If you've spent any amount of time around the Banzai Pipeline, Hubb would have caught your eye. While most Pipe waveriders focus on tuberiding, the sprightly Jeff "Hubb" Hubbard stealthily works the lineup, nabs those double-up ramps, and to the absolute glee of the gallery on the beach, launches skyward performing his aerial antics.

For many years, Jeff Hubbard, 31, has been acknowledged by his peers as one of the best bodyboarders in the world. However, it was all validated in January 2007 when he captured the International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) world championship, en route to his second Rockstar Games Pipeline Pro contest title.


Going into the event, Hubbard had already secured the United States Bodyboarding Association (USBA) national championship. However, the Kauaian had his sights set on also winning both the world title and the Pipeline event.

The 2007 Rockstar Games Pipeline Pro was the final stop in the 2006 IBA world tour, and the eventual battlefield for the world title race. Hubbard came in nursing a slim ratings lead over Aussie Ryan Hardy, a formidable competitor and former Pipeline Pro champion. However, Hubb, also a former event winner, just flourishes at Pipeline, especially when it's big and rampy.

It's been over a decade since any Hawaiian has held the bodyboarding world championship title. That last one was none other than the legendary Mike Stewart way back in 1995. Interestingly, the timeless Stewart was on a competitive streak of sorts, winning the USBA Ledges Pro bodyboarding event on Maui a few weeks prior. Stewart eventually factored prominently into the storyline.


The wahine had first crack at the surf on Thursday (1/11/07) amidst a quickly rising WNW swell. The girls charged hard even as conditions got pretty radical. Wipeout of the day went to Leila Alli of Brazil who did a top-to-bottom freefall on a Pipe beast (valiantly competing despite a knee injury). In the end, Brazilian Daniela Freitas was the last woman standing, with Aussie Kira Llewellyn in second, Aoi Koike of Japan third, and Leila Alli rounding out the final. With a semifinals placing, Marina Taylor of the Canary Islands sealed up the IBA World Women's Tour championship.


The swell diminished somewhat the next day (1/12/07) for the men's trials, but the action was still hot and heavy. Hawaiians Pyper Lluellen, Happy Zurowski, and Jeff's brother (and newly crowned USBA dropknee champion) David Hubbard fared well, powering through to round five. Local underground rider Paul Benco was a standout also, using his tuberiding prowess to eventually make the quarters.

On the final day of the event (1/13/07), to the surprise of weather forecasters and competitors alike, the surf kicked up a notch, providing the advancing riders with powerful waves and sweet barrels.

Throughout the contest, Mike Stewart reminded everyone why he has 20 Pipeline titles (bodyboarding and bodysurfing) to his name. He just put on a clinic on positioning, combos and general power surfing.


In the quarterfinals, Stewart was matched up with Ryan Hardy and two others. Stewart just blew up in that heat, scoring a perfect 10-point ride and a near-perfect 9.75. Hardy did not advance, which cleared the way for Hubbard. Stewie ended up just missing the finals (yeah old school!).

Tuning out the buzz on the beach, Hubb went into his own world to focus on the task at hand. "When Ryan lost in the quarterfinals, I think I was more nervous than ever," Jeff admitted. "I knew that I had to make it in to the final to secure the title, so everything was riding on my semifinal heat. It seemed so daunting at the time."


However, after snagging several big barrels in the semis it became readily apparent that he was going to advance. "The pressure was so intense and I was just going all out," said Jeff. "I was so excited that when I would get a sick wave, I just felt like claiming it." He deserved to be stoked, as Hubb advanced and his goal of becoming bodyboarding world champion was finally realized.

However, there was still that "small" issue of the Pipeline Pro event title. After a rocking dropknee expression session won by Jeff's younger brother David, the final hit the water in perfect Pipeline surf. The stacked international heat included Hubb (previous Pipeline champ), Brazil's Guilherme Tamega (six-time world champ, two-time Pipeline champ),  South Africa's Andre Botha (two-time world champ, two-time Pipeline champ), and Reunion Island's upstart Amaury Lavernhe.


Hubb continued his onslaught, nabbing some thumping tubes and launching into incredible aerial moves. He even uncharacteristically got a bloody head and arm, bouncing off the reef. In the end though, Hubb won the event leaving no doubt that he deserved the world championship title. Tamega placed second, followed by Lavernhe and Botha.

So where does Jeff plan to go from here? "I'll continue pursuing my masters degree in business at HPU, will be developing a new board for my sponsor BZ, and will once again compete on the world tour, defending my title," he said. "I have a few months off before I start to compete again so I plan on hanging out with my wife Heather and enjoy it all."

It was a long time coming, but Jeff Hubbard has turned his childhood dream to reality while cementing his status as one of the best in the world. Congrats Hubb!

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