Miss Geico Flawless in First Pre-Season Test / Speed on the Water

 

Earlier today throttleman Scott Begovich and driver Marc Granet ran their Miss GEICO offshore racing catamaran for the first time since they claimed a Superboat Unlimited-class world title in the 44-footer during the 2013 Super Boat International Key West Offshore World Championships. While the cat was repainted earlier this by Jay Pilini of Pilini Marine Technologies, its twin Mercury Racing 1650 engines have not yet been refreshed. They had, however, been pulled from the boat, which was completely torn down and reassembled at the team's shop in Riviera Beach, Fla. More: Miss Geico

Final Day of Volcom Pipe Pro Called on in Firing Barrels : ASP World Tour

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Wednesday, February 5, 2014) - Pumping barrels are in store for the final day of the Volcom Pipe Pro today, peaking midday in the 10-12 foot range. With winds out of the ESE, conditions are epic. The final is scheduled for approximately 3:30pm Hawaii time. Watch the action unfold LIVE at volcompipepro.com.

The Volcom Pipe Pro is a $130,000 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 5-Star Qualifying Series (QS) event and has drawn an exceptional international field who come for exactly this: the opportunity to compete at perfect Pipe.

A complete report (results, images, VNR) will be issued at the end of the day.

The official Volcom Pipe Pro website is www.volcompipepro.com, where you can watch the live HD webcast of the event as well as get up to the minute results, warrior info, daily recaps, videos, photos and much more.

Kelly Slater Wins Billabong Pipe Masters Over Vans Triple Crown Winner John John Florence : ASP World Tour – The Association of Surfing Professionals

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Saturday, December 14, 2013) - Kelly Slater (USA), 41, has won his 7th Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons after a day of incredible 10-to-15 foot (three to four metre) waves at Pipeline today. Slater defeated John John Florence (HAW), 21, in a hard-fought, 35-minute Final that ended with less than half-a-point separating the two. The runner-up finish for Florence saw him crowned 2013 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion.

The final day of the Billabong Pipe Masters capped off the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) season in fine style, with epic conditions providing the ideal backdrop for the crowning of Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, as the ASP World Champion. It also finalized the ASP Top 34 roster for 2014. Fanning finished third overall, defeated by Florence in their Semifinal.

Pros At Pipe, Another Day Of Work At The Best Wave In The World

By Surfer Magazine - 5 February 2013
Back-to-back-back Volcom Pipe Pro titles. John Florence was again dominant at Pipe, and a third steel-forged Spartan helmet trophy has been added to his collection. How does one win a contest by such a large margin? By exacting total control over the wave and competition

See more photos; Pros at Pipe

Florence Delivers Performance of the Winter at Volcom Pipe Pro

  PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Friday, February 1, 2013) - All eyes were on Pipeline’s favorite son John John Florence at the Volcom Pipe Pro today, as a perfect pairing of phenomenal waves and supernatural talent unfolded before a highly charged beach crowd. It fast became a 25-minute Florence super session as he clocked up four incredible tube rides in succession: 9.3, 9.53, 9.73, and 9.97. His top two scores delivered the highest heat total of the competition so far – 19.7 points out of 20. But the only Electric Perfect 10 of the day went to Santa Cruz’s Nat Young, in his competitive debut at the Banzai Pipeline. Wave face heights were consistently around 15- to 20-feet today, and there were more than a day’s worth of horrific wipeouts. In his first competitive appearance of the 2013 ASP season, this is just the beginning of a long year already loaded with expectation for Florence. Having come so close to a world title in 2012, he is prepared for the pressure but focused on surfing. If today was any indication, it will be a devastating year for his peers. Florence, 20, is the top seed and defending champion of this event.

MAGNIFICENCE AND MAYHEM AT DAY TWO OF THE 2013 VOLCOM PIPE PRO

Surfers managing the chaotic conditions. - Photo: Brian Bielmann

Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii (February 1st, 2013): It was just after daybreak this morning when the 2013 Volcom Pipe Pro was called on for the second day in a row and soon the round of 96 was back underway with contestants facing risky and turbulent conditions. As the day went on conditions improved, the scores got higher, and heading into the round of 64 pipe really turned on. Last years Volcom Pipe Pro winner, John John Florence, took full advantage and was a standout in the day’s event

BANZAI PIPELINE: Surfing’s Alpha and Omega Lights Up for Volcom Pipe Pro

NORTH SHORE, Oahu, Hawaii (Friday, January 25, 2013) – The 2013 ASP World Tour officially begins anew on Sunday, on the very same stretch of surf and sand that the 2012 World Tour wrapped up on six weeks ago: the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

The waiting period for the Volcom Pipe Pro Begins Sunday, January 27!

