The world title race; a Perfect 20 heat; the wipeouts; a shark encounter; the victories and disappointing losses; it all comes down to the final event of the WSL Championship Tour season – the Billabong Pipe Masters.
This is what the Pipe Masters is all about!
The 13 day waiting period starts tonight at 7:30pm (SAST) and if the forecast remains true, then we could be in for a kick-off in heavy, pumping surf within the first few days.
And while every surfer in the draw will be aiming for the Pipe Masters crown – which many consider to be the next most prestigious trophy after the world title – six surfers in particular will be aiming a little higher. Current ratings leader Mick Fanning, as well as Filipe Toledo (2nd), Adriano de Souza (3rd), Gabriel Medina (4th), Owen Wright (5th) and Julian Wilson (7th)*, are all in with a mathematical chance of winning this year’s world title coming in to the last event of the season.
And that’s what adds to the tension and makes the Pipe Masters so exciting – especially if the famously heavy reef break delivers the kind of waves that it has become renowned for. The kind of waves that a world champ should be decided in.
The teaser for this year’s Billabong Pipe Masters.
From a Saffa perspective, it’s going to be great having Jordy Smith back in action. If he can avoid getting injured like he did at last year’s Pipe Masters and earlier this season to miss five events, plus show us what we’ve been missing the past few months, then that would be a lekker boost ahead of next season. That’s if the WSL do the right thing and present him with an injury wildcard 😉
Other than that, just sit back, relax (or get excited), and enjoy the greatest show on earth. It’ll be hard to beat the thrilling action the WSL aired on Sunday for the Pe’ahi Challenge, but the last three Hawaiian events (Sunset, Honolua Bay and Jaws) have been spectacular, so we’re expecting a humdinger.
Sunday’s action at Jaws gave new meaning to the term ‘heavy drop’. Aaron Gold glides in.
Go to worldsurfleague.com to watch the Billabong Pipe Masters live when the webcast kicks-off this evening (7:30pm SAST)
* World No. 6, Italo Ferreira, is not in contention for the Title because once his two lowest results of the year are dropped, he is ranked behind Wilson.
