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For e for for [Applause] [Applause] Yeah good morning everybody this is the sambazon morning update and what a morning we have as we check out the entire setup for the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti also Stacks to the Horizon Griff with his coach Tom is pops right behind him and the Brazilian

Contingent led by World champo he’s got to grab some backup equipment already broke one in half Miguel with our beach Marshall Ray shito looking at the bomb com Shion Crawford wild card in sent Eli hanaman making his rookie debut and Yago Dora turning in his best season to date

Last year got a pretty scary one yesterday perago he said yesterday was a great day to get away without the crowd but that wasn’t for everybody because it was more than a double black diamond conditions it was pretty wild but today the winds have calmed down like we are

Hoping for and the contest is on thanks for being with us Joe tpal with Jesse Mendes CT standout Triple Crown champ Jesse these are the days we’re always hoping for a pipeline it’s absolutely firing out there I know it’s it looks much better than I expected from

Yesterday um we had a lot of wind the last few days coming from the Northwest and Southwest kind of a mix and it was just the ocean was all around and now we look back and it’s all clean last night kind of cleaned up so we had a lot of

Time for um pipeline to groom and it’s looking amazing we have back door and pipeline options today so we’re excited for the first day of competition there’s definitely some crazy ones out there and I think once the tide starts dropping out it’ll get a little bit better

There’s some wild ones just closing out and doubling up pretty intense morning to kickoff the season in 2024 I’m getting pretty hyped in here but let’s make it more official the chief of sport Jesse Miley Dyer is with AJ McCord Joey Jesse you guys were talking about it pipeline showed up this

Morning and Jesse the Surfers coming in from the free surf with a massive smile on their face give us the official call for today though yeah officially we’re on so um you know we’ve been talking a bit about it but it’s kind of pumping out there very um there’s a fair bit of

Swell like well overhead and um there’s been some amazing rides so far so we’re going straight in the men’s opening round then we’re going to follow that up with the men’s elimination round so a really big day it’s a full day ahead of us and uh it’s exciting to be here and

And to be back so exciting to be back so we’re on for today give us the forecast moving forward what you’re liking about calling on today based on the rest of the window so we’ve got um you know a really good crew that support us here with the forecast we’ve got Surfline

We’ve got our locals like Marty Thomas um obviously everyone in the tower with me we’ve got Trav LLY Kayla it’s a it’s a really good crew that we have that we look through everything with Jonathan Warren and um you know today’s looking like one of our best days in the

Forecast when we’re looking at those four days of competition but also it’s firing so it it’s always an easy call when you come down down here and you’re watching people get you know blown out of barrels speaking of getting blown out of barrels let’s walk through the

Judging criteria for today yeah so I mean obviously we’re down here at Pipeline and um we’ve sent this to the Surfers this morning in English and Portuguese which is you know part of our push this year to to be really transparent with them and to give as much information as possible and you

Know we want everyone to to have the info that they need to make these decisions in their heads so we’re looking for you know commitment and degree of difficulty including you know those kind of takeoff spots how late you are you’re positioning on the wave and um obviously there’s a few technical

Elements of barel riding which are really important looking at depth absolutely looking at how you guys are you know coming in and stalling for the barrel those those bits and pieces that are that are really important and they’re the things that we’re going to be paying attention to cannot wait the

Action is already underway Heat won in the water so we’ll send it back to you in the booth to call the action how good is this AJ thank you so much great job to the chief of sport but I like how she’s breaking down the entire team that

It takes to call a contest on a lot of research from surf line and Jonathan Warren they’ve got Surfers that have their opinions local reps as well and a great team to kickoff opening day so it’s a day for the men opening round and elimination round before we leave the beach today as

We have yod Dora setting up for another great year on tour coming off an incredible season last year where we’ll go back to live action quickly Matthew mcgil getting the opening of the season so I’m checking out the lineup with Brent power trying to decide on

Maybe riding like a 65 today he had a 6’4 there as well and it was interesting cuz Baron was right behind him Baron is kind of famous for riding small board so I was like Hey Baron what 62 today he’s like no way probably 66 so it’s one of

Those days where you’re bringing out a little bit more lumber to take on these waves and also yesterday it was third reefing as well so um they went to bad looking at massive conditions like a lot of wash throughs a lot of water moving so you don’t know what to expect you

Knew the waves were going to get a little smaller today but um they kind of have to bring everything to the beach mostly if you’re in the first heat cuz you don’t have much time in case it’s still that big like yesterday and you see right there the first wave being

Reading off the year a clear Barrel you know you see him taking off just enough right there um getting under the nice section from behind like still not as wide of a barrel as you expect for back door mostly usually you know you see that wave just bottoming out but that

Was a great start get the nerves off and yeah start to heat it’s got to be a good omen for the season right just starting off with a standup pit to kick off the season great job Matthew mcgil representing Jeff Bay South Africa he said he really spent the entire

Offseason here so a lot of people making plans of spending more home time he actually did the opposite just planted himself here on the North Shore of aahu to get a lot of reps at pipel line and sunset the guy loves his job why not yes

Why not and um the more comfortable you get out here is with time in the water you know um pipeline is a wave that needs a lot of time you need to spend so much time that’s why Kell is so dominant out here he’s been doing it for over 30

Years and um it’s a smart decision he leaves on the um South South atmosphere and it’s summer there right now he’s at J Bay um so there’s not many waves nothing much going on so it’s smart decision of him and it’s ban off starting with the

517 um great start of to heat not bad 517 the scale being set new head judge for the season Lully Pereira has been around for a very long time longtime Pro Surfer from Brazil has been on the panel for decades and out the hel watching Everybody upstairs so Matthew we’ve got Yago Dora

We’ve also have Kade Matson in the lineup for this opening round Yago the high seed and Kade part of that that exciting rookie class with the majority of those Surfers coming out of s CL California yeah um that’s a good crew they’re I feel like they found a good

Rhythm throughout the Qs they a bunch of best friends just qualified like how dreamy is that you know have all your best friends on tour and the coolest thing about it in my opinion is just having him having them um support each other and push each other I think that’s

The best way for you to do it yod door enjoying his time last season getting his very first CT win at soccer emmo so what a way to do it at home in front of your friends and family a wave that’s always given you success even as a wild

Card and came Incredibly Close to compete for a world title last September ended up having that emotional draw with Jack Robinson at Teo and obviously both are like really good friends almost like brothers both getting coached by his father father and Jack got the win which

Sent Yago behind the cut of the final five so we’ll see how Yago goes this year Kate Madson is big as well we talk about Cole being tall but he’s also 63 not 220s you know about 195 he’s a really really a smart competitor when he

Was a junior whenever he was in a situation where he needed like an eight or a nine he could just do it no matter what the waves looked like he’s got that a crazy mental ability to just see things before they happen yeah and some people are just kind of boring with that

Natural um ability of just um being able to pull it off those moments and he went through a tough moment throughout the like just the start of his um professional career he went through a bad um I think back injury if I’m not mistaken and he was

Out of the water for a long time and he was able to bounce back and not long after qualifi for the T so that’s very impressive of him yeah I think he’s just filled with with gratitude you know for coming as long as he has been from losing major sponsors gaining new ones

And now qualifying with his best friends this one’s bottoming out sliding out and hanging on to that rail is MD mcgil remember he likes jumping out of planes for fun so when he feels that weight list feeling out of the sky he’s in his happy place we’ll never forget

The 10 he got a chopes 517 going right and we’ll see what he gets going left here Jesse yeah that was impressive that almost gave me a little um glimpse of um his chopu 10-point rde a few years back it was just like it obviously a smaller

Version here today um but that was so critical and that’s what the judges love to see is see how um steep that drop was losing the rail and being able to engage again and drive through that Barrel that was so critical of him and he’s going to

Get rewarded on that check this out disengage the fins right there and somehow able to re-engage the rail and come out out of the um of the bear with the big spit that was um a dreamy start of a heat with no priority getting a good score um under everyone that was

Nice parking it here since early November and not leaving the North Shores paid off for mcil as he’s up again wild one here big cave kind of looks nuts on the inside so he’ll wisely get out of there but it’s usually not over you try

To do your best to try to get flat get out of har way but he’ll be dealing with more waves on the head on that end section you see all that sand um with the water with the white wash right there that just shows that he’s a little

Bit to the right of um the the Peak at pipl so he’s heating that sand bar that’s why that wave closed out pretty quick and didn’t give him too much opportunity um all that water moving you see he’s in front of the ski right there already he’s by the channel and ideally

You want to take off a little deeper so you have that wave be a little more peaky and hit the The Reef a little better um but he’s just rolling to dice and he’s having a good time right now only waves written for the South African

As we have a special treat now here on set Jonathan Warren from surf flying it’s like we have a premium account but this is the dream if you can actually come to our living room every day and tell us where we should be surfing this would be even better but thanks for

