Pipeline Challenge Final Day - Sacha Spex retains Dk Title

Spex throwing down for Team Saffa and retaining his Pipe DK Title.

The Dropknee division featured a hotly contested final, taken out by South African Sacha Specker, defeating Hawaiian wave wizard and multiple DK World Champion, Dave Hubbard in second, Australia's multi talent Dave Winchester in third and Peruvian powerhouse and 2010 DK World Champion, Cesar Bauer in fourth to claim his second IBA Pipeline Pro DK victory.

Specker had a solid lead early in the final, but Hubbard and Winchester managed to find some excellent barrel rides to keep them in contention. Although Bauer never really found his rhythm during the final, he put on a show-stopping performance, pulling into big barrel over the shallow backdoor reef, keeping the beach spectators cheering on the edge of their seats. Hubbard made a last ditch effort in the last five minutes of the final, but it was speaker who managed to hold onto poll position.

Ben Player (AUS) has taken out the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipe Challenge in pumping 8-10 foot waves at the Banzai Pipeline today, defeating defending champion, Jeff Hubbard (HAW) in second, Pierre-Louis (FRA) in third and multi talented Dave Hubbard (HAW) in fourth in the dying minutes of the final. Player posted an excellent score of 8.75 early in the final for a deep set wave barrel on a left and finished it off with a looping roll. Hubbard answered back with a 7.75 and a 7.2 for two deep back to back barrels on draining left handers. The Frenchman and Dave Hubbard both managed to post a good score each 7.38 and 6.25 respectively, but were unable to lock in substantial second scoring rides. With only two minutes remaining, Player was searching for a 6.21 or better to take out the final. Scooping into a heaving Pipe set wave, the Australian negotiated his way through a long barrel and topped the wave off by launching an invert off the closeout to earn himself 7.38 out of a possible 10 points, rocketing him into first place as the buzzer sounded the end of the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipeline Pro. Victorious, Player was carried up the beach to the podium by good friends and past Pipe Champions, Ryan Hardy and Andrew Lester, accompanied by a cheering crowd of Australian supporters. Player has been competing in this pipe event for the past 19 years, claimed two world titles, and has several grand slam victories under his belt, but until today has never been able to claim a victory at the infamous Banzai Pipeline. 

IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge 2013 Teaser

After the huge disappointment of hearing that the current economic downturn had caused the Pipeline Challenge to be cancelled due to no sponsorship, it was a great relief to find out that thanks to the social media campaign by the Bodyboarders, GoPro have signed on to save the event. So lock and load your internet and get ready for the most iconic event on the IBA Calendar, its gonna be huge! (Well done GoPro!) Frothing to see Jared and Spex cane the competition.

John John Florence defends his Volcom Pipe Pro Title

Dale Staples representing for the North Shore Saffas and making 9th!

Pipeline was not at its utmost best, but there were waves and the focus shifted from the lefts to the Backdoor Rights. The lone Saffa, Dale Staples charged hard and ended up making the Semi Finals and a well deserved 9th place. Josh Kerr and Chris Ward were on a hard charge and pushing the limits with super late drops and "backdoor" tubes. But after all was said and done, it was defending champion and North Shore royalty, John John Florence who managed to defend his Pipe Pro title and take the glorious Spartan War Helm Trophy home, which happens to be right there...

The Pipeline Horror Show

While the swell poured into the North Shore, the contest directors at the Volcom Pipe Pro decided not to run the contest, as conditions were to wild and wooly. This did not stop the waiting Pipeline chargers from attacking it all day long. Amongst the horror and carnage there were some bombs, some spit as thick as a Sea Monster's spout and of course some hero making drops!

Volcom Pipeline Pro 2013 - Starts Sunday

The contest season on the ASP World Tour starts with a bang at Pipeline for the 2013 Volcom Pipe Pro. The 5 Star event always brings drama and great action to the start of the year and you can bet that 2012 winner John John Florence will be looking to defend his title! The usual suspects of North Shore chargers and World Tour stars will battle it out for honors, though I am most excited to see how the Saffa boys go. (Well, that's hoping some of them get in...)

Winter Xgames 2013 - Day 1

Day 1 in Aspen and we have already had some crazy action in both Snowboard Super Pipe and of course the mayhem that is Snowmobile Freestyle. In the first final of 2013, it was Red Bull superstar, Levi LaVallee, who stormed the final to win yet another Gold! Check out his winning run...

The Snowmobile competition was pure carnage behind Levi with some monster crashes. Check out the worst ones...


Also on the menu for Day 1, was Mens Snowboard Super Pipe Elimination and all eyes were on the "Flying Tomato", Shaun White, to see what he was bringing to the party in 2013. He was highest out of the Pipe at 5.8m and scored enough in his first run to get through (Lucky to, as he flunked his second run)...


There was also way more going on as per usual at XGames, so check out the Day 1 Highlights...

