Big surf forecast after lay day for Pipeline Masters

Gabriel Medina of Brasil won his maiden ASP World Title at the 2014 Billabong Pipe Masters. Photo / Getty

More big swells are forecast for Hawaii later this week, where star Australian surfer Mick Fanning will try to secure his fourth world title.

The Pipeline Masters was due to open on Tuesday (Wednesday NZT), however rare small surf forced organisers to call a lay day with qualifying still yet to be completed that will decide the last two competitors for the main draw.

Big surfs have wreaked havoc in Hawaii over the last few days.

Earlier this week, Fanning was among surfers who helped bring young American Evan Geiselman out of the water at the famed Pipeline break on Hawaii's North Shore.

Geiselman suffered a bad wipeout and nearly drowned, but is expected to make a full recovery.

Australian Mark Mathews also broke his shoulder this week when he had a massive wipeout at the aptly-named Jaws break on Maui during a big wave event.

Forecasters said a storm off Japan should ensure a big swell will hit Hawaii midway through this week.

Fanning leads the rankings heading into the Pipeline Masters, which is the last round of the world surf league.

But he is among six surfers who can win the world title.

Compatriots Owen Wright and Julian Wilson are also in the title hunt, along with Brazilian trio Filipe Toledo, Adriano De Souza and Gabriel Medina, the reigning world champion.

Fanning, the three-time world champion will take strong form into the event after winning last week's Vans World Cup event at nearby Sunset Beach.

It was the first time Fanning had won a major event in Hawaii.

The World Cup and the Masters are the last two events in Hawaiian surfing's annual triple crown.

-AAP