Joining us John thank you for having me guys we really appreciate this in-person interview to tell us uh what we have for the entire waiting period but really focusing on what we have today as well yeah so uh basically the surf that we have on tap for just today let’s just go

Ahead and break down what we’re going to see today uh so we have uh you know the solid West Northwest well that moved in yesterday uh it topped out yesterday it’s on the easing Trend today uh and well let’s go ahead and talk about this graphic first so of what everybody’s

Seeing on screen so we’re going to be seeing this combo action that’s going to be happening over the next several days of swell coming in in from the Northeast and Northwest we don’t really want to see that for pipeline like you know for beach break or like that’s actually good

But for a reef break and especially for pipeline uh you you don’t want to have a combo so looking at the graphics here uh 8 to 12T faces out there uh easing slowly through the day down to 6 to 10ft faces later this afternoon good conditions all day likely to see a

Little bit of a seab breeze this afternoon but should stay on the Mellow side and not and not really mess it up too much uh over the next four days you know definitely worth a look tomorrow morning for some leftovers uh especially for back door down off the wall uh you

Know so broken up and favoring that part of the wave more so than pipeline uh then things kind of go south on us as we move through Friday and the weekend uh now we are we going to see primarily unfavorable swell coming from the north Northeast direction as that West

Northwest Energy kind of drops out by then um but the winds go bad you know we’re going to see Breezy North winds kick up um as high pressure builds in from the West uh these strong onshore North winds are going to rise up on Friday and then clocking Northeast on

Saturday and then East Northeast on Sunday so gradually trending a little bit better as we make our way towards next week but I think for the rest of this week it’s going to be pretty bad um after after uh really after tomorrow morning um so probably some lay days in

There um but looking forward to this next polls yeah it’s interesting uh we were talking earlier Je see you noticing how we had a lot of peaky waves coming through this morning yeah um that was my question I guess when you see a little bit more of a straight swell usually

Longer period and um more of a peaky swell maybe a broken up like you just mentioned like a combo swell is that what’s happening right now in the water yeah I mean what’s happening right now is uh we primarily have just a West Northwest which is good for pipe like

That’s that is the direction that you want to see uh why it’s broken up and has this you know well why there’s Peaks out there with both pipe back door working is because the because the period is shorter um it’s you know primarily around 12 to 13 seconds maybe

Some maybe even some 14sec bands in there but uh which is good for a back door to start working if it was uh you know coming from this West Northwest Direction but longer period especially over 16 seconds especially if you get 18 seconds plus you’ll primarily see just

The pipeline left um as it be two walled out for back door to work unless it was small but at this size it was longer period it be all be all pipeline left uh but because it’s shorter in period it’s more broken up in nature you know you

Have basically a blend of these different periods moving into the reef at different angles because of how it’s refracting by the reefs off out oflaw cabins and so as they come in they converge toward this area of area of the reef um you get these you get these

Crossed up Peaks um now later and later in the event window it’s actually going to be a combo of swell from the West Northwest and Northeast um you know we don’t we don’t really want to see that Northeast Crossing in like I said earlier uh you want to see primarily

Just one swell direction for pipe and ideally from that West Northwest Northwest Direction Jonathan great I love this information I guess just focusing on today cuz we’re trying to get a lot done opening round and elimination round what are you expecting for the back end of today and how we’re

Going to finish out yeah so definitely a great great surf on T for at least the first half of the day I mean it’s going to be good that like throughout the afternoon too like I like I am seeing a little bit of a seab breeze that’s gonna

That’s GNA puff up this afternoon but should stay like eight knots or less um so still on the cleaner side and uh watch for the winds even to slack off this evening so probably glass and off still plenty of sides out there it’s just going to ease just just a little

Bit compared to what you’re seeing it now um yeah and and then and and get smaller tomorrow uh but I I think there might still be some opportunity uh at back door tomorrow morning I love it thank you so much I think a great idea for surf line for premium members would be

We could get your phone number too and then we could just no you’d be busy that’s that’s super thanks so much Jonathan Warren from surf line uh breaking it all down for us and letting us know we’re scoring today obviously and we could end up having a few days

Off until things clean up towards the back end we’ll be checking in with John throughout this event big thanks to Surf line the official forecaster the 2024 World surf League Championship tour and as we dive back into the heat that was a perfect time to talk to John because

We’ve just had the waves ridden from Matthew mcgilla R 517 and a 717 if you’re Matthew this is the the best way you could start off your season I know you can’t ask for a better start um getting the nerves off obviously when you’re dealing with pipe there’s extra

Nerves as well and you see this wave here the separation between those two scores is just how critical that drop was and how steep um and how Hollow that wave became so that’s just show way more degree of difficulty and how um yeah it’s just way harder to ride those type

Of waves and just a Rollin type of back door ride just so cool that Matty’s been able to show off that backend Barrel riding technique getting blown out of pits I mean he had that 10-point ride in Tahiti but you’re he’s he’s proving that that’s part of his skill set you know

The more opportunities he gets to show it when pipe or chopes is really big hopefully he’ll be a cloud break this year as well can really show what he can do on his backand sometimes those rightand Point Break Specialists are kind of just famous for Point Break

Surfing but migil so well rounded as Kate Madson gets a promising opener welcome to the tour yeah I’ve been I’ve been very impressed with K the last few days he’s actually been a standout um I’ve never really see him much on this waves of consequences obviously cuz he’s very

Young and when you’re in the Q West there’s not that many many waves that um gives you the opportunity to show that type of Surfing but he’s being a standout and um definitely want to look forward in this event yeah 21 years of age almost the youngest on tour I think

Eli is a few months younger still in that 21y old Mark and kade’s been hanging out at Eli hanan’s house along with Crosby colapinto and a bunch of guys Eli loves hosting a lot of his best friends when they come over here to Hawaii we’ve got a pretty good routine

Of surfing all day I was actually I saw K about a week ago and all of them they look so exhausted they’re put in like8 hours a day pulsing pipe conditions as we look at the technique on the forehand for Madson yeah that was great able to

Slow down on the takeoff which is very hard on intense waves like this and check this out that’s a nice angle for you to see how steep that wave was um just able to get under that lip and it was a short barrel it might not come in

A great great score but it’s a great start for him and we see Yago on the other Yago throwing down the wrapping turn getting his opening wave of the Season there’s a little section to throw the tail to the sky but he’ll end up incomplete number seven in the world

Last year and the boys are already checking out the clips from Cade Griffin colapinto taking that mentorship type role for his younger brother and the younger crew coming from his hometown of s CL as we take another look Yago is way from start to finish Jesse that looked

Like a beautiful wave we saw it just um from here on but nice cut back right there and that’s what Yago has an advantage I feel like on this heat he’s um such a good railo and air Surfer that he’s going to have a little difference

Point on um on top of his opponents in this heat so if he’s able to get a better wave maybe a little deeper of a barrel and mix it up with those turns he’s definitely has big chances of big scores some great numbers coming through for mcil the 5717 two best numbers of

The heat that he got nice and early Kate’s first wave on tour as a rookie 4.5 Yago 3.17 so remember in this opening round it’s the top two that will move straight into the round of 32 in third place we’ll move into the elimination round which is scheduled for today great start

To the first half of the opening round Heat number one here at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti back for more action remember Ina coming up at Heat number two for e I wrote this after the two Australia event and I was like I need something to

Look at every single day to make sure it happens kid’s funny he’s the comedian of the group we call him like frats in cuz he turns into like a frat boy and he’s like just big and like jocky and he’s like yeah yeah hey frats and Matson yeah you know

I’ve just been working so hard for this and I’m just know really happy how are you I had a back injury it was probably like as close to hell as you could imagine got dropped from my sponsor was going into surgery just like is my surf

Career over I didn’t really have a doubt that I was going to be here and I think that’s the reason that I’m here is that I was able to like believe in myself oh whale nson the star of the show today I think I’m made of a lot of

Confidence and a guy that’s ready to take on the challenge I’m Kade Matson and I’m a rookie on the championship tour it was so R watching Cade last year on the Challenger Series with all of his best friends celebrating each other’s success trusting each other believing in

The process and after back surgery when it could have been all over his head space was so strong that he was able to overcome got new sponsor backing always had that great Outlook that he was going to be here one day and look at him now

As we had yo get this wave during the break yeah that looked like a better wave for him um just coming out with the spit which that shows how deep he was in that wave obviously not the most intense ride we had it so far but he was able to

Get deep go through the fumble right there and that’s going to probably give him a decent score and put him in the heat love that approach often compared to Jerry Lopez with that style looking so calm Under Pressure yeah Yago is just look at that technique just stalling

When you’re able to stall and that um Steep and um strong of a wave it just shows how much ability and confidence this has in this type of wave he’s been coming here for a long time and he’s just um it’s just another day for him yod Dora looking for another big season

