On a day of bloodcurdling waves at Sunset Beach, Mason Ho proved that surfing big waves is in his blood.

Continuing the legacy of one of surfing's most famous family names, Ho advanced to the quarterfinals of the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing yesterday. He advanced through two heats in big and challenging conditions.

"It hasn't really sunk in yet, but I think this is my favorite performance I ever put on," said Ho, 21. "Just because the waves are so big and this is what I remember my dad surfing in."

His dad is Michael Ho, one of the greatest North Shore surfers of all-time. His uncle is former world champion Derek Ho. His sister, Coco Ho, is currently the No. 3-ranked female surfer in the world.

"Everybody in the family helps me out," Mason said. "My dad, of course. He's always there, trying to give me pointers before my heats."

Michael Ho watched with pride — and nerves — as Mason surfed some of the biggest waves of his life.

"Usually when it's big like this, we kind of hang on the shoulder and wait for the smaller ones," Michael said of his practice sessions with Mason. "But he's getting stronger and more comfortable in bigger waves, so today was good for him."

Ho advanced through a unique heat in the fourth round. Through an odd luck of the draw, the other three surfers in the heat were California's Gudauskas brothers: Dane, Patrick and Tanner.

"I thought for sure they were going to pull some strategy on me, but it was a gentleman's heat," Ho said.

Ho's performance was just one of the storylines on what will go down as one of the biggest days of waves in the 27-year history of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Wave-face heights were in the 20- to 30-foot range throughout the day, and a few got as high as 40 feet in the morning heats.

The third and fourth rounds were completed, and only 16 surfers remain in contention for the final day.

"They say watch what you wish for," Wai'anae's Sunny Garcia said. "I was wishing for some big surf and we got it, but it's almost too big."

Garcia came up big, receiving the top scores in the fourth round. He had a near-perfect score of 9.5 (out of 10) for his best wave, and finished with a two-wave total of 16.4.

Six Hawai'i surfers are among the 16 who advanced to the quarterfinals. In addition to Ho and Garcia, Torrey Meister, Kekoa Bacalso, Pancho Sullivan and Dusty Payne advanced yesterday.

"It was all about your own survival," Bacalso said. "It's no joke out there. My adrenaline was going absolutely haywire. Just glad to make it through this day."

The final day of competition could run today, if conditions are favorable. For updated information, visit www.triplecrownofsurfing.com.