<p style="text-align: justify;">Here is all you need to know:</p><div style="text-align: justify;">- The invitation-only event saw 20 surfers such as Australian legend <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/Mick-Fanning" target="_blank">Mick Fanning</a></strong></em> and 2016 defending champion <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/russell-bierke" target="_blank">Russell Bierke</a></strong></em> tackle the famous 'Shippies' when a wave within a wave is created due to the shape of the reef bottom, causing several steps to emerge.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- One of the most difficult surf locations in the world, <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Spots/shipstern-bluff" target="_blank">Shipstern Bluff</a></strong></em> was first surfed in the early 2000s with triple-overhead waves up to 20ft [6m] commonplace.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Contestants used impact jackets to help absorb shock from serious wipeouts in 12-degree water temperatures with frigid southerly winds also posing problems.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Surfing's unique big-wave event saw <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/nathan-florence" target="_blank">Florence</a></strong></em> start Monday strong in heat one after opting to paddle for the entire event instead of using the tow rope.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Three-time world champion Fanning got towed in, however struggled to master the giant waves in the heats like Hawaiian Florence and Tasmanian chargers James Hollmer-Cross and Mikey Brennan.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- In the final Hollmer-Cross, the only one to tow, stole the show when he scored a perfect 10 that hollowed out, swallowed him up then spat him to the channel.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Florence paddled into and successfully negotiated a double-overhead barrel and Shipstern’s notorious ‘step’ to score an excellent 9.33 to cement himself as the one to beat and followed up with a 5.83 to seal the win as Hollmer-Cross failed to find a second wave.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- Australian heavyweight Laurie Towner grabbed second place with a combined 14.10 as compatriot Justen 'Jughead' Allport secured the final podium spot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- North Shore local Florence, 24, whose older brother John John (two time WSL Men's World Champion) and younger brother Ivan also surf, said: <em>"I'm so baffled, it's the first contest I've ever won. To be at this venue and win is amazing. To be surfing with the boys and the local legends, I just can't believe it. I'm so psyched. We drew straws to decide priority and, as soon as the horn blew, I was looking at this thing going, 'It's mine!' It was the best wave I caught. James had that unbelievable wave. It was perfect and he got a perfect score, but I’m so stoked he couldn't get another one… I was counting the minutes. It was the longest hour of my life."</em></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">- It is only the third time Red Bull Cape Fear has run in six years, after Sydney's ledge-break “Ours” editions in 2014 and 2016, as contestants and organisers have to wait for serious and dangerous conditions that provide the ultimate test for the best global surfers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>2019 Red Bull Cape Fear final result:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">1. <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/nathan-florence" target="_blank">Nathan Florence</a></strong></em> (Oahu, HAW) 15.16 points</div><div style="text-align: justify;">2. <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/laurie-towner" target="_blank">Laurie Towner</a></strong></em> (NSW, AUS) 14.10</div><div style="text-align: justify;">3. <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/justen-allport" target="_blank">Justen Jughead Allport</a></strong></em> (NSW, AUS) 10.93</div><div style="text-align: justify;">4. <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/james-hollmer-cross" target="_blank">James Hollmer-Cross</a></strong></em> (TAS, AUS) 10.0</div><div style="text-align: justify;">5. <em><strong><a href="https://www.boardriding.com/Riders/michael-brennan" target="_blank">Mikey Brennan</a></strong></em> (TAS, AUS) 6.50</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Explore more Surfing content <em><strong><a href="https://www.redbullcontentpool.com/search?q=Surfing" target="_blank">HERE</a></strong></em>. </div><p style="text-align: right;">© Red Bull Media House<br /></p>