On tour when we focus on his career at pipeline it started back in 2018 quarter final ended up losing to Kelly repeated that same success when he went down to EO that was eo’s World title year as we’ve got 8 minutes on the clock knifing this one and pulling under the hood

Stretching out beautifully for Maddie McGill there’s the spit and where is the man oh unfortunately he got clipped but what a great Ang angle on that wave at pipeline picking off a great wave and somehow he went down oh my gosh that’s so unfortunate for him Joe because that

Had that wave has had potential for an excellent score um it was just as steep almost as the the the 7.17 that he had but longer and he was there for a long time and he as you can see he’s on the channel right there so he really rode

That wave um almost all the way through and you see right here nice roll in pulling in from behind very deep and that extra section right there just caught him a little bit too much maybe they needed a little pump right there to go through um but that was a great ride

For him so far and just show um how in syn h in that heat like getting two waves right off the bat and then finding this Jam right here maybe a Miss opportunity to really um nail this heat but that was still great effort for him

What a great wave to choose for MD mcgil it’s amazing how you could just see how he’s reading the ocean so well Dora has to straighten out on a big close out shutting down his wave previous was the 583 that he made that did bump him into second

Put Cade down to third now Matson holds priority with 635 to go dieago just picking one that stretched out too quickly on him down the reef and now a wild one for Madson oh and a tough spot to go down getting hung up off the top and

Kade had the make on his start and a big wipe out but he’s already heading out the back that was almost magic he’s pretty much out the back already in the like in position for another one such sometimes the scary ones you’re thinking the worst and sometimes you get this magic little

Route out the back I think that’s what happened for Cade there somehow yeah that happened that was very scary jeez a lot of entertainment so far as we say big good morning to Strider walosi good morning oh my God gosh that was intense right there there’s been so much action

Out here back and forth big Rollings big washers and then you see a wave like that come through where he just decided last second to try and get under that hook and he got tossed it looked like the worst wife out ever from over here

And all a sudden he just pops right up so mother nature showing Mercy on K that was intense but we love the action let me tell you these guys are going for it I love it good morning good morning W welcome to the opener of the Season goodness gracious we’re watching that

Wipe out again from K oh Manan insan that was a good angle for you to see it see how he was right on the Apex so when you’re right there see that’s a perfect angle for you to see it you want to be behind you want to be

Behind so you have a little bit more time of Entry when you’re right on the peak of that thing all the energy is right there and he ended up getting stuck and just as he fell he kind of landed sideways which is horrible for

You um probably lost a lot of air as he landed on the water right there oh right there Kade gets a barrel then is worst wipe out of the Season all on his first start here with 445 to go but he’s already shaken that one off he was out

The back very quickly and we’re thankful that he looks like he is in one piece that’s the dangers of pipeline the most treacherous wave in the world but also can provide the the wave of your life Kade kind of checking himself out there talk about an adrenaline rush

Falling out of the sky like that Jesse Yeah and um for him right now it’s almost like regroup right like that was scary you lost a lot of energy your heart rate went up so it’s almost like time to sit down take a breath regroup and really focus on what you need for

The next wave in order to make this heat right now he’s sitting in third place so he’s definitely needing an um a not score in order to um pass through the third round straight it’s interesting the story of pipeline for rookies for anyone you know just getting a wave in a

Warm-up session is sometimes near impossible and Cage’s been stuck studying with his crew getting out there as much as he can and he actually said he had the best day he’s ever had a pipeline about a week ago got a lot of Great Waves at back door and pipe felt

Really good about it but then things change when the crowd’s gone as well you don’t have maybe that one good friend that’s looking out for you to to call you into a set here and there or to position in your favor you get out there and you’re still learning on the Fly you

Can tell matson’s going to remember where he took off on that last wave and try not to repeat that same mistake yeah totally and what you mentioned Joe you also have the locals and the locals are Specialists on those on those waves so usually the crowd situates themsel in

The lineup as the locals sit on the like on the pack order on the lead of the pack order so right now he has the pretty much the lineup for yourself and you got to make your own decisions you can relay on anyone so K now moving to second

Priority chasing a 4.51 to avoid the elimination round he was driving around with Crosby the other day and they’re just asking each other questions saying how do you feel about the cut any nervous feelings and they said yeah they’re there but they’re trying to just keep forward on

Positivity and success they write a lot of things down then they try to live it so big in a journaling talking it through as we’re down to 2:30 on the clock Medina’s coming up next headlining Heat number two one of the most consistent athletes at pipeline a three time Road

Champ now the boys in motion they’re looking at the set behind ton of white water rolling through from that second reef and no takers once again so clock winding down joining Medina the next Callum Robson who got the 10 at Super tubos and also David Silva’s back through a hard year on the

Challenger Series just got the last spot to get back to the Big Show and this makes it really special just seeing these guys again after a long off season seeing some new faces with a pretty healthy looking rookie class getting us pretty excited to see

How things end up in this first event of the year yeah I’m excited to see David back I’m actually very excited to see colum and Gabriel um Gabriel has been a standout as usual here one of the most consistent surfers we have in this conditions and

Um yeah excited for this heat is going to be a good one still a minute 15 on the clock K just asking for the update from upstairs chasing a 4.51 the good news for Kade he kind of knows what that feels like cuz his start was a 4.5 so touch better than that

Opener and he could be sending Yago in the elimination round now there’s not much time left but in his Advantage right now he sits in second second priority and the guy that he’s actually Bing um with in the heat right now sits in third priority so most

Likely with the scoring poten um with the scoring that we see on the panel right now Matt m is a little bit ahead of them so I don’t think he’s going to be seated on Kade and playing defense so maybe Kade had a little bit more freedom

To maybe try and sneak a wave before the beater so if Kade gets a chance here we’ll definitely see how he recovered from that big wipe out on the takeoff of wave number two just trying to make sure that he’s in the right position he’ll paddle over

That smaller bump will this get here in time and will hit the reef where Kate’s sitting already into the countdown looks like Kate is going to make a move split Peak scking with Madson this one moving quickly at back door no option to pull in for Matson and nothing happened for

Mck on the left so this one’s just a about wraps impressive performance for the South African getting that early start where he was the only one catching waves and it certainly paid off Dora safe in second and the rookie from s CL e Kade will be surfing later on today in the elimination

Round big exciting start and a wild wipe out to kick off the year more action coming up next as we freef fall out of the sky we’ll be right back a for for it’s a great time to open up the WSL Vault going back to some incredible moments at the pipeline Showdown Kelly

And Andy at the heat of their rivalry this was unbelievable back in 2003 remember that moment where they shook hands that was all over the press and media Kelly said Hey I Love You Man and Andy had that look back at him like what did you just say this is when they

Weren’t even hanging out it was really intense between the to and then the final was on it was Andy in that final with Joel Parkinson Phil McDonald and KY Slater with a world title on the line I mean this is alltime show for the CT two

Of the best ever and you can see the celebration from Bruce it was Andy’s day took out the 2003 pipe title and also another world championship moments for the great AI Kelly ended up going down in that one he was frustrated it was uh emotional between the two at the time

This was that era where Andy was really Unstoppable you couldn’t touch him he went three in a row ended up with four pipe titles one of the best ever to do it always thinking about Andy and special that Kelly’s still here to tell us all these great stories all the

Inside scoop of their relationship over the years as we get right into live action brand new heat heat number two Callum Robson getting a start into the air yeah putting the feet on the wax um nothing much to offer that wave had but it’s it’s good start get the nerves off

First um First Freedom wave for him of the season so yeah yeah callum’s one of those real cool stories kind of that Underdog type Hero Stories that had a different types of jobs wasn’t that typical Junior superstar that you hear about that had tons of sponsors but that

Hard work paid off he’s in his prime now as he joins forces with David Silva and Gabriel Medina in their first matchup of 2024 always great to see David Silva a really kind human being family man always uh when you talk about his strengths it’s always focused on that

Springloaded approach in Real highy Performance conditions how quick he is backand and forehand great in the air as well but excited to see how he’s going to take on an a heat like this knowing where you know Medina would be the f and knowing that he hasn’t had a ton of reps

Out here yes definitely um way more experience and just a solid Surfer overall and he’s amazing Surfer to identify waves in tough conditions and that’s perfect for pipeline suits him very well let’s catch up with Miguel with AJ Maddie what a way to start your 2024 campaign first heat first Heat win

And you got those waves so quickly to start the heat what was your strategy coming into today whenever I have a quick start and a heat it ends up usually working well it’s nice to get the pressure off and um watching it um watching the free Surfers before the

Event started I saw some back door ones so I definitely was looking for randers and yeah also when you have priority and you can go on whatever wave you want you want to be able to get a good po wave so I was hoping that was

Going to happen too so not just starting the heat the season with a Heat win but for you what is just the overall strategy for 2024 how are you attacking this season look at these W I just want to build on what I’ve learned over the last couple