Pipeline Masters in memory of Andy Irons 2012 Preview

Ian Walsh, a dangerous Wildcard, charges a big set in 2011. (Photo: ASP)

It is pretty fitting that the final event of the ASP World Tour is Pipeline. So many great stories and rivalries over the years have gone down and many a World Title has hinged on this event. This year is no different, with Joel Parkinson, in the hunt for his first World Title, in a dog fight with Kelly Slater, looking for number 12, and Mick Fanning on the outside needing a miracle to take it, but hey, it has happened at Pipe before! Add to this the pack of wildcards, all Pipe specialists frothing to take down the big names from the World Tour and you have a recipe for an epic surf event. Oh and of course, the most dangerous wave in the world...

John John Florence is going to be deadly. Jamie O'Brian still wants to put this trophy on his mantel and young Sebastien Ziets leading the Triple Crown is going to be holding nothing back. Then you have guys like Kieron Perrow on the border of re-qualification and needing a massive result, well he has won last year and made back to back finals.

This could be the contest of decade with great swell forecast already for the first few days. So sit down, strap in, make sure your internet is working and enjoy...

Spex takes Pipeline DK Title for the Saffers

Sacha "Spex" Specker pretty stoked with his first win on the IBA tour. (Photo: IBA/Trouville)

If anyone was ever bothered to ask me about Spex, I would have told you he is one of the greatest waterman I know. Whether dominating on his bodyboard, surfing equally well, diving or swimming for shots, the guy is dam good! (He also dates one of the world's best female surfers.) He is a patriotic Saffer and the nicest guy you will ever meet. So I am very stoked that he took the DK podium at the Pipeline Challenge. The contest had insane waves with huge performances by the world's best. Check the other day's highlights as well!

As the only non-Hawaiian in today’s dropknee final, South African, Sacha Specker, was a clear underdog. He had been in a final twice before but never tasted victory, until today. He sat slightly wide of the Hawaiians and went about picking off waves that were running along the inside reef at Pipe. “It’s an incredible feeling winning this event. It’s a bit of a dream still. I think it’ll kick in tomorrow, when we play the Aussies in cricket”, said Specker. The Hawaiians, Miles Kauhaahaa, Bud Miyamoto and Kainoa Mcgee, put on great performances in the rounds leading up to the final, weaving their ways through the tricky barrels at Backdoor and Pipe. Kauhaahaa rode the highest scoring wave of the event- a long barrel at Backdoor. Miyamoto had the highest scoring wave of the final-a long deep barrel at Pipe- punctuated with a cutback that threw buckets of spray over the back of the wave. He was unable to find a back up wave and came second to Specker by 3.91 points.

 
 

Shaun White rides a perfect 100 point ride gets the X Games Five Peats

The flying tomato, Shaun White, proves that he is the best Pipe rider in the world at X Games 2012, with a perfect 100 point ride. This took the gold for Shaun which also meant he took the first ever X Games Winter Five Peats. (Meaning he has won the Superpipe Gold 5 times now.) Those not clued up on Snowboarding may wonder why he got a perfect score for this run. Its simple, huge elevation (Take a look how far out the Pipe he is on his first setup air.), two perfect double corks (Meaning he is rotating off axis) and an absolutely flawless run, with no wobbles or sketches. The man is the king! For more X Games madness check out their YouTube.

Volcom Pipe Pro Day 2 - swell dropped, but still cooking!

Costa Rican, Carlos Munoz on his way to a 10 Point Ride. (Photo: ASP)

Another day and another tube fest from the North Shore. Costa Rican youngster, Carlos Munoz, came out of nowhere to get a 10 point ride and impress the Pipe community. Chris Ward was back from injury and charging both Backdoor and Pipeline. For the South Africans, Rudy Palmboom Jnr secured a well deserved 2nd place to proceed to Round 3, where he joins Brandon Jackson and Shaun Joubert. The 2 Saffers find them selves in the same Round 3 heat, so we can only hope they lock out the other 2 guys and proceed to round 4. For more on the contest go to the Volcom Pipe Pro or the ASP Website.



These guys need to add some tunes and editing to their video, but some great behind the scenes footage and interviews...

Viscious Pipeline for Round 1 of the Volcom 2012

The Trials and Round 1 of competition went down at macking Pipeline, with warped, monster tubes and massive wipeouts going down. The carnage went on until the organizers realized it was getting to big and wild and they called it off for the day. Check out long time Pipe Master, Derek Ho getting absolutely guillotined! Pipeline took no prisoners!

2012 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout - Day 2

Day 2 of the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout and it was crazy out there! Pipeline seemed the more popular option, but one or two guys, like John John Florence, charged some monster Backdoor Pits. Check out Dust Payne eating crap on a Pipe monster and feel your nads crawl up into your scrotum! It is hard to believe that an event could have better waves than the Pipe Masters, but best believe it! This is PROPER Pipe and Backdoor...

2012 Da Hui Backdoor Shootout - Day1 Highlights

Da Hui Presents the 7th Annual Da Hui Backdoor Shootout. This contest boasts the most participation of Hawai’i born surfers and with it’s unique ‘no- elimination’ judging format which involves three rounds of non- elimination, four man heats and only your best three waves scored – it’s any surfer’s game. So expect to see the best waveriders in the world competing for a shot at the Shootout title!
Day 1 delivered some amazing Pipe and Backdoor pits with John John Florence the standout. Also make sure to look for Bruce Iron's incredible Pipe bomb! The swell reports look good for the next few days, so keep your eyes pealed for more action from the North Shore...

You can find out more at Da Hui