florence in a high scoring heat that ended 17.84-17.13 in favour of the man who is currently second in the title race.

“John John’s got a massive future ahead of him and I’d really like to take my hat off to him,” Wright said.

“He really took it to me and surfed really well. I fell on a couple and then I got one and rode it all the way down and pulled through. I knew it was definitely a 9 and felt like I hit every section in the sweet spot.

"Backside surfing is hard out there today and I’ll take it. I‘ve got a bit more to drive for with the World Title on the line and it pulled me through. It’s just not a round 3 heat for me out there.”

ROUND 5 MATCH-UPS:

Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)

Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)

Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)

Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)

ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 16.33, Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.93, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.23

Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.90, Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.60, Heitor Alves (BRA) 11.77

Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.73, Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.20, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.46

Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.06, Julian Wilson (AUS) 17.77, Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.50

ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.50 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 12.97

Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.50 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 13.10

Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.27 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 9.57

Heat 4: Heitor Alves (BRA) 11.63 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 11.43

Heat 5: Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.33 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.83

Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.64 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.93

Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS) 17.84 def. John Florence (HAW) 17.13

Heat 8: Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.13 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 8.17

Heat 9: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.80 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 10.40

Heat 10: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.00 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 16.80

Heat 11: Julian Wilson (AUS) 14.23 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 9.00

Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.93 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 13.17

Eurosport