Years um yeah it’s been a crazy journey and I’m so excited to be back here and to have this opportunity to compete again and just to hang out with the with the friends I’ve made as well so yeah I’m excited to be here and I want to

Make the most of it and my strategy is just to try my best and whatever happens happens well trying your best whatever happens it’s off to a great start walk us through the equipment that you have dialed for this first event of the year

So I’ve got a a Chan Island 65 it’s a new model Brit was working on with Xiao chanka and they’ve called it the it’s a two point Pro remix um so it’s got the CR Pro in the tail for more rocker and then a bit of magic up

Front always good to start the season with some magic board congratulations M we’ll see you in the next round thanks a lot thank you AJ little magic up front Jesse what do you think hey man you got to hide as much as you cannot give um in um information to your opponents that’s

What Kelly did his whole career and it worked out Kelly was so good at that even recently when Kelly started his own surfboard company i’ try to look at the bottom of his Stringer there’d be nothing written he’d be like nothing to see here and it was I mean why not you

Know you don’t want to leak all your secrets out and then everyone’s going to be trying to change their formula at the same time so post interviews we’re always looking to see how much are they going to give us did you have a plan like that like don’t say too much no I

Didn’t really have that plan but maybe that’s why I didn’t go that far I should have been a little more strict classic there’s Brit Merck with that incredible beard on the right it’s been growing that for a long time son of Al Merck said he still talks shop with

His father about surfboards they’ve got an incredible relationship and now Brit Sun shaping as well right now he’s hanging out with Lakey Peterson and Thomas Thomas is Lakey’s husband they love talking about surfboard design and everything else that comes with life in the Santa Barbara California region 177 on the

Board now for Callum Robson always great to catch up with Mr Strider raspberry wooki was we had a lot of everything in that that first heat of the day Joe I’m just giving myself a little one arm paddle just to make sure I’m not caught in again we have to wash through wads

Out here we got a lot of water moving and and to be honest it kind of tears up the lineup so then it has to really settle back in and then you get those nice beautiful like kind of icle looking barrels that come through after all

Those waves you know there’s a lot of intense action going on down here on the end so the Surfers padding out just getting pounded by that Sand Bar having a duck dive so that right now we got to give big thanks to the Hawaiian water Patrol because they’re instructed if you

Break a board break a leash they’re going to come grab you they’re going to get you to the beach they’re going to give you your new equipment and a ride back to the channel and then you got to make your way back over so those guys

Are going to come in big today I love that and I love the uh wash through was oh man we’ve been duck diving we’ve been all over the yeah got you got to be on your your game today cuz it’s not an easy ride today I love it Strider

Strider loves pipeline one of his favorite waves in the whole world got him a cover shot back in the day he’s got a great story about that where he was actually falling but it looks like he’s kind of Soul arching got page one not bad and look where he is today

Calling all the action good man Strider we’ll be checking with him in just a moment here 21:30 on the clock no priority set between Medina and David Silva but Gabriel looks like he’s intensely paddling into position now takes a look not too interested Callum wants it at back door pulls into

The first section he’s clear into daylight nice execution just building on his score line could be a touch better than his start and we know he loves a big cave that 10 last year in Portugal was unbelievable with the bottom dropping out it was a bit darker and brown water

But it was definitely the best wave of last season yes that was impressive to watch um I actually watched it live that wave and just everything bottom down under him and it was impressive to see um his performance in those conditions um haven’t seen much of him as well before

That and that was amazing right talked to Medina the other day I was like all how was your off seon what’ you do and he’s like he had a blast hung out with a lot of friends trained a lot and it kind of stopped him there cuz it appeared

From where I was sitting that he trained harder than ever I almost feel like that was spurred on by missing out on the final five last year by a spot remember the final in Tahiti I mean the Olympics were on the line line and a shot to gun

For a fourth world title lost both of those on that day in the South Pacific you wonder what that would do to a champion like himself and I think it made him pretty bad he just went straight to the gym for the last four months man and it it’s exactly um I

That’s exactly what I was going to mention because I saw him Bing out for pipe the other day and I spoke with him for a little bit and he was the biggest I’ve ever seen him the most fit I’ve ever seen him he probably has at least

Around five pound pounds over um his usual his usual weight and he’s the type of guy that trains specifically for each condition so he’s coming here training specifically for this heavy Steep and explosive type of wave so um he’s a smart um competitor in and outside of

The water checking out one of the best careers at Pipeline and he still has a long way to go Gabriel Medina started off as a rookie at pipe a long time ago now and made the quarters and showed the world that he was prepared for a wave

That he didn’t even spend a lot of time on it’s had one win but so many finals and maybe more consistency than anyone fulltime on tour in the last decade as we look at his average placing remember you lose in the quarters that’s equal fifth equal third for a semi-final loss

So 5.7 average is lethal 71% winning percentage at pipe and back door and you want to mention back door with this goofy foot cuz he’s definitely one of the best with his back to the wall and one of the most challenging ways in the world looking at this one CeX drops in

Gets out of there Medina had priority and saw something in that wave maybe just a strategy to slow down the rhythm of the Australian yeah I think it’s more as a strategy move cuz he was sitting a little bit in the shoulder um obviously the wave could change as it as it hits

The reef and their angle of seeing things is different than ours but Callum was in a very good spot for that wave so I think it was more of a strategy move than anything else just takes off and kick out right there and it’s straight out the back and callum’s actually um

Probably getting caught by the wave behind or something and you see that wave was round and nice was probably a good scoring potential for Callum maybe not a big score but a good score for the Heat so far in such a tough position when you’re

A day like today like pipe when you know someone’s using priority on you and you’re like okay not only am I not going to ride this way but I’m probably going to get smoked at the same time exactly and this is the type of competitor that Gabriel is he thinks about every little

Movement that everyone’s doing on the heat so it’s just one of a kind of an athlete he’s kind of like has that Celly mentalities he’s going to play every part of the rule book possible Here Comes Gabriel Medina looking for his first true wave of the Season just a

Quick look under the hood so he’s still looking to fire off some big scores what is so unique about Gabriel when you’re in a heat with him Jesse of how he controls the start I mean and how do you approach it when you’re competing against him it’s exactly what he’s doing

Right now he adapts better than anyone he adapts to the circumstances as it comes to him he’s like always um he doesn’t relay on a plan like he’s always adapting to what the ocean gives you and the ocean is unpredictable so that’s perfect it’s a perfect match as you see

Right there he saw that had a good rhythm going on um he was in a good spot for that wave dropped in on him because he had to ride away battle back out and this Heats very slow so he already got a little wave just to get a score on the

Board and yeah start um applying pressure on the opponents we’ve seen competitors kind of go okay I’ve got Medina this is how I’m going to play him it never works when you try to kind of get into his head space typically we see Surfers fall out of rhythm trying to

Play his game it doesn’t work you have to stick to your game and that’s what’s special about Gabriel like he can play everyone’s game he doesn’t have one game set and usually every athlete has has their way of competing and Gabriel has almost all kinds of way of competing so

Yeah it makes him almost unable got on the phone with three time world champ Mick Fanning last night in anticipation of of today and he just said he’d be very surprised if Medina and JN John didn’t get off to a flying start like almost if this should be the final the

Way they’ve been looking in the offseason what he’s seen from them he kind of mentioned that part about Medina being pretty mad about you know missing out on the finals last year year and the amount of gym time he’s put in Mick was very impressed with the intensity coming

Out of game so he’s expecting a big start for Medina here at pipeline looks like Medina wants to go here nice big takeoff super deep froy one and he makes it it Jacks out of his best wave of the season so far and that should be enough for a lead

Change and some and that’s what we just mentioned adapt to what’s in front of you you know like had third priority was under everyone no one was able they actually identify cuz you see Callum paling for that wave but he was a little bit off of position the wave was

Underneath and it was such a tough wave to ride halfway through the barrel there was a lot of foam and um it was impressive to see how he was able to like still drive through that Barrel being so deep with that much foam in the water impressed with Gabriel Medina one

Of the most dangerous Surfers without priority as well and especially on a venue like this where some Surfers are stuck to their lineups kind of Frozen he covers so much of the reef as big numbers are coming through for Gabe already Excellence 8.33 all the way to

First and looks like he wants more Gabriel locks in wave just cannons a bunch of spit out into the channel and Medina trying to manufacture some sort of tube but got pretty messy in there with all the froth on the face of the wave so his situation Remains the Same

But he’s warmed up and this is the dangerous Medina when he doesn’t sit on his board and just keeps catching waves yeah and here as we see see Callum paling for but he was way too far out and Medina disidentified and right there see all that foam and how he’s able to

Engage his Rao and fins throughout that so foam is basically water with air which makes it almost like at least 50% harder for you to engage and keep the driveth through and he was capable of doing that and that’s how impressive he is he just adapts every time a challenge comes his

