ASL-oha! Perrow The Pipe Master

Words: Mark Rosenberg

Photos: Andrew Shield

Video: Sam Norwood

Highlights from the final day of the 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters.

Kieren Perrow is the surfer’s rep on the ASP World Tour. He didn’t want to run the Pipe Masters this morning but fortunately he changed his mind and it was show time. Yesterday he kept one dream alive by re-qualifying for 2012 and today he made another come true by winning the Pipe Masters.

Pipe didn’t look amazing this morning, especially compared with the last two days. Sporadic squalls and wind meant wave faces were bumpy but high scores were still possible. The surfers could have elected to wait for another expected swell next week but it seemed everyone was eager to get it run and won.

KP living his Pipe dream. Photo: ASP/Cestari

In big perfect Pipe it’s hard to match the local crew which is why Jamie O’Brien, John John Florence and Evan Valiere were all in the quarters today. But those guys get waves out there whenever they want, home ground advantage means they don’t have to surf the place when it’s anything but perfect. That was a disadvantage today. Today the guys who have learnt to ride the place in less than ideal conditions had the upper hand.

John John’s fifth place finish today was enough to earn him his first Triple Crown, and he only lost narrowly to Kelly in the quarters. Kelly found himself in combo land, but in typical KS fashion pulled two rabbits out of his hat and went on to meet Parko in the semis.

If Kelly was successful here today he would have been the first surfer to be a Pipe Master in three different decades, but his luck ran out when Parko, needing an 8.21, muscled his way through a Pipe barrel to score a 8.60. Always a good sportsman Kelly was gracious in defeat and even went on to commentate Parko and Perrow’s final.

KP taking a late drop on his way to victory.

KP has been an absolute standout during the Pipe Masters. The Byron Bay mad man has made a name for himself throwing himself over ledges at Backdoor and today it all paid off. “At the start of this contest I didn’t even know if I was going to be on tour next year,” said an ecstatic Perrow after the win. “Now I’m safe for 2012, and I’m a Pipe Master. It’s bizarre. I couldn’t have imagined a better ending to the story.”

The victory was made even sweeter by the fact KP missed out on the trophy so narrowly last year. Months after that defeat KP spoke to ASL about how the loss played heavily on his mind. Today he explained it’s what motivated him throughout the event. “I didn’t get over the loss to Jeremy till that buzzer sounded today. To get another chance to become a Pipe Master is amazing. I can’t believe this has happened. It doesn’t seem real.”

Onya KP!

For full results and to watch replays in the Heat Analyser go to the Billabong Pipe Masters page.

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

Joel Parkinson took the rights when they presented themselves but couldn't find the high scores to stop Kieren Perrow in the final. Photo: ASP/Cestari

All eyes on Pipe for the final

Determined to win all day.

Reckon he's excited with his win?

If you'd won you maiden World Tour contest and just become Pipe Master you'd be celebrating all the way to the beach too.

Waving to the family on the beach.

KP will never forget this chair up the beach.

Podium triptych: Congrats from a mate; pumped Pipe Master; "My Dad's an Aussie legend!".

Billabong Pipe Masters Final Result:

1 – Kieren Perrow (AUS) 13.17


2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 7.00

Billabong Pipe Masters Semifinals Results:

SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.23 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 16.83


SF 2: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.00 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 4.07

 
Billabong Pipe Masters Quarterfinals Results:


QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.00 def. Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 9.43


QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.53 def. John John Florence (HAW) 16.70


QF 3: Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.70 def. Evan Valiere (HAW) 3.66


QF 4: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 17.23 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.26