ASL-oha! First Bounce, Off The Reef

Words: Mark Rosenberg

Pipe was firing today ... and the crowds came out in force. Photo: Andrew Shield.

The Evening Wrap

The opening day of the Pipe Masters was all about big boards, big waves and big balls. The world’s best rarely pull out crafts over seven-foot and today it was strictly 7’2" and over as Pipe went LARGE.

On ASL’s return to the beach from our morning blog Laurie Towner was in the water against US wonder kid Kolohe Andino. Over the last few years Laurie’s had a niggling shoulder injury and it came back to haunt him today. After his arm dislocated out following a nasty fall, doctors managed to snap it back into place. Tthe Yamba madman paddled straight back out, only to dislodge it again. Loz tried to reason with the medics to get him back out there once morebut they decided enough was enough, leaving Laurie visibly annoyed at the situation. Kolohe was guaranteed victory but he still proved himself in front of the crowds by pulling into unmake-able waves.

“I was really scared out there,” said Kolohe, post-heat. “Last night I was hoping it’d be too big or the wind would be wrong so they wouldn’t run it, but in the end it was okay. I’m glad I took some beatings. I realized I’m not going to die out there.”

It was a sentiment echoed by other members of the top 34. Matt Wilkinson was the guinea pig for the day and although this video is in jest there’s definitely truth to it.

At the other end of the spectrum the Hawaiian wildcards were revelling in the heavy conditions. Marcus Hickman and Evan Valiere were on fire early on and Ian Walsh, Jamie O’Brien and Shan Dorian all threaded monster tubes with ease. The round one Jamie O versus Dane Reynolds heat was easily the day’s most anticipated but wild conditions gave J.O.B. a clear advantage, and he dismantled Dane with ease. It may or not be the last time we’ll see Dane in a contest jersey, but after coming second at the Tuesday’s Surfer Poll ASL doubts this will effect his popularity.

Reckon JOB was excited about schooling Dane 14.77 to 3.24? Photo: Andrew Shield

The highlight of the day was John John Florence’s perfect 10 for a huge, double barreled effort. After winning Sunset the young Hawaiian is leading the Triple Crown and admitted to feeling the pressure to perform at a wave he’s been surfing since he was 11. His performance today verified ASL’s belief he’ll most likely win Pipe and take out the Triple Crown.

The swell is set to stay around the same height tomorrow and after today more sand will have been taken of the reef. The call is being made at 8.00am tomorrow (Hawaii time). ASL predicts you’ll be waking up to show better than today.

To see more of Andrew Shield's photos from the first day of the Billabong Pipe Masters go to the day one gallery.

Billabong Pipe Masters Day One Results:

Round 1

Heat 1 : Marcus Hickman (HAW) 13.67pts ; Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 9.46pts
Heat 2 : CJ Hobgood (USA) 6.50pts ; Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) .60pts
Heat 3 : Evan Valiere (HAW) 18.16pts ; Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 6.00pts
Heat 4 : Travi Logie (ZAF) 3.57pts ; Bruce Irons (HAW) 2.70pts
Heat 5 : Ian Walsch (HAW) 13.00pts ; Kai Otton (AUS) 11.63pts
Heat 6 : Kai Barger (HAW) 9.93pts ; Chris Davidson (AUS) 6.33pts
Heat 7 : Amion Goodwin (HAW) 10.34pts ; Daniel Ross (AUS) 2.84pts
Heat 8 : Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 14.77pts ; Dane Reynolds (USA) 3.24pts
Heat 9 : Kolohe Andino (HAW) 5.27pts ; Laurie Towner (AUS) 1.17pts
Heat 10 : Shane Dorian (HAW) 6.40pts ; Wilian Cardoso (BRA) 1.94pts
Heat 11 : Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 4.76pts ;  Jack Freestone (AUS) 2.63pts
Heat 12 : Mason Ho (HAW) 9.00pts ; Hank Gaskell (HAW) 3.93pts

Round 2

Heat 1 : Marcus Hickman (HAW) 16.50pts ; Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.30pts
Heat 2 : Evan Valiere (HAW) 13.60pts ; Miguel Pipo (BRA) 3.70pts
Heat 3 : Ian Walsch (HAW) 16.06pts ; Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.17pts
Heat 4 : John John Florence (HAW) 18.07pts ; Kai Barger (HAW) 14.67pts
Heat 5 : Aamion Goodwin (HAW) 2.20pts ; Taylor Knox (USA) 2.13pts
Heat 6 : Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 5.33pts ; Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 2.83pts
Heat 7 : Shane Dorian (HAW) 10.50pts ; Brett Simpson (USA) 1.90pts
Heat 8 : Adam Melling (AUS) 9.64pts ; Mason Ho (HAW) 8.84pts
Heat 9 : Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.50pts ; Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 5.90pts
Heat 10 : Dusty Payne (HAW) Dusty Payne ; Kolohe Andino (USA) 6.57pts
Heat 11 : Travis Logie (ZAF) 5.80pts ; Tiago Pires (PRT) 5.67pts
Heat 12 : CJ Hobgood (USA) 9.70pts ; Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.27pts 

The Morning Wrap:

Getting classic at Pipe!

As predicted the swell has increased significantly and organizers and locals alike are calling this the best start to the Pipe Masters since Johnny Boy Gomes took it out in 1997.

There are 8-12 foot sets rolling through with even the occasional 15-footer hitting second reef. In keeping with Hawaiian tradition dual heats are being run and this will continue until the business end of competition.

Marcus Hickman won the first heat of the day against Matt Wilkinson with ease. Experience is king at Pipe.

Pipe’s a wave is often suffers from morning sickness but tricky conditions didn’t stop local boys Marcus Hickman and Evan Valiere from ruling the day’s early heats.

The forecast looks promising up until Sunday and there’s talk the contest will run straight through. It’s going to be an epic day of competition today. As ASL posts this blog Jamie O’Brien and Dane Reynolds are paddling out and Kolohe Andino and Jack Freestone will be making their Pipe debuts in following heats. The wind and swell have altered the lineup and it looks like Backdoor will now also come into play.

Check back this afternoon for a video and more photos of today’s action.

Wilko's entourage looks on. (L-R) Owen Wright, Ryan "Bro Brah" Fletcher and Dom Wills.

A couple of days ago the Live Like Sion Steep and Deep Pipeline Photo Challenge was announced. Commemorating Sion Milosky's his ability to catch big, deep and vertical waves, it's a photo competition open to surfers and photographers looking for the best photo from the 2011-2012 winter at Pipeline or Backdoor. Watch this video for more:

For all the ASLoha action presented by Oakley go to the Hawaii 2011 page.