Way right there that second and third pump was just enough as soon as the like the door was shut in on him he was able to sneak out a little bit from behind feet moved forward that much just to give that extra um foam under his food and um

Drive through the through the wave and as soon as the W of shutting down he sneaked out and got a great score Gabriel Medina is taking over heat number two as expected he said one thing that’s different now is well he’s 30 he’s joined the 30 Club we’ve been

Enjoying this show for a long time remember a World Champ when he was just 20 years of age 10 years ago as Medina’s leading the charge we’re going to take a bonsoy brew break back to wrap up Heat number two and enjoy this Medina show right after this What a moment from last year and yet he sent this man a 110 because he got a 10 it’s 110 for a 10 this year again but how about that below sea level pit super tuos Jesse Yeah the density of that wave the whole energy of the ocean just hit

That sand bar and he was right in the perfect spot and yeah did what he had to best wave of the year last year this year Yeti is going to fill that 110 Tundra with all sorts of Yeti gear all year long so it even got better every

10-point ride we see this season and those are the ones you remember we only had a couple last year yodora with that big punt in the final at sakuro and then a big cave at Super tubos it’s kind of feels like one of those forecasts of pipeline where we could get close hey

Definitely anytime paddle out at pipe you could get the wave of your life and that’s what a 10 looks like exactly gosh I think there’s been more tens here than any other venue on tour 10 on the clock Medina still way out in front first priority with David

Silva and he’s uh locking into this one on the inside not much of a tube but just trying to shake off the nerves five before that so still really looking to switch five fire and now with Dad strength coming into the Brand New Year Jack Robinson talk to Joel Parkinson last

Night a pipe champ also a World Champ and he thinks it’s going to be a beautiful distraction for Jack Robinson this year farco was famous for traveling with his family all those years and and children he said it was just the best thing ever you have your focus on your

Job but no matter where you are in the world you really had home every single spot see what Jack’s plans are as far as traveling with the family but Famer with him here in Hawaii and we know how he likes to get Zen and focused I mean a little baby is

Going to help him do that every day yeah totally um he has a good support with him he has a great crew of um trainers coaches and his wife so yeah looks like a a dreamy year ahead of Jack Robins Jack will have the goat Kelly Slater in Heat number

Three along with Indonesia’s rioa Rio was the one that posted it on his Instagram how excited he was to be starting the season again didn’t appear rattled at all that he had two of the best at pipe Jack the defending event champion and Kelly looking for an unprecedented ninth pipe

Title um this is a good image right there I think um kind of a mistake that David has is hold he the whole time he was sitting wider to the right of everyone um if you’re facing the ocean um see him right there seing it again um to the white of it to

The right of it and just um kind of like not enough deep position for pipeline you want to be behind you want to be behind the Apex and um oh you see Gabriel here on the back door wave back door wave spits he comes out one of the

Most dangerous athletes at back door so hard to do on your back end and viina makes it look easy he’s gotten tens heading that direction and it looks like he will be improving on his low score that was in the two range the accur Sanz he positioning being everything and David looks like

He’s just been a little bit out of it how about this one from Medina yeah another um identifying a nice little nugget for back door not not too much intensity on that wave the wave was a little smaller but still he’s probably going to be able to capitalize on his um

Backup score and um give him a solid um spot on this heat so far nice just deep enough coming out with the speed um you see that um his board was a little flicky after he came out of that wave so that means that he was just going

Through fumo before that so yeah as deep as you can get on that wave well done Medina with a four just strengthen his lead first priority to Callum Robson look this way puts his head down grabs the ring slides out for a moment and he gets spat out of a

Cannon once again Callum Robson putting on a show showing off his tube riding ability his best wave so far as he’ll be getting closer to Medina now definitely going to be getting close to Medina that was an intense wave you see on the takeoff right there he almost

Lost AO that shows how much power that wave had and he was almost not capable of doing the bottom turn had to let It Go the rail a little bit so he could regroup and just coming out after the spit that has to be I think that might

Be the best wave in my opinion of the heat so far see it right there he takes off very late and right there almost loses the rail let the let the um his hand go off the rail so he can regroup it and just coming out after the speed

That was a beautiful Rhythm wave just going over the foone ball right there just just on top in um ahead enough so he was able to come out of that beautiful um rhm wave for Callum so impressed with Callum Robson like you mentioned had to

Adjust when he was in the belly of that one and there was so much energy coming out of the pit there stoked he was able to hang on yes that was that was beautiful reading wave for him and he’s always surprising us like as soon as he

Gets um a challenging um condition right in front of him he’s able to capitalize on those moments and amazing speed so much energy into that wave and he’s coming out after the spit so that was a beautiful Rhythm wave for him and yeah this is going to be an like close to an

Excellent score my opinion that was the best way of the heat so far it’s one of my favorite parts of that classic movie Northshore you’ve seen that one right with Lance Burkhart Rick Kane does well in the wave pool just like spit welcome to pipeline you know it’s just like most

Amazing thing to watch how much energy comes out of this wave and provides gigantic numbers callum’s just taking the new highest number of the season in a short period of time we’ve already got a nine and we’re not even done with heat number two yet nine takes him to First Medina to

Second David Silva now comboed in third with 430 on the clock well we’ve got washed through was you might have got washed through by the spit from callum’s way that was intense the way he entered that wave the Wobble the just the heaviness of the slab and he the thing

That really struck me was that he was in the perfect spot for that wave so that means that he knows where to be out here at pipeline which means that he’s a danger at all times somebody like Callum Robson he’s got a 10 last year he’s got

Just got a nine just now he’s an insane intense wave so I love the fact that even against Gabriel Medina you know these other guys they got chance and they’re going to do everything they can to win and to tell you the truth I think that Callum be smoking this heat if

Gabriel wouldn’t have strategically snaked him out of that wave so you know right now we’re looking at a very informed Callum Robson for the year and we got a lot of consequential waves on tour this year so true good man was Callum Robson engag in the formula at

The moment last Heat our high seed dropped down to second we just saw that happening right now with Medina to Second even though we didn’t predict that with his track record on this wave still 330 which is an eternity for Medina does have higher priority than Callum and it looks like David’s not

Really positioning himself to be in this fight today yeah and some of this moments he had no priority but right now he sits with first priority and you can still see he’s to the right of the opponents and you you always want to be behind you always want to back door even pipeline

You want to back door to wave so yeah a little bit of a mistake right there of positioning for David and maybe they’re going to be able to capitalize um with that mistake see wanting more on a clean one super perfect when you talk about conditions it won’t be close to

The nine but you can tell he wants to keep that Rhythm solid Silva now uses priority sets up the pit it’s a nice puff from that spit and he’ll step off didn’t get as deep as he would have liked but we’ll see if he can break the

Combo that he needs to move into the top two now with 230 remaining yes that was a beautiful wave actually one of the best waves of the heat so far but just like how I mentioned um he wasn’t deep enough and there was nothing really he

Could have done you see gum here just behind the section so he was able to get a little deeper than David did David on the other hand on better wave we’re going to see Callum once again right there not that intense of a wave not that Hollow but most likely he might be

Able to improve his score if not it’s going to be right there but you see David right there see he’s in front of the wave the whole time and then he’s able to get covered nice beautiful ride wave for him but he needed to be a little bit behind on that

Paddle so it was all about the positioning on that wave and not really any issues with or any mistakes of him riding but just the positioning yeah to a minute 40 on the clock Callum Robson waiting to see if he made any Improvement his low score a

367 what a feat and what a roll for confidence if you’re able to even get a win over Medina in a non-elimination format remember third place is the one spot that goes to the elimination round top two will be receded in the round of 32 Gabriel Medina did take a look

Here and then saw that he had to pull back but how about the rest of this wave absolute cave I think he would have made that oh yeah I think um that was look at that it almost broke on the second Reef but just held enough that was a slab of

A wave but the problem right there that wave was so Hollow that you needed to be under the ledge and he was just on top so just gave him no entry but if he was a little bit under that was that was going to be probably the right of the

Event so far score suon through for Silva 2.87 does break the combo needs a 9.46 to go to the round of 32 Medina chasing a 535 he does have priority over Callum you see the next he getting set that’s Jack Robinson Rio waa and Kelly Slater so in store for basically a surf

Movie coming up next with a couple of the best at pip and a student of the game rioa who’s paying attention to everybody on tour puts in a lot of time to study the best in the world we’re going to close this one out right before

The horn we will see the split Peak Medina gets a section landing on his back he’s able to ride away and he’ll ride this one in as far as he can so trying to save himself to get the win and we’ll see what David Silva did on on the split Peak as

Well and as we see him riding in doesn’t look like much at all David Silva splitting it up with Gabriel here as we focus on the left yeah just um too peaky of a way for pipeline right there so it’s just being very shery not giving him any opportunity unfortunately for

