There’s an old saying that goes: “Before you get the princess, you have to slay the dragon”… In this story Louie Hynd finds his own princess of a left with only him and the sea life to share it with, but not before he slayed the dragon that is Teahupo’o with brother and sister combo Owen and Tyler Wright. We kick off in the jaws of the beast with Owen in full attack mode…
In which Kelly Slater beats Bruce Irons JOB and Makia in pumping Pipe.
How good is this man?
Kelly Slater solidified his first win in two years at the Volcom Pipe Pro today after a full day of standing ovation performances that many are calling the absolute best of the winter season.
Slater surfed against three of the top Pipe mavericks in the world – Jamie O’Brien (HAW), Bruce Irons (HAW) and Makai McNamara (HAW) in a nerve shattering Final that saw barrels fire off like cannons and detonate on the notoriously shallow reef.
The 30-minute Final got started with two low scoring albeit immense waves from O’Brien and Irons, respectively, then saw McNamara answer back with the second highest wave of the heat, an 8.67. The 20-year old took an early lead on his opening wave, with Slater taking a quick second on his first ride, a 7.83.
Halfway through the Final, the 11-time World Champ secured the win with a backup score of an 8.73, while the other competitors fought hard for runner up position.
“I’m stoked, it’s been a while… Between drinks as they say in Australia,” laughed Slater. “Two years since I won an event, and it was this one. I feel good, it’s obviously a great way to start the year off, it just flowed … Got big waves, got some nice barrels, had some high scores … But what a day! Perfect southeast trades and big bombing surf.”
Runner Up O’Brien scored a 4.27 for a long left, finally finding a barrel in the second section of the wave, and backed up the mediocre score with a 5.67 for an inside Backdoor tube. The combined heat total of 9.94 secured a second place finish for the Pipeline Master.
The first perfect ten of the day – and the third of the event – O’Brien routed an ultra deep backside barrel to claim the Electric 10-point ride award for $1,000. Calm and cool, O’Brien was in complete control while navigating a high line, eventually bursting out of the tube after the spit.
“I had about 11 minutes to go,” started O’Brien. “I saw the wave, I had the priority, I tried to set myself up in the best spot I could. Generally in heats you don’t like to be too deep, but that was my predicament in that one … I still didn’t think I was going to make it and I just kind of held on and it just started spitting, spit me out like a cannon. I was just stoked, I just claimed it so hard, but it’s just a good feeling you know. I heard the beach roar, then I heard them start dropping tens and thought, ‘that was a good one to claim.’”
McNamara also secured a ten-point ride and $1,000 from Electric for one of the biggest, most perfect Pipeline waves of the event. The young charger was an absolute standout throughout the competition and was nipping on the heels of his competitors during the Final.
“It was the best day of my life for sure,” said the North Shore native. “I can’t even explain it I’m so tired right now and just so worn out from today. So many memories went down I can’t even remember all that happened… a few wipeouts and a few really memorable waves and I’m just so happy to finish on the podium for the first time and I hope it happens again.”
Irons was presented with the Todd Chesser Hard Charger Award for demonstrating sheer determination throughout the Volcom Pipe Pro. Jeannie Chesser, Todd’s mom, handed out the award and the two embraced in a moment of gratitude.
“I was not expecting that,” said Irons. “It means a lot you know just because I grew up looking up to Todd Chesser. I knew Todd, I was young but he was always Todd Chesser, he’s always the guy. I’d sit on the beach watching and Todd would be going on the biggest rights. Every time I’m out there I’m always thinking about the Todd Chesser waves. And I love Jeannie, it’s a real honor to have this award. It’s right up there, it’s nice, I’m happy.”
Volcom Pipe Pro Official Results: Shown in order of 1st through 4th. Surfers from Hawaii unless otherwise noted.
1st – Kelly Slater (USA) $16,000 and 3000 pts
2nd – Jamie O’Brien (HAW) $10,000 and 2250 pts
3rd – Makai McNamara (HAW) $4,750 and 1680 pts
4th – Bruce Irons (HAW) $4,250 and 1580 pts
Todd Chesser Hard Charger Award – Bruce Irons
Semifinal – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=5th place, 4th=7th place
SF1: Kelly Slater (USA), Bruce Irons, Marco Giorgi (URY), Joan Duru (FRA)
SF2: Jamie O’Brien, Makai McNamara, Tom Whitaker (AUS), Dusty Payne
Quarterfinals – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=9th place, 4th=13th place
QF1: Bruce Irons, Marco Giorgi (URY), Jack Robinson (AUS), Dimitri Ouvre
QF2: Kelly Slater (USA), Joan Duru (FRA), Chris Ward (USA), Torrey Meister
QF3: Makai McNamara, Dusty Payne, John John Florence, Eala Stewart
QF4: Jamie O’Brien, Tom Whitaker (AUS), Mason Ho, Soli Bailey (AUS)
Round of 32 – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=17th place, 4th=25th place
H1: Marco Giorgi (URY), Joan Duru (FRA) Koa Smith, Griffin Colapinto (USA)
H2: Bruce irons, Torrey Meister, Brent Dorrington (AUS), Kiron Jabour
H3: Kelly Slater (USA), Jack Robinson (AUS), Ezekiel Lau, Takayuki Wakita
H4: Chris Ward (USA), Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Sebastian Zietz, Nathan Yeomans (USA)
H5: John John Florence, Soli Bailey (AUS), Ian Gouveia (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
H6: Eala Stewart, Tom Whitaker (AUS), Nic Von Rupp (PRT), Shun Murakami (JPN)
H7: Jamie O’Brien, Dusty Payne, Mitch Coleborn (AUS), Tanner Hendrickson
H8: Mason Ho, Makai McNamara, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Billy Kemper
Banzai Pipeline, North Shore, Oahu, HAWAII – (Monday, February 1, 2016) — The best waves of the winter graced Pipeline for the Volcom Pipe Pro today, a World Surf League (WSL) Qualifying Series (QS) 3,000 rated event with a $100,000 prize purse, up to 3,000 valuable ratings points on offer and qualification into December’s Pipe Invitational.
