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Huge seas have seen Tasmanians Michael Brennan and James Hollmer-Cross just fall short of making the finals in the Red Bull Cape Fear surf contest. 

Hawaiian Nathan Florence scored 15.16 in the final to beat Australian surfers Laurie Towner (14.10) and Justin Allport (10.91) and Tasmanians Hollmer-Cross (10.00) and Brennan (6.50).

Florence took on a who's who of Aussie legends, including Laurie Towner and Mick Fanning.

Hollmer-Cross got a perfect 10 midway through the final, after failing to catch a single wave early on to give himself a big chance.  But Florence proved too strong.

The win is Florence’s first ever notable competition victory. 

'I’m so baffled, it’s the first contest I’ve ever won,' he said. '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.' 

Contestants endured 12-degree water temperatures and frigid southerly winds at the contest. 

They also had a seven hour, round-trip boat ride from the nearest port to get there. Many surfers were covered from head-to-toe in rubber and used impact jackets to help absorb shock from serious wipe outs.

Hollywood superstar Chris Hemsworth took time out to travel to the event down south. He took to Instagram to post photographs of himself with mates on a boat just off the coast. 

Red Bull Cape Fear unfolds at Ship Stern's Bluff today. Hawaiian Nathan Florence scored 15.16 in the final to beat Australian surfers Laurie Towner (14.10) and Justin Allport (10.91) and Tasmanians Hollmer-Cross (10.00) and Brennan (6.50).

A surfer catches a tube in the Red Bull Cape Fear surf contest. Monster seas were on hand today. 

Wipe out: a surfer takes a spill in monster seas at Ship Stern's Bluff off Tasmania today. Freezing conditions and wild weather greeted the surfers, who had travelled hours just to get there

Seas towered over surfers competing in today's Red Bull Cape Fear surf contest in Tasmania. 

Ship Stern's Bluff is notorious for wild waves and big wave surfers. Today's Red Bull Cape Fear surf contest did not disappoint those who dared to paddle out there today

Another magnificent tube is caught at the Red Bull Cape Fear surf contest. Hawaiian Nathan Florence won the dangerous event