David but the good news is he’s probably going to have he’s going to be able to serve one more time and get amazing pipe by himself exactly wow what a big morning Callum Robson getting the win to go straight to the round of 32 second

Medina will also be in that round as the Lexus pip Pro presented by Yeti continues we’ll bring in kyel Guerrero and Felicity paler for the Call for Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti Kelly Slater opening round Slater back door barrel and the 11 time world champion eight time pipe champ with a nice start in this opening round Heat number three Slater up against Jack Robinson Rio AA and what an opening day for the

Championship tour I’m Kyo Guerrero along with the fabulous Felicity flick paler and like I said flick what an outstanding opening day oh amazing first day of competition I mean Kelly absolutely starting off with a bang in that hit and that’s exactly what we want to see he such a wizard out here and

Yeah just proving it once again the first couple of Heats was so exciting loved watching um MD mcgil get that early Heat win and then Callum Robson taking out uh gab Gabby out of pip like that’s a hard thing to do I think it’s an illustration that uh you know upsets

Can happen here at pipeline I mean Rio waa he’s going to want to have an upset right now because he is up against former pipe Champs in the way of Jack Robinson last year’s defending champ and an eight time pipe line winner K Le Slater so um big

Challenge for the Indonesian Surfer for sure I mean this heat is absolutely stacked Jack obviously getting his first win out here last year and here we go Jack absolutely threading this one at back door right now kicks out of their quick smart but what a first exchange

This wave just so big Jack pumping a couple of times underneath the lip and comes flying out so first two waves under the belt for Jack and Kelly what an exchange yeah we’re waiting for these scores we’re reviewing the waves again this is the replay of Slater flick yeah

Beautiful first wave from Slater just standing straight and tall in that Barrel as he comes flying out H I just think it’s absolutely incredible that his career has expanded so long the other day when we were doing uh the morning show I realized that he won his

First event out here in ’92 and he that was the same year he also won his world title that was the year was born yeah so it’s incredible that he’s still out here today doing it and serving so well when we apply the numbers to Kelly Slater they’re baffling numbers 31st year on

The championship tour this year for Slater he surfed 293 events of course he’s won 56 of those he’s made 84 finals in his career and a Heat winning percentage as a whole over his entire career of 70% the number numbers I don’t know if they’ll ever be replicated by another Surfer they’re so

Impressive of what Kelly Slater brings to surfing well I just don’t know if the longevity that he’s shown will ever be replicated again I mean to be able to still be so relevant today especially at waves like pipeline in Tahiti I mean I just I don’t know any other sport in the

World where someone has given that sort of longevity so yeah it’s incredible and it’s absolutely legendary status let’s get some opinions from the water Strider wusi out in the lineup thanks kpo hi Felicity well I just wanted to comment on Slater had to make a split hair decision on paddling back out through

The lineup at back door or going for the wrap around to come back out through the channel it didn’t pay off he decided to go around he’s getting pounded down the beach all the way to his house right now The Sandbar there’s so much sand out

Here on the you know on The Sandbar right now that’s just so built up from all these big swells washing through that he has just got annihilated so he’s still not back in the lineup rioa he’s going to thread the needle but not come out go back to Slater oh sorry I’m going

To paddle get out of the way Strider just the beginning of the day we need you so Strider repositioning himself Rio waa unable to complete a ride we saw Jack Robinson Duck diving that wave flick Robinson opening score of 5.83 so early advantage to the Australian yeah

Uh that’s going to feel really good for Jack 583 really nice way to open up his account beautiful tube came flying out and yeah he’s got the lead at the moment um Kelly behind him locking in that 417 for his right as we have a look at Rio here now

This was got going and you can see him really weaving inside that Barrel really adjusting his line a couple of times but that pipe wave just really stretching out so you have a look at this angle just see he just got gobbled up there and couldn’t the wave stayed open but it

Just stretched out that little bit too long Hing over Jack Robinson right now the 26-year-old from Western Australia you must be proud of him jack um celebrating along with his wife Julia the birth of their first son Zen yes Auntie flick yeah Auntie flick I’m just

So happy for them uh I got to meet little Zen the other day and see Julia as well and uh actually got to speak to Jack about you know how that transition’s been um becoming a dad and he just said coming here now I think are a little bit different you know

Obviously he’s still got you know the main goal which is obviously the world title but he’s just really trying to strip everything back and focus on the process and really enjoying the moment yeah yeah it’s it’s the evolution of Jack Robinson right that we saw him

Come out as a talented Junior that all eyes in the surf industry had on but we’re going to talk about this guy Kelly Slater and his career here at pipeline 30 events eight wins there is the pipeline Heat winning percentage 69% of the time Slater wins a heat and he’s got

Five 10p Point rides in in the history out here it’s absolutely incredible I mean I always uh think back to just performances that I’ve seen over the years which have just been so clutch you know those last minute moments when he needs a score and the clock’s ticking

Down there’s 10 seconds and out the back here we have Jack Robinson threading the needle on his second wave flying out jams it in the lip for a little carve second wave for Jack Robo yeah and that’s going to be a good way to back up that 5.83 of course Robinson our

Defending champ made the final here last year with Leo fante and Jack uh took a win his fifth Championship tour win here at pipeline actually it was his fourth his fifth was uh later on same year last year over in Tahiti interesting that that Jack bookend the year starting at pipeline

Probably the most intimidating wave on tour along with Tahiti and was able to win at both those breaks here’s another look flick yeah beautiful technique from Jack there just absolutely he’s W selection out here is amazing right I mean Jack grew up in Western Australia it’s obviously known for those bigger

Powerful waves but his read in a barrel is just comes as second nature he’s you can see him really just using his arms there as you know sort of a gaug in the lip of the wave to gauge his speed and yeah how much he needs to stall or not

But he’s just one of those people that has a natural connection to the ocean and it it’s almost like he was born with it right I mean we say that but he’s also logged an incredible amount of time in the water ever since he was you know

I mean I still remember the first time I saw him surf he was about you know four 5 years old at trig point and um yeah on a little uh polyester little surfboard so yeah he’s just loged so much time in the water and yeah got that real natural

Connection yeah that connection made in Western Australia really a product of his environment powerful big waves uh there for Jack Robinson and now he’s got that connection with pipeline along with Kelly Slater who has it spiritual spiritual connection well talk about a connection the relationship continues to

Grow between Pipeline and the Evans head Surfer Callum Robson he took a win Callum is with AJ he certainly did Kyo Callum coming into this heat seemed like you had a perfect plan to attack pipeline what was your plan of attack for your first heat of 2024 um

Yeah I went out there with a pretty open plan um I kind of was looking at back door and pip but um when I got out there I felt like energy was shifting towards pipe so I kind of tried to establish the inside for the pipe um and then I didn’t

Want to sit and wait too long cuz I felt like just in the Press when you see the people that catch waves and they get a bit of a rhythm going so um especially just getting my eye in and see what I was looking for and the first W kind of

Made me realize that I got to get M with a bit more girth and a little bit more um draw from him so um I made that adjustment and got that good nine I stoked on yeah let’s talk about the adjustment and the nine what did you see

In that wave that you were able to tap into to get the best score of this young season yeah well I had that good one that um Gabe burnt me on so I was pretty offer about that and that kind of fired me up and then ended up getting a position and

Had m a little bit deeper and then got the um one that had the good draw and um I kind of felt like I need to get a pump going so I kind of let go and then as I let go I felt like oh my God I might be

Falling so I grab back on and then like went up and over the phone ball and it kind of like lifted me up and then it like spat and I was like please please please and then it like drop me back down and I come out and I was just like

That felt good that’s got to be a good score so I felt like out here and when it’s balanced hard to like really like get up into that excellent range and stuff so um it’s got to be a pretty good way for it to be up in that excellent

Range so I was stok when I heard a nine and I was like oh yeah it must and to start the season not just with a Heat win but with a nine how much confidence does that give you that all the work you did in this offseason has prepared you

To come into this season ready to go yeah well I do as much preparation as I can but living on the East Coast Australia we don’t get really waves like pipeline so um you can prepare as much as you can but at some point you got to

Come just tackle the beas and get involved and um and just trust your ability and trust your instincts and just um have a crack so that’s what I did out there I was definitely nervous coming into da haven’t competed in over 4 months and coming straight into pipe

And it’s pumping and the anticipation of Surfing this wave um definitely had me up up throughout the night but um I was stayed to be able to come down and put on a performance despite everything that was present the sleeplessness was worth it congratulations Cal see you in the

Next round cheers thank you yeah Calum Robson saw him yesterday at the Sunrise Shack caught up with him he was very calm just came from the Physio and he was actually told me he was looking forward to this heat with Gabe Medina um um really when we talk about Callum you

Know the Working Class Hero amongst Surfers all the stuff that he does he does back for his community not a big name uh but making a huge name for himself in every heat he serves right here flick this is what happened during the interview Kelly Slater he was