North Shore favorite and defending event champion John John Florence (HAW) posted the highest heat total of the day, a near perfect 18.84 for two cavernous Pipe waves. The 23-year-old competed against fellow Hawaii surfer Eala Stewart, New York’s Balaram Stack and Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti.
“It was a really fun heat, I’ve been excited to watch it all day,” said Florence.” It’s been slowly picking up since this morning, conditions are incredible. The whole day I was just like, ‘please stay the same, please stay the same.’ Still light offshores, big, beautiful sunny barrels.”
Kelly Slater (USA) had a tough heat against Chris Ward (USA), Gavin Beschen (HAW) and Yago Dora (BRA), but made it through to the fourth round in second place behind Wardo. The 11-time World Champion won the Volcom Pipe Pro in 2014 and is eager for another shot at victory in the primer conditions.
“This is easily the best Pipe of the year, right now, the last couple hours, it’s incredible,” said Slater. “There’s so many waves it’s hard to keep the adrenaline down and keep yourself calm. I actually got my first wave, which was a really good wave I think, but I was a little too deep and it sucked me back. When it really opened up I was kind of eating it already. And then I came up and watched Wardo get barreled on a really good one and then I got like three on the head… kind of smashed me around so I didn’t start the heat so good, but I had a couple backup waves. I wouldn’t consider those very good waves out there but I got the scores to make it through and I think we’re going to have really good conditions in the next couple days so nice to just have that chance.”
Hawaiian charger Zeke Lau (HAW) nailed the only perfect 10 of the event for an epic Backdoor wave to keep the lead over Dimitri Ouvre (BLM). With a combined heat total of 16.07, Lau advanced into Round 3 along with Ouvre, while Gavin Gillette (HAW) and Ian Walsh (HAW) were left without the scores needed to progress.
“The ten felt great,” said Lau. “I knew I was only looking for a small score so I was kind of just looking for a little corner to tuck in and of course the biggest right comes, I was like ‘oh god,’ but it looked like a great wave so I just figured go for it. I pretty much just held on for dear life.”
Jack Robinson (AUS), the teen who caused a sensation when he won the Pipe Invitational here in December, posted one of the highest heat totals of the day with a 9.00 and a 7.83. Robinson excels in conditions like these and has become a standout in big wave conditions along the North Shore.
In a nail biter heat, Bruce Irons (HAW) jumped from third place to first with just forty seconds left on the clock. Sitting on the Backdoor side, Irons pulled into one of the biggest right-hand barrels of the day and navigated an exit as an explosion of cheers erupted from the beach crowd. With a 9.40 score, Irons secured the heat win and a slot into Round 4.
“The conditions are as good as it gets,” said the Kauai surfer. “It’s definitely probably one of the best days of winter. Lefts, rights, 8-10 feet offshore, what more do you want?”
Contest organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to determine if the Final day will take place. With more waves on the way, a Volcom Pipe Pro champion will likely be crowned by midday Tuesday or Wednesday
Vissla is joining the advancement of the relatively untouched category of eco friendly wetsuits with launch of their newest wetsuit The Eco Seas,
The Vissla Eco-Seas wetsuit is developed in conjunction with Sheico to utilize some of the most earth conscious materials and production techniques, including natural rubber instead of neoprene, water based glues rather than solvent based materials for laminating and recycled plastic bottles used for the interior and exterior lining.
With anatomically correct, tailored fit body lines and minimal seams, the suit allows for unrestricted warmth and performance. The suit goes even further with subtle embossed branding, eliminating the need for any unnecessary solvent based printing.
The initial product release available in surf shops around the globe starting August 2016 features a 3/2mm for cool water ranging from 56 – 65° F / 13 – 18° C.
After years of development Sheico finalised NaturalPrene™. This cutting edge material is a Natural Rubber Foam harvested from renewable rubber trees that replaces traditional neoprene. NaturalPrene™ is 100% neoprene-free.
Aqua-A™ lamination glue is water based and completely solvent free with no harmful chemicals. Aqua-A™ replaces traditional solvent based glues in the lamination process.
Upcycled Ultraspan™ water repellent jersey made from recycled bottles replaces traditional petroleum based fabrics. Each wetsuit uses approx. 45 Recycled bottles to make up the material used in the jersey lining. Upcycled Thermal full body lining insulates heat and dries fast.
Together these Eco friendly materials make the Eco Seas wetsuit warm, soft, and stretchy. This allows for more freedom of movement while surfing and more ease to put on and take off.
Just… Ow…..
A short informational film on the curse of the cold water surfer the rather unpleasant Surfer’s Ear. Learn why it happens and how to prevent them from medical professionals and if you’re really inquisitive you can see how they operate to remove them pesky nodules as well… Don’t go past the seven minute mark if you’re squeamish and don’t like seeing inside people.
Prevention is better than cure, especially when it involves hammers and drills in your ear pipe so we’ve got ear plugs in our store…