The $130,000 VOLCOM PIPE PRO – a 5-star rated event that will run on the four best days of surf from January 27-February 7, represents the beginning of the 2013 campaign trail for surfers aspiring to the sport’s elite ranks. It will also award eight local surfers with coveted spots in the season-ending Pipe Masters. Equally revered and feared, the Banzai Pipeline is the ultimate make-or-break location in the world of surfing, for careers, bodies, and surfboards.

ASP Top 34 Confirmed for 2013 ASP World Championship Tour

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Saturday, December 15, 2012) – The 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) season has come to a close following yesterday’s culmination of the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons and the clinching of the 2012 ASP World Title by Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31.

Sebastien Zietz (HAW), 24, leads the new crop of surfers joining the world’s elite in 2013.

 

While the world’s best surfers prepare for a well-deserved break before the start of the next season, the ASP has determined which surfers will contest for the 2013 ASP World Title:

Top 22 from 2012 ASP WCT Rankings:
- Joel Parkinson (AUS)
- Kelly Slater (USA)
- Mick Fanning (AUS)
- John John Florence (HAW)
- Adriano de Souza (BRA)
- Taj Burrow (AUS)
- Gabriel Medina (BRA)
- Josh Kerr (AUS)
- Julian Wilson (AUS)
- Owen Wright (AUS)
- Jeremy Flores (FRA)
- Jordy Smith (ZAF)
- C.J. Hobgood (USA)
- Adrian Buchan (AUS)
- Michel Bourez (PYF)
- Damien Hobgood (USA)
- Miguel Pupo (BRA)
- Alejo Muniz (BRA)
- Kieren Perrow (AUS)
- Bede Durbidge (AUS)
- Travis Logie (ZAF)
- Kai Otton (AUS)

Top 10 from 2012 ASP World Rankings (barring double qualifiers):
- Sebastien Zietz (HAW)
- Kolohe Andino (USA)
- Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
- Glenn Hall (IRL)
- Brett Simpson (USA)
- Filipe Toledo (BRA)
- Adam Melling (AUS)
- Nat Young (USA)
- Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
- Tiago Pires (PRT)

Two ASP Wildcards:
- Dusty Payne (HAW)
- Raoni Monteiro (BRA)

ASP WCT Replacements (in the event of athlete withdrawal):
1 – Patrick Gudaukas (USA) – next on ASP World Ranking
2 – Yadin Nicol (AUS) – next on ASP WCT
3 – Willian Cardoso (BRA) – second on ASP World Ranking
4 – Heitor Alves (BRA) – second on ASP WCT

The 2013 ASP World Championship Tour will commence with the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast at Snapper Rocks from March 2 to 13, 2013.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

Joel Parkinson Wins 2012 ASP World Title, Seals Season with Billabong Pipe Masters Victory

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Friday, December 14, 2012) – Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, has claimed his maiden ASP World Title today at the final stop of the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) season, by winning the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons. The Billabong Pipe Masters was also the third and final leg of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series.

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, claimed the 2012 ASP World Title at the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons.

Only Parkinson and reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater(USA), 40, were in contention for the world title heading into the final day. Parkinson needed to finish one position higher to claim the title that has eluded him for the past 12 years. With Slater’s loss to Josh Kerr (AUS), 28, in the semi-final, Parkinson’s dream became reality. Parkinson went on to beat Kerr in the final.

“Consistency paid off,” Parkinson said. “This is where I wanted to stand at the end of the year. This is what I’ve worked for my whole life. I can’t describe what this feels like. I’ve had runner-ups and ups-and-downs. I’ve been to hell and back and it makes this so much sweeter. All the love from Hawaii and Australia and over the world, I can’t thank you all enough for supporting me.

“Right now, Pipe Master, World Title, it’s all surreal,” Parkinson said. “I figured it was going to be a pressure cooker like a few years ago. I knew there was nothing I could do about it. It was about what I had to do, not about what he had to do. I thought, surely he (Slater) has got to peak because he had that heat with Shane (Dorian) and I knew Kerr is a danger man for him. When Kerr got that one, I felt like I was going to physically throw up. I couldn’t control my emotions at that point.