Looking for a 7.53 to go into the lead didn’t came up a little bit short on this 4.5 yeah this wave that Kelly got obviously he’s looking for a backup score he’s looking to get into that first position right but that one was really peaky didn’t have much of a run

To it so it was just a short little barrel and I mean he’s got to feel good to make however he’s going to need something a bit longer something a bit more stretched out he’s going to get that length of uh Barrel see here beautifully tucks up underneath the lib

You can see the whole you see his nose is still visible that whole time when he was in that Barrel so that’s an indication that he wasn’t that deep and he’ll know that yeah um so he’s going to be go back out there and obviously be

Looking for that more maybe a little bit less of a p way a more of a not the U yeah a longer wall wave and really and really the personality and pipeline has so many personalities uh today is really a peaky swell it cleaned up a ton

Overnight we had a k of winds for for for a number of days here leading up to this opening day winds turn trade cleaned up yesterday afternoon throughout the evening but still that peakiness of the mixed swell is still in the water oh for sure you 100% you can still see it I

Mean we had that storm roll through for 2 days I mean that doesn’t just go away overnight like you can still see that wonk and that warble if you look out to the Horizon like these aren’t clean stacked lines coming into pipe and back door today there’s a lot of wonk there

Uh one thing I did notice though is uh over the these last few swrs that you know the in the leadup to the event is that there were so West and we’ve been hit with quite a few swells that a lot of the sand has washed out from the

Beach and the rocks are all visible on that Shor line and that is one thing that we like for pipe um it makes the wave really good it really is it tells the tail doesn’t it it’s uh the barometer of how the beach looks when the Rocks pop up well right now it’s

Jack Robinson he’s on the lead Kelly Slater in a strong second place remember third goes to elimination round Rio W he’s got some work to do Jack Robinson looking good at back Door e let’s crack open the WSL Vault and wind it back to to 1999 a young Kelly Slater coming up against his good friend Rob masado in round number three masado rarely goes right but got it done on the back door looked like he had control of

The heat but Kelly Slater took out his good friend and showed the world the rodeo flip the rodeo clown nobody had ever seen anything like that before Slater onto the semi-finals with Mark aupo Aki control of the entire heat in this semi-final number one 15 seconds to go Slater Perfect 10 at back door onto the final for Kelly Slater where he’s going to face Shane wner the Australian with his best result of his professional career came up against Kelly Slater Slater way too much for Werner in that final and Slater earns his fifth of eight

Pipe titles of course 1999 marov galupo taking out a world title then as we join live here at pipeline K Gro along with flick palmantier and we’re in Heat number three of the opening round first day in school first day in class for everyone first day at comp um and I’m

Excited so am I I’m really excited it’s great to get competition underway and we’ve seen some awesome rides already I mean we had an excellent score drop in that last Heat with Callum Robson um and one thing that I actually noted so when Callum got that 10 in Portugal last year

I think Gabriel Medina was actually in his haat when he got that t that’s correct funny little fact there let’s take a look you know pipeline careers we have the goat in so many ways Kelly Slater but let’s look at the big three when we talk about Pipeline and their

Careers undeniable with Kelly Slater with those eight pipe titles but look at the average place amongst them I think it’s a little deceptive right there with that average of eighth for John John Florence I think he’s actually going to be the guy to beat this year along with

Gab Medina wow okay you had it here Kyo I think I started day one day one I think I think I’ve got a good feeling about uh Gabriel Medina this year I feel like the last event of the Year Tahiti he had a shot at making that final five

He almost did it and he was just looking so unbeatable at uh in pipeline here we go Jack Robinson in out finds a little parking in the barrel there comes out to feed the meter and will he add to his into his score Bank needs to improve upon a

5.83 to further his lead over Kelly Slater and Rio Ida but really the story in this opening round not getting third place first and second move on into the round of 32 it really is the third place finisher that has that elimination round look at this

Yeah I mean Jack went here he he didn’t have priority so took off may as well thought roll may as well roll the dice and I’m not sure if that might improve on his situation it was a smaller inside wave did get a little bit of travel in the tube here was

Relatively deep but it was qu it was a bit smaller we’ll see what the judges have to say about that yeah look at the positioning the takeoff and the technique up and down pulling on that rail weaving on the back hand and it comes in at a 6.4 so Jack

Does inch away slightly with the lead but take a look at the technique oh technique and did you see the wble in that face of the wave as he took off and he really had to readjust his rail just to pull up underneath and from this

Angle here you can really see how deep he got which for me I understand now why you know from that angle you can really see he disappeared you couldn’t see his board at all so you can tell that’s where those extra points are coming that 6.4 Here Comes Slater back door barrel

Stands up tall and proud stalling gets through the foam and back out so Kelly Slater always dangerous at any point whether it’s a right whether it’s a left out here it doesn’t matter Slater it if he gets lucky with a 7.77 he’ll take the lead off of Jack Robinson we’re waiting for that

Score here we go Kelly I always love this angle because the side on angle can be a little bit deceptive sometimes you can’t really see just how quite deep they got in that Barrel I mean I really liked it have another little look here beautiful takeoff got in super early you

Can see his back arm in the face of the wave just gets fully covered there so I’m sensing that maybe similar scores yeah we got the number in for this ride that you’re checking out he needed a 7.77 to take the lead Slater gets a 7.17 he remains in second this

Time Slater looking pipeline Yanks the rail off the bottom pulls into a pinching difficult technical ride and the door closes on Kelly Slater wow that was really gurgly that one you could see all the um foam in the face of the wave and you just see like what the reef was

Doing to the surface of the wave and it was just so bubbly he almost came out of it but we go just getting out to that channel taking a little Joy Ride yeah talk to us a little bit about the positioning and the current and everything that’s moving out there flick

There is there is a lot of water moving out there I mean this morning even when we were watching it before we got called on you could just see I mean Surfers usually look at this Bri here just see he just got gobbled up there oh reappears again but yeah that end

Section just did sort of like a twisting motion and just gobbled him up but yeah so there’s so much water moving out here we were commenting on it this morning especially on the inside right and there’s always that sort of decision you’ve got to make especially if you get

A away at back door are you going to run the gauntlet it and try and punch it back out or are you just going to go on the merry go round and let that current take you back out down the beach and paddle back out but you can see Kelly

Already back out the back now but yeah it’s always it’s sort of one of those decisions there’s a couple of ways on tour like that I mean Margaret River has similarities as well on the right-hander are you going to try and punch it back

Out or are you going to take go in and take the ski and go back around for the left yeah and and even the left today because of the swell angle and the sandar that has built up at aukai and and the gums area uh not a straight

Straight way out it’s still somewhere here we come with Griffin COA Pinto he’s going to be up in the next Heat along with his childhood friend Seth mon two good friends Almost best friends but there’s no friends once you hit the water with the Jersey they’ll be also

Joined by Ramsey bam uh the Moroccan who has an injury wild card onto this year’s tour so it’s going to be good to see Ramsey in his first heat at at Pipeline and it’s been a long time coming and really unfort for Story I mean Ramsey actually qualified the year before but

Had an unfortunate injury which took him out for the whole year you know and I think we’ve all been waiting for this moment for Ramsey so this is going to be this going to be feeling really really special for him and I’m sure that he’s fully taking this moment

In current situation at 6 and2 minutes we have Rio waa with priority unfortunately for the indonisian surfer he is in a combination of two waves so with priority uh he needs 11.67 he really needs to get something meaningful right now flick to break that priority and and and to break that combo I’m

Sorry to give himself a chance yeah he needs a wave pretty soon you know as soon as the more that time ticks down right right now the less likely he’s going to be able to do this right he he needs two waves so it’d be interesting to see what that

Horizon’s looking like if there is any sets coming um but yeah the good thing for Rio is is that he does have priorities so he’s got first choice of waves kind of looks like there might be a couple of little lumps coming through uh but interesting for me is uh Jack

Sitting out there in the lead he’s got second priority which means he has priority over Kelly and Kelly is only chasing a 5.10 for that lead so going to be interesting to see what happens in these last 5 and a half minutes of the heat I’m sure Jack’s probably going to

Want to get a win over Kelly out here and you know potentially hold him off a wave yeah and in this opening round too I mean I don’t think the claws are fully out right now if it was a if it was a head-to-head heat between Slater and

Jack robins and he probably would be trying to play a little bit maybe a little bit more defense overs Slater but I feel at this point you know it’s pretty early this this is almost like The Scouting round if you will you see like who’s got the Who’s got game right

Now and then who’s needs to work on it at this first event for sure I mean even right here I mean this is a good example of what we’re just talking about Kelly and Jack have a bit of distance between them you know if it was man on man right

Now I think Jack might be applying a little bit more pressure I agree I agree uh really the pressure right now falls on the 23-year-old out of uatu Indonesia Rio waa now things are looking uh I’m not going to say hopeless for him but Bleak

