Surfing: Kelly Slater to take on Mick Fanning

Eleven-time world champion Kelly Slater will take on Australian Mick Fanning in the Rip Curl Pro men's surfing final at Victoria's Bells Beach later today.

American Slater beat Frenchman Jeremy Flores in his semi-final, while Fanning knocked out good friend and defending Bells champion Joel Parkinson to advance.

In excellent two-metre surf. Slater was at his imperious best in both a quarter-final win over Australian aerial specialist Josh Kerr and his victory over Flores.

The 40-year-old set up his win with a 9.93 - the highest men's score of the event so far - to open the 30-minute semi-final.

Slater is aiming for a record fifth Bells title.

Fanning, who has stealthily crept through the tournament, gained revenge for his Rip Curl Pro final defeat by Parkinson last year.

Fanning had earlier won his quarter-final against giant-killing NSW surfer Kai Otton, who had knocked out world No.1 Taj Burrow earlier in the event.

The Queenslander is aiming to break an 11-year drought at Bells - his only win in the event in 2001.

Four-time women's world champion Stephanie Gilmore produced a perfect 10 scoring ride to win her round four heat and make the quarter-finals.

Gilmore produced a series of amazing turns and awesome power to record the first 10 at the event this year and see off fellow Australian Laura Enever.

The 24-year-old is aiming for her fourth Bells title, and now faces Hawaiian teenager Malia Manuel in the quarter-finals.

Manuel beat Gilmore in round three on Thursday to relegate the world No.1 to Friday's sudden-death heat.

-AAP