Going on two consecutive winters now, the Volcom Pipe Pro has enjoyed spectacular conditions at the Banzai Pipeline, and for two consecutive winters, it has surpassed the much more publicized Billabong Pipeline Masters held in December ... at least in terms of surf conditions.

This is in no way a knock against Billabong or the Masters event, but I assure you that they’d have loved to have had the gorgeous conditions we saw at the 2011 VPP.  Good surf makes for a good surf contest, and the VPP had it in spades with three consecutive days of hollow perfection at the famed pockmarked reef just left of Ehukai Beach Park.

Coming into January, no one could’ve been blamed for having low expectations after a subpar 2010 winter surf season, but the NPAC jet stream shifted and a train of west swells began pouring through.  On the North Shore, big west swells mean one thing; Killer Pipe!

On Friday, January 21st, the event staff was at the Volcom house setting up the towers, electrical, internet connectivity, and media production equipment. A flawless 10’-15’ WNW swell also happened to be absolutely firing at the Pipeline, which fronts the property, and every time a big set came through, the chorus of screams, whistles, and hoots from the beach would echo across the beach and everyone would stop working to look.  It was pretty hilarious, until we all realized that nothing was getting done!  I’ve seen really good Pipeline many times over the years, but that day easily ranked in the top 2 or 3 days I’ve ever seen! I kinda had to pinch myself to confirm I was actually seeing what I was seeing, it was so surreal.  Even Kelly Slater and Tom Carroll, on island for the (cancelled) Eddie contest, stood spellbound in the backyard of the adjoining property.  This day, along with a string of backup WNW swells forecast for the forthcoming week of the 24th (first day of the VPP waiting period), was a great omen for the contest.

"Every surfer knows that at some point in his career he's going to have to face his fears at Pipeline," said ASP Hawaii Managing Director Marty Thomas, himself a former Top 10 professional surfer. "Pipe is the one place that registers in your career as either your golden moment or worst nightmare, but either way, it's unforgettable," he added, “The Volcom Pipe Pro is an opportunity for surfers of every caliber to put it all on the line, whether they be one of the established touring pro's, an up-and-coming challenger who wins a wildcard, or one of Pipeline's very own local chargers who lives to ride nothing but Pipe. In that way, this is one of the most meaningful events that professional surfing offers - both to its surfers, and to its audience."

The 24th dawned with silky, but smallish 4’-7’ surf.  It was a tough call, but Thomas postponed the event in hopes of the anticipated increase overnight.  The 25th awoke with very similar conditions … maybe even a touch smaller, but the GO signal was sounded.  Media and event crews, and 128 frothed up surfers leapt into action and the horn for Heat 1 cut the chilly morning air at 8am.  The waves held steady from the preferred WNW direction, building throughout the day, and with the ultra clean offshore ESE breezes, low placing surfers couldn’t blame poor conditions for their failure to advance.  The 26th started in much the same way, but the size and consistency ramped up progressively throughout the afternoon, the day’s action closing with a heaving set of 12’+ second reef foam bombs rolling in just after the finish of the last heat providing the final curtain call.  Even Pipeline patriarch Gerry Lopez, on hand to provide broadcast commentary, stopped in his tracks and turned to the ocean to watch each wave grind through the first reef and belch huge clouds of spit into the channel.  Another positive omen for the third and final day of competition.

Oddly, the third and possibly final day on the 27th dawned with carbon copy conditions of the previous two days, but with the end of the waiting period looming, officials decided to resume competition and if needed, postpone competition (and the main event) if the waves tailed off later in the day.  Thankfully, Mother Ocean provided, with the swell pulsing upward as the day progressed, allowing the final day of the 2011 Volcom Pipe Pro to be completed in hollow double overhead barrels.  I’m glad to note that many of the rides were on thick lefts through Pipeline’s proper front door (vs. Backdoor), which facilitated a proper Pipeline contest.

Memorable highlights over the three days included Kekoa Bacalso’s and Ian Walsh’s perfect 10 point rides (for which they each picked up a handy $1,000), the horrendous Backdoor ax-job to the head of Damien Hobgood, and the emergence and validation of John Florence as a player at Pipeline.  Florence grew up on the beach at Ehukai and knows the spot’s intricacies inside and out, backwards and forwards.  He was rarely out of position, demonstrated excellent wave selection, emerged from virtually every tube he pulled into, and put in a classy performance from start to finish.  He’d won the Da Hui Backdoor Shootout just weeks earlier and erased all doubt as to what and who the future of Pipeline surfing looks like with a prestigious win at the 2011 Volcom Pipe Pro.  I’d caution Florence to be careful not to pigeon hole himself as a Pipeline specialist-only, and to put in more hours at other key North Shore breaks (and elsewhere around the world) to fill out his repertoire, but the kid’s only 18 and he has time on his side.

I think Volcom really has something special going with this contest, thanks in part to the good karma they seem to have with the surf gods.  As a qualifying event, it affords lots of exceptionally talented, but largely unknown surfers to develop their chops in one of the world’s most dangerous waves, and establish the revered “Pipe Charger” reputation that comes with any kind of notable performance put in there.  On first glance, the Volcom crew could be a little intimidating at first, with their urban scruff, thrash metal, and street edgy look and image. But they’re all really cool, gregarious guys who’re very appreciative of the local support they get in Hawaii, and fully stoked with the surf and results.  Mahalo to Wooly, Brad, Troy, Kris, Mike, and crew for putting on a rock solid pro surfing contest (and resulting awesome live broadcast)!!! 

• R.I.P. JIMMY BLEARS
  A final Aloha Oe to James (Jimmy) Blears Jr. who passed away last month at the age of 62.  He was part of a prominent Kama’aina surfing family, that included famous pro wrestler, surfer, and father James (Tally Ho) Blears Sr., and champion surfer and sister Laura Blears Ching.  Blears was a great North Shore surfer, lifeguard, and friend who will be missed. 

• COMING UP ON OCEANIC SURF CHANNEL IN MARCH
  Replays of the action packed 2010 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing start up this month with the Reef Hawaiian Pro (men’s) and Cholo’s Hawaiian Pro (women’s) from Ali’i Beach in Haleiwa.  Then it’s up to Sunset Beach for the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing men’s and women’s events. Dates for the Billabong Pipeline Masters will be announced soon.  Keep tuning in to Oceanic SURF Channel 250 & 1250!