“One day you wake up feeling good the next day you wake up feeling like a loser. This morning I felt like a Champion when I woke up. Like Andy (Irons) always said ‘I got this, huh?’ I dedicate this to my family, Dad who used to take me to contests when I was 10, my wife and my mom and kids, this is all for us,” said Parkinson.

Parkinson has been the world title bridesmaid four times (2002, 2004, 2009, 2011). His Billabong Pipe Masters victory is his 11th elite event win over the course of his career, and by clinching the ASP World Title has established himself as one of the greatest surfers of all time.

Parkinson’s 2012 ASP WCT Results:
Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast: 5th
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach: 3rd
Billabong Rio Pro: 2nd
Volcom Fiji Pro: 9th
Billabong Pro Tahiti: 2nd
Hurley Pro at Trestles: 2nd
Quiksilver Pro France: 3rd
Rip Curl Pro Portugal: 3rd
O’Neill Coldwater Classic: 5th
Billabong Pipe Masters: WINNER

Slater was reflective following his Semifinal defeat this afternoon and gracious in honoring Parkinson on stage in front of a capacity crowd at the Banzai Pipeline.

“I missed Brazil because I had a cut in my heel and couldn’t really turn,” Slater said. “I figured I’d just rest up and get focused. Probably the one that hurt the worst was Teahupo’o. I made two or three mistakes in a row and Ricardo (dos Santos) got a 9.8 with seven seconds left. I had a bad string over the last few months. It kind of fell apart after France. Portugal was a tough one and Santa Cruz, I was just real wobbly.

“For whatever reason, the momentum went in Parko’s direction. It was cool that it came down to this, it would have been cooler to have it come down to the Final. Joel’s been on tour for 10 or 11 years now and been in the hunt ever since he started. He’s an amazing surfer. He’s just the guy that makes it look easy. He can pull whatever our when he needs to,” said Slater.

Josh Kerr battled his way to a career first ASP WCT Final. The Australian suffered a heavy wipeout in his round four heat with Slater and Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, resulting in a brief trip to the hospital. After medical clearance, Kerr overcame the setback to take it all the way to the final.

“It’s been a hectic day,” Kerr said. “My first heat, I’ve been having nerve damage in my neck and my left side went numb when I fell. I had to get an x-ray and made it back for my next heat and made it through to the final. Congrats to Parko as well. I’ll be back next year and hopefully one place better.”
Kerr finishes the 2012 ASP season ranked No. 8 on the ASP WCT rankings.

Damien Hobgood (USA), 33, eliminated defending event champion Kieren Perrow (AUS), 35, while attaining his best result of his season. Hobgood was a standout at both Pipeline and Backdoor, but was unable to surpass Parkinson in their Semifinals matchup, finishing equal 3rd.

“I was just thinking if I saw something that looks decent, give it a go,” Hobgood said after his Round 5 victory. “I wanted to try and build a couple of scores and I took one and was paddling out and saw Kieren (Perrow) get one. I could have given Kieren a 10 and that would have been the heat. I just tried to get some scores and not give him a bomb.”

Hobgood’s Equal 3rd place finish at Pipeline vaults him up to 16th on the 2012 ASP WCT rankings.

Highlights from the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons are available at http://www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/billabongpipemasters2012

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

REPORT: Swell Forecast for Billabong Pipe Masters

PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Tuesday, December 11, 2012) - The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons began competition in firing barrels at both Pipeline and Backdoor, with the ASP World Title Race heating up between Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, and Kelly Slater (USA), 40. While the event is expecting a short holding period, Surfline, official forecasters for the Vans Triple Crown, are calling for a solid swell to ignite the North Shore by Friday. Below is the official forecast.

Damien Hobgood (USA), 33, will surf in Round 5 of the Billabong Pipe Masters when competition resumes.

BRIEF OVERVIEW: Minor NW swell prevails for the next couple days. A good size NW swell will build in and be strongest Friday, after beginning to initially show around sundown Thursday. Strong and gusty ENE trades continue for the next several days.

TUE (11th)
SWELL/SURF: Small leftovers from the NW and basically flat at Pipe.
WIND/WEATHER: Strong and gusty ENE trades.

