Defending champion John John Florence and 11-time world champion Kelly Slater put on a show at Sunset Beach on Monday.

They posted the day’s highest combined heat scores in 6- to 8-foot waves and stormy conditions on Day 3 of the Vans World Cup of Surfing.

Slater struck first, posting a 17.04 (out of 20), the highest heat total of the event — only to have Florence top him in the very next heat with a 17.80.

Florence, 20, was in blistering form on the tricky Sunset walls, throwing down an array of snaps and power turns. His heat also featured his younger brother, 18-year-old Nathan Florence, Fred Patacchia and Maui’s Billy Kemper, who posted a 10-point ride.

"(Billy) had a 10 in the beginning, but the way the conditions are today you can get a 10 and not even get another wave, so I just stuck to my game plan and it ended up working out in the end," said Florence, who is also defending his Vans Triple Crown title.

Kemper also advanced into the round of 32 with a second-place finish in the heat.

Slater, 40, is looking to get back on track after suffering a controversial loss in the early rounds at Haleiwa. He was fast and crisp Tuesday and is still looking for his first Sunset victory.

"It’s a tricky wave," Slater said. "I don’t surf it a lot and usually it doesn’t weigh into the world title, so I haven’t put a lot of importance on getting to know the lineup. There’s no excuse, I just haven’t put my time in at Sunset and it’s never been one of my favorite waves, but it’s a challenge for sure."

Among the other noteworthy surfers in Triple Crown contention to advance into the round of 32 were Hawaii’s Sunny Garcia and Sebastian Zietz, and Brazil’s Alejo Muniz.

The Vans World Cup of Surfing, the second event of the Vans Triple Crown, is expected to resume today.