Walshy Comes Second At Volcom Pipe Pro

Will H-S

Walshy not feeling the comp pressure, he just wants to get barreled.

Anthony Walsh may well be the hardest working man in pro surfing. Walshy has been in Hawaii since early November chasing big swells all over the island chain, using all kinds of cameras to capture his every wave. After watching him come second to Jamie O'Brien in pumping waves at the Volcom Pipe Pro, we got in touch with the Lennox pro to see why he's been so successful at Pipe, and how this crazy ol' comp went down.

Ant, you're more famous for your free-surfing, what made you want to enter the Volcom Pipe Pro?
I love Pipeline so to get it with only three other people out is so sick, especially when it's pumping.

What do you like about competing?
Winning (laughs).

Is it intimidating coming up against the Hawaiians?
Not at all. I've been coming here for a long time and know all the guys really well. It's only intimidating because I know how good they are out there and then you have to try and rise to that level.

Tell us about the final.
The waves were pretty slow, but there were still some really good ones to be had. I had one good one and didn't make it, and then could't find another wave to get in front of Jamie O'Brien. But I'm still really happy with the result.


Walshy parks his arse on the west side of Oahu. Pic Shield

Did you ever think Aussies would come second and third with so many Pipe specialists in the event?
I dunno, but I think that some of the best surfers at Pipe are Aussies. Look at 2009 Pipeline Masters Champ Taj Burrow for example. Bede (Durbidge) won it a couple years ago too.

How are you going to celebrate?
I'm just going out with family and friends for dinner, no big party or anything.

Do you get a wildcard into the Pipe Masters?
I hope so, but not sure. Probably not with the way everything is with the ASP and Hawaii.

It's been an epic season huh?
Yeah its been pumping, just swell after swell for weeks. So good.

What’s the biggest waves you caught this season?
I surfed some 20 foot days at Waimea around the time of the Eddie.

When’s are you ever going to get an invite to the Eddie?
Thats never going to happen I'd say. Bummer.