WED (12th)
SWELL/SURF: Small NW swell pulses up, but surf is generally shoulder high and below.
WIND/WEATHER: Strong and gusty ENE trades.

THUR (13th)
SWELL/SURF: Small NW swell continues, similar in size to Wednesday afternoon. Possible first signs of new, long period WNW swell showing around sundown.
WIND/WEATHER: Strong and gusty ENE trades.

FRI (14th)
SWELL/SURF: New, long period WNW swell builds in further with 6-10’+ faces at Pipe and some occasional larger sets if the storm continues to behave as forecast. Due to the swell period and swell direction, the vast majority of waves will show at Pipe.
WIND/WEATHER: Strong and gusty ENE trades.

SAT (15th)
SWELL/SURF: WNW swell fades through the day. Surf is in the 4-8’+ range on the face, strongest in the morning.
WIND/WEATHER: Strong and gusty ENE trades.

SWELL/SURF SUMMARY
Minor NW swell leftovers prevailTuesday, with just a slight bump up in new NW swell later Wednesday and Thursday morning.

Going further out, our next swell of consequence is lining up for Friday the 14th from a storm that we’ve been watching off Japan for the past couple days. Satellite derived wind obs of 35-45kts+ and seas of 25-30’ have been recorded roughly 2500 miles from Hawaii within this storm.

As a result we’ll start to see new, long period lines show around sundown on Thursday, with the swell building in further and peaking on Friday. Pipe will see waves in the 6-10’+ range on the face, with larger sets at times. Smaller, fading surf takes over for Saturday. We’ll be tracking this incoming swell over the next couple days and will continue to refine this forecast. Stay tuned.

Beyond that, the last few days of the waiting period look fairly slow at this time, although we could see a couple of small pulses around the 18th and 20th. Staytuned.

Beyond that, things look much slower through the end of the waiting period at this time.

WIND/WEATHER SUMMARY
Strong high pressure will be located to the north/northeast of Hawaii for the next several days. Strong and gusty ENE trades continue for the week and into the weekend. Skies are partly to mostly cloudy with occasional passing showers.

log on to www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing/billabongpipemasters2012 for updates.

Lay Day Called for Billabong Pipe Masters

PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Monday, December 10, 2012) - The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons has been called off for the day with small decreasing swell on offer at Pipeline.

Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, will surf in Heat 3 of Round 4 when Billabong Pipe Masters competition resumes

Stop No. 10 of 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Pipe Masters enjoyed classic conditions for the opening two days of the waiting period and event officials are anticipating a new swell to ignite the infamous reef later this week for a dramatic finish to competition.

“The swell we had yesterday dropped substantially overnight, so we’re calling the contest off for today,” Marty Thomas, Vans Triple Crown Contest Director said. “We’re expecting a new swell to hit at the end of this week, but we’ll still come back tomorrow morning to assess conditions.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pipe Masters, are calling for:

The current NW swell will continue to fade through early next week. Looking further out, a much smaller NW swell will move in Wed/Thur, with a good size WNW swell on track for Friday the 14th.

When Billabong Pipe Masters competition resumes Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, and Kelly Slater (USA), 40, will take to the water first in Heat 3 of Round 4.
For updates on the Billabong Pipe Masters log on to http://www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/billabongpipemasters2012

Sebastien Zietz Wins 2012 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Sunday, December 9, 2012) – Kauai’s Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 24, has won the 2012 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Title (an ASP Specialty Series) by advancing to Round 3 of the Billabong Pipe Masters in pumping six-to-eight foot (2 metre). Zietz wins a record $100,000 bonus in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Series, hydrated by vitaminwater, as well as a $30,000 Harley Davidson and a $10,000 custom Nixon watch. Zietz eliminated ASP WCT surfer Travis Logie (ZAF), 33, to move ahead.

 

Adam Melling (AUS), 27, was the only surfer able to overtake Zietz, but the Australian fell to Miguel Pupo (BRA), 19, leaving Zietz atop the Vans Triple Crown rankings. The massive victory for Zietz marks his first Vans Triple Crown Title, making him the first Kauai surfer to win the prestigious Hawaiian Series trifecta since the late Andy Irons (HAW).

Zietz put together an incredible run during the ASP Specialty Series, winning the Reef Hawaiian Pro to qualify for the 2013 ASP WCT. He remained consistent at Sunset Beach, finishing 3rd at the Vans World Cup of Surfing and so far has secured a Round 3 berth at the Billabong Pipe Masters.

