It's funny how there are all these mags on the newstands claiming best winter ever!!!! Best winter ever for the Pro season, but in all reality I can't remember one, not one epic day since the Pipemasters. There were a few decent days I could count on one hand, but I think Waimea and 2nd Reef Pipe broke for a total of 2 hours all season with any kind of shape or form to it.. We've been getting some waves but the storms seem to be getting to the waves before we do.


Yesterday, was a beautiful morning. One of the few clean days we've seen in almost a month, but before the sun even came up, a black ball appeared right above Pipe and seemed to blow up before our eyes producing strong trades which turned to north wind within about 10 minutes time. The 10 or 12 guys who had paddled out  in the dark came in within the next 15 minutes leaving just a couple boogies in the line up. It looked like a bomb went off in the ocean, from clean to a washing machine in a matter of minutes. There have been several days like that this winter where I have paddled out and the storm came literally with the sunrise.


It seems like for the last three years I have said this was the worst year ever, this being the 3rd. Last year we were saved by epic March conditions, the year before we had 10 ft Pipe in April, but what about this year, time is ticking and the tractors have already been at Ehukai moving sand up the beach which is obviously not a good sign.

The Mens WQS at Pipe was cancelled due to their being no sponsor, but then HIC came in and backed the event to atleast give the locals boyz their trails event into the Pipemasters. The event had no purse and the guys surfed until they made quarters, then the top two in the quarters qualified. The day they had the trails was big and second reefing, but very mixed up with a narly sandbar stuck in the wave that had been their virtually all season.


The waves never got big enough long enough to move all the sand, and there have been a lot of north swells which just push the sand right in front of Pipe making for a dry dock section right near the barrell at Pipe. Flynn Novak won his heat and his slot in the Masters but incurred a head injury and tailbone injury after pulling into a 10 ft closeout that went totally dry. Fredrico scored a 10 but couldnt get a second wave to get through his heat. Sion scored a 10 and made it along with Mason Ho, Jonah Morgan, Dusty Payne Liam McNamara and a few more. There were 2 or 3 head injuries and a couple other injuries, it was big, narly Pipe.


The Turbo Pipeline Bodyboarding Pro presented by Senor Frogs also found a window of swell that was far from perfect, but did have some solid Pipe waves for the first two days. The final day was a let down for top seeded guys like Mike Stewart and Ben Player who didn't get to surf when the waves were big and instead had to gravel in smaller, really mixed up surf. Lucky for them however that they even got that day.  Ryan Hardy from Australia won the event, with Pierre Louis Costes(France) in 2nd and Guilherme Tamenga(Brazil) in third. Surfer Jamie O'Brien, who offered wildcard into the event and even though he didn't make the heat, I heard some were pretty impressed with his boogie skills. The whole idea of giving a surfer the wildcard created a lot of controversy and media hype so nonetheless, great promo! You can read all about what is going on with the bodyboarders at www.ibaworldtour.com and you can even follow their twitters at www.twitter.com/ibaworldtour


Next up will be the Women's Pipeline Pro will has a $50,000 purse and a 4 star ASP rating this year. Ironically, the men's WQS this year offered no prize money or rating, but the women's is the best ever! The event will be held for three days from March 31-April 14. This one of a kind, women only event includes all three disciplines; bodyboarding, shortboarding and longboarding. Though the standup surfing portion of the event did not start until 2005, bodyboarder women will celebrate 20 years of competition at Pipeline this year. Former World Champion Bodyboarder Claudia Ferrari has competed in every single Pipeline competition and will be competing this year as well. Contest director and legendary surfer Banzai Betty Depolito has been there from the start as well. Tidal 9 is sponsoring the event which will be a benefit for the GirlScouts of Hawaii. Go to www.pipelinetidal9.com for more information.

Melanie Bartels was recently endorsed by Princess Abigail Kekaulike Kawananakoa, a royal ancestor of Princess Lilioukalani (lineage - information) to do the tour this year. Last year Bartels requalified to the WCT despite missing 2 major events and has high hopes now that she has the funding to do all the events this year. Local charger Pake Salmon who in recent years has developed her skills behind the camera will be traveling with Melanie to film and photograph those magic moments. You can even go to her website: www.makahaangels.com to follow a daily blog and video clips. The girls are currently in Australia.


Two of Hawaii's elite surfers have teamed up to form an exclusive and advance-level coaching program called Progressive Surfing. No doubt the team has the ability to produce top athletes with their 6 day packages which include coaching, evaluation and video training right here on the the Northsohre. The clinics will also incorporate aspects of physical therapy, cross-training and insight on how to compete on an international level. "We are dedicated to teaching you how to hone your talent and bring it to the highest level"  Make sure to drop at the website: www.progressivesurfing.com to view pricing and availability. Hurry now, as  they are sure to fill up quick!

This Mothers Day weekend May 9th and 10 Surfing the Nations will kick off their 3rd annual Freedom Surf Contest presented by Jedidiah. This year's contest is set to raise awareness about substance abuse in the islands promoting a drug-free Hawaii with the message of "giving back"A portion of the proceeds will go to "at risk" youth programs in Hawaii and to the Bangledesh surf club who will be sending  surfer Jafar Alam to compete in this years event.   Surfing the Nations is a humanitarian non-profit organization that serves the needs of the local community and abroad. Find out more about Surfing the Nations at: www.SurfingTheNations.com or go to www.surfersgivingback.com for entry forms.

We will see if something saves us with any kind of decent surf before its all over, but right now it looks like more north wind followed by more north swell.

Please be short and to the point, and respect the other voices in the discussion. You may edit and delete comments for up to three days after date of post. We reserve the right to edit or delete inappropriate comments. For more information read our site policies »

In order to comment, you must be logged in. Login | Register

Comment

Denotes required fields.

Help me with comments