“I’m super stoked,” Zietz said. “I’m just doing it for everyone in Kauai and everyone in Hawaii. Thanks everyone who comes down and watches us, you’re the reason we have a job. Thanks to Andy (Irons), you’re the one giving me the power. I’m so stoked. I don’t know what to say. It’s just amazing. I’d like to thank everyone who was a part of it. So many people have helped me throughout my life. The list goes on and on, you guys know who you are.”

Zietz went on to deliver the upset of the Billabong Pipe Masters later this morning, eliminating ASP WCT rookie and local standout John John Florence (HAW), 20, in their Round 3 match.

“I kind of wasn’t ready for it. I was still celebrating it with thwo minutes left. John my favorite surfer at the time. He missed that first one and I got priority from him. He was looking at that backdoor one, so I knew it must have been good. I saw him fall on that last one and it was lucky for me and unlucky for john. I’m still focused on the contest, this all hasn’t really sunk in yet.”

Watch the Billabong Pipe Masters LIVE via 
http://vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/billabongpipemasters2012

ASP World Title Showdown Continues at Billabong Pipe Masters, Zietz Claims Vans Triple Crown

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Sunday, December 9, 2012) – The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons ran a marathon 22 heats today, completed in six-to-eight foot (2 – 2.5 metre) waves at the Banzai Pipeline.

Kelly Slater (USA), 40, reigning 11-time ASP World Champion, continues his showdown for the 2012 ASP World Title with Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, at the Billabong Pipe Masters.

The final stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Pipe Masters ran its second consecutive day of competition with the event’s top seeds hitting the water and the 2012 ASP World Title on the line.

Kelly Slater (USA), 40, current ASP WCT No. 2, was methodical in his Round 3 heat, navigating both Pipeline and Backdoor with precision for a commanding win over wildcard Billy Kemper (HAW). Slater earned the day’s highest heat total, an 18.63 out of 20, for his efforts.

“It drives you nuts when you’re in the event and the waves are so good on the opening day,” Slater said. “Backdoor got a little better today because the swell got a little more North, but last night was A-plus Pipe and everyone knew about it. There are really good waves out there. We were scrapping to get anything going and I just got in synch. Billy (Kemper) and I were scrapping for sure and he let me know he wanted to win that heat as bad as I did.”

Slater, who is currently in contention for an unprecedented 12th ASP World Title, stressed the importance of focusing on each heat at the Billabong Pipe Masters rather than the distractions that come along with the ASP World Title Race.

“We’ve had enough time to think about it,” Slater said. “We’re all processing it in our different ways. Mick (Fanning) is probably the most relaxed because he’s a long shot. He knows what he has to do, he needs to win heats, whereas if I make it through the next heat then Parko (Joel Parkinson) has to beat me, but Joel and I aren’t going to come up against each other unless we’re in the Final. If you’re thinking about that during your heat, you’re not thinking about what’s going on in the water. You have to be clear minded from all of that stuff.”

Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, current ASP WCT No. 1, improved his chances of clinching a maiden ASP World Title, taking a Round 3 win over deadly wildcard Kalani Chapman (HAW), 30, with textbook barrels at Backdoor.

“It’s good to get in the water and start the game,” Parkinson said. “It was torture watching yesterday, but it’s a nervous frustration. You’ve got to scramble at the start and stay patient at the end. I tried to get a couple of early ones and then wait. I got folded on a crazy left and then found that perfect drainer on the right. Backdoor can offer the best section to lay one over and it had the perfect part to lay one over. It felt so good to do that.”

Parkinson would go onto blitz his afternoon Round 4 bout, advancing directly to the Quarterfinals of the Billabong Pipe Masters. Slater will contest his Round 4 heat when competition recommences.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, who was in contention for the ASP World Title heading into the Billabong Pipe Masters, was eliminated from competition by wildcard Shane Dorian (HAW), 40, this afternoon, ending his chances of a 3rd ASP World Title at the Banzai Pipeline.

“Shane (Dorian) has been a hero of mine since I learned how to surf and I wanted to be in the water with him,” Fanning said. “We said we’d make it a fun one out there. We were going tit-for-tat and I was close on the last one but it got me at the end. I was relaxed going in to this event because it (the ASP World Title) was a long shot. There was no pressure on me and I wanted to give it my all and finish well. I had a good heat and threw everything I had at it.”

Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 24, went on to deliver a massive upset of his own this morning. Riding high after clinching the Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown of Surfing in Round 2, Zietz went on to eliminate ASP WCT rookie and local favorite John John Florence (HAW), 20, in their Round 3 match.

“I kind of wasn’t ready for it,” Zietz said. “I was still celebrating it with two minutes left. John John (Florence) is my favorite surfer at the moment. He missed that first one and I got priority from him. He was looking at that backdoor one, so I knew it must have been good. I saw him fall on that last one and it was lucky for me and unlucky for John. I’m still focused on the contest, this all hasn’t really sunk in yet and I’ll celebrate everything after it’s over.”

Zietz would go onto claim the opening Round 4 bout over Damien Hobgood (USA), 33, and Dane Reynolds (USA), 27, advancing directly into the Quarterfinals of the Billabong Pipe Masters.

In addition to the ASP World Title Race drama and the culmination of the Vans Hawaiian Triple Crown battle, the world’s best surfers put on a show in the classic Pipeline conditions, posting the event’s high scores while battling for their respective rights to win the coveted Billabong Pipe Masters.

Reynolds, a wildcard into the event, posted the first perfect 10-point ride of the Billabong Pipe Masters, driving through a deep backdoor barrel en route to eliminating Adriano de Souza (BRA), 25 in Round 3. Reynolds’ perfect score came in his second heat victory of the day after besting Kai Otton (AUS), 32, in Round 2 in their morning match up.

“There weren’t any rights out there,” Reynolds said. “It just looks like the right swell and size for the rights but they weren’t coming in. On my right, it was crumbly and I was trying to get under the lip. It crumbled and I just got under the whitewash. I was deep and just pushed through it. It’s the first 10 I got out here. I’ve been competing a lot this year still. I don’t think there is a shifting of gears, you’re just trying to make due with what comes to you.”

After an impressive run this morning, Reynolds fell short against Zietz in his afternoon, non-elimination Round 4 heat and will take on C.J. Hobgood (USA), 33, in Round 5 when competition resumes.

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, led the Brazilian charge while getting the best of Kolohe Andino (USA), 18, in an incredible Round 3 rookie battle. Medina, who is often cited for his aerial game, looked comfortable in Pipeline’s heavy conditions and earned one of the event’s high-heat totals of 18.50 for two immaculate Pipeline bombs.

“It felt so good to get two waves at Pipe,” Medina said. “I’ve been watching the wave since this
morning and rode a 6’6”. I’m just stoked to make it through, I’m pretty happy. Where I come from is a barreling wave. I’ve surfed there all of my life and I think it helps me out here. I’ve heard people saying things about me not being able to surf on my backhand and that I can’t get barreled, and it’s good. I’ve been practicing and I think I’m getting better at it.”

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am local time for a possible 8am recommencement to competition.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pipe Masters, have called for:
Solid NW swell from today will ease through early next week. Looking further out, a much smaller NW swell will move in Wed the 12th, with a larger WNW swell for Friday the 14th.

Highlights from the Billabong Pipe Masters are available via
http://vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/billabongpipemasters2012

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS REMAINING ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 4: Shane Dorian (HAW) 13.77 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.10
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.60 def. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 12.76
Heat 6: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 12.73 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.17
Heat 7: Dane Reynolds (USA) 17.00 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 13.26
Heat 8: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 15.66 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 9.90
Heat 10: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.17 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 12.17
Heat 11: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.47 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 3.83
Heat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.33 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 7.12

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 15.00 def. John John Florence (HAW) 7.83
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.10 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 10.83
Heat 3: Dane Reynolds (USA) 17.83 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 8.50
Heat 4: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 14.16 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.17
Heat 5: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 11.60 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.87
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.17 def. Kalani Chapman (HAW) 13.50
Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.50 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 14.06
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) 18.13 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 17.13
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.63 def. Billy Kemper (HAW) 15.50
Heat 10: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 12.83 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.66
Heat 11: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 11.83 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.10
Heat 12: Shane Dorian (HAW) 15.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.07

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 16.40, Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.17, Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.96
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.10, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 6.20, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 5.83

REMAINING BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 4 MATCH UPS:
Heat 3: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 4: Yadin Nicol (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Shane Dorian (HAW)