At best yeah uh one word that comes to mind is grim it’s not gri it’s a little bit Grim at the moment uh it’s not over I mean Kelly got that 717 and then straight away I mean I know the way it was only a 1.07 it’s a throwaway but I

Mean that was relatively quick after he 717 so it’s it’s not over however it’s looking Grim well let’s take a look at our Heat recap started off with a bang here with Jack Robinson yeah Jack straight away into this back door wave driving through that tube and he’s just

Looking really connected and obviously we’ve spoken about it before he’s got a connection to this wave he’s the defending champion and this is that 6.40 he really Dr go through that Barrel he ended up getting pretty like some pretty long shoot time really and that is Jack’s best wave right there sitting out

There with the lead but uh Kelly is behind him and only needing a 5.1 this is Kelly’s beautiful wave at back door here comes flying out of that section and yeah it’s not over yet because Kelly only needs a 5.1 that’s right get back to our wave for Slater 7.17 is the

Highest single wave score in this heat you can see all the waves ridden and the highlighted top two scores for each of our Surfers we’re down to 3 minutes and 10 seconds and waves coming through here good looking Set uh we’ve been blessed with a forecast we had Jonathan Warren

Come in here earlier from from surf line and it looks like you know the good news is we’re going to have to play around with the winds but the good news is that we have a ton of swell throughout this entire event window Slater catches that outside Rail and

Gets out of trouble really quickly with that dive we’ll see wait for the head to pop up there there’s the board tomb stoning he’s underwater still underwater who still underwater there he comes up that was an illustration of of of a pipeline wipe out even the best suffer oh completely I

Mean no one’s immune out here it is such a wave of consequence and just saw just how long that uh hole down was and one thing you just see the board tombstoning there I mean you he was down for quite some time and yeah it it will get you

And it’ll hold you down but yeah he doesn’t look too phased but it’s always funny you know sometimes those wipeouts that look terrible like that Kade mson one earlier this morning they’re not necessarily here would go just you can see he’s just scratching into it almost

Maybe a little bit late tries to get to his feet absolutely just goes almost head first it’s very very scary very dangerous very scary and and yeah is down for a while here but yeah these wipeouts that sometimes look the worst don’t necessarily mean that they’re the

Most ones that come away with injury it’s almost the ones where you don’t even blink an eye at and you think oh now they’re coming up or that’s going to be fine and then all of a sudden they’re injured you know it’s it’s a funny thing

Yeah a lot of times injuries here also happen not on the initial wipe out but on the second wave when you’re in that Impact Zone and that second wave hits you there’s been a number of occurrences there that that’s when a a heavy tumble happens you’re in that explo explosive section

And yeah pipes no joke this year though flick and I I don’t I want your we I’ve seen the most helmets used in the lineup here which is a smart thing ever at pipeline yeah I I think it’s a really really smart thing I mean we’ve seen the

Most helmets but we’ve also seen a few injuries and I think you know you know some people are saying you know helmets don’t maybe necessarily look the coolest but you know what’s cooler coming home to your family and I totally agree with that um I think it’s such a smart idea

And you know for me if I was going to go surf out there it would just give you that little bit extra bit of confidence and knowing that if you push it you know if it were to hit your head you’re going to be all right um then there’s some

Surfers that really don’t like the feeling of that too and you know I kind of can respect that as well and people here we go Slater in the barrel spit comes out but no Slater with it so he’ll remained in second place Rio waa just sitting out there he’s going to go into

The elimination round and we will see Jack Robinson and later into the round the 32 where we recede the field there but as expected the two former Champs out here easily making their way through the opening round yeah they absolutely had a pretty much a strangle hold on this hate Rio

Had a couple of moments but yeah Jack coming away with the win there 587 and a 64 but Kelly with the highest wave score of that heat what an impressive heat we got more action coming your way with we’ll be right back with a special guest stick around more of the Lexus Pipe Pro for my thoughts about the this shaper rankings I think more important than who who actually won it is that it happened and that it highlighted all of us all the board Builders and the and how hard it is to to consistently build boards for these Surfers I think the most

Significant noticing change of like just surviving Pipeline and then riding Pipeline and actually being in behind the curl of the wave you know it has to go back to the Brewer Jerry Lopez sort of era of the very early 7s with pulled in tails and down rails before that it

Was more like surviving pipeline like Phill Edwards and they’ve been like on to Jeff Hackman and some of those guys but really it was it was the Brewers and the lopezes who kind of colluded and started making those really narrow pin tails that and down rails it would hold

Onto the wall and allow you to control your speed and get behind the lip oh wonderful check in with last year’s Vista CT shaper rankings winner Matt B and the history of this place this place uh has watched surfing evolve throughout Generations but the One Thing

Remains the Same is still one of the most spectacular beautifully dangerous waves in the entire world as we look at Heat number four out in the water Griffin kapino up against his good friend Seth mun as well as the rockan Moroccan ramsy buayam in his first CT

Heat here at pipeline welcome back to the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti and I promise you a um special guest and I always want to deliver on my promises kper girl poliy palmenter as well as pipeline Pioneer relle Ballard thank you for joining us Rochelle yeah happy to be

Here what have you seen so far that’s impressed you today oh that last Heat was incredible the the start of it with Jack and Kelly was just you know awesome I love seeing those big gaping back door barrels of course when you see big back door barrels here you know do you get

Butterflies yourself because I mean You’ you were really one of the first female Surfers to really take a look at the back door really charge out here at pipeline how’s your feelings being back here personally I mean butterfly is like kind of magnify outside of your body

That’s how butterfly it gets yeah yeah and and and how would you how would you control that you know back you know back when you were in the lineup all the time how do you control that it’s it’s a you got to move through your fear right you

Know that’s that’s the most important thing is is being smart being aamai about like what you’re taking off on um and and believing in yourself and you know you got to like just head down and commit and go it’s either one or the other if you’re kind of on the fence

That’s when you’re like jumping from the top of the wave yeah yeah um you know today we’re going to have our men’s opening round our men’s elimination around women are called off for today but I anticipate this year for the women I want your opinion on it relle is that

We’re going to see more ground being broken more groundbreaking performances from the women because it seems like that happens every year oh 100% like I look at this next Generation I’m like there’s the Pipeline Masters you know it takes that it’s like it was I think gosh

I want to say you know when I was out there it’s been maybe like 15 years or something aside from like you know Moana and Carissa and coko and some of the girls that were here before it came back to Hawaii for events again um and then

For the girls to to step up it really took like well you got to now and so everyone is um you know put in that a little bit of a pressure cooker situation but I think it’s best for the sport because it’s the most well-rounded

That you can get to be able to Surf any type of wave and the best experience a surfer has is getting like a huge Shack and getting spat out so to me that’s the Pinnacle of Surfing and um being the best in the world yeah I’m looking forward to seeing Marley picklum and

Katie simmers and that whole crew Alysa Spencer soy Lim blad take a look we just have some minimal scores this may be the first meaningful score duck into a back door Barrel second section for Seth Mon Mon nicely threads that the Hawaiian why not go for an alleyoop as well unable to

Pull that as he lands pretty much in dry Reef but that will be the first meaningful score of this heat flick that was the way it just sort of kept on giving I mean sort of pulled into that first section I thought oh you know like

Not really that deep then here we go and another way Ramsey Ramsey pipeline the Moroccan Surfer in out skips out on the rail there does not get the Finish yeah that was an interesting way from Seth and then he pulled into that second section kind of threaded

Through that and then he was like you know what it’s not over yet I’m going to pop but another air here almost made it almost landed on dry Reef so few smallish numbers I’d say from two Surfers Griff yet to open his account sits out the back now with

Priority and a picture right there of uh not an easy P back out Rochelle no it’s always you know that inside section I actually went to go get coffee and I saw Moana and um we were talking about that inside Flat Rock if you don’t make it

You’re kind of you’re stuck in this here we go here’s another ride oh that’s the replay Seth he’s just incredible um but yeah it’s you know that inside you’re all of a sudden standing on dry reef and it’s mean Highd wow that was crazy I can’t believe he went for that there I mean relle how do you make the decision in that moment you know is there something that you do you look out the back do you look for sets do you you think oh okay I’m going to

Try punch it back out the back or do you always commit and always just do the paddle around you know there’s you have a split moment where you can make it out the back and if you see a set coming up in the horizon or if someone’s already

Like you know going on a back door wave you might as well just go around cuz you’re putting yourself in the Impact Zone and you can get more hurt in that position than anywhere else take a look at ramsy here flick from the water we’re waiting for this score yeah this was a

Nice nice opening wave from Ramsey and relatively deep there in the tube had to pump a couple of times comes flying out goes for sort of like a big layback hack but yeah sort of loses his footing there this is the angle I sort of wanted to

See because I this gives you the true sort of view of how deep he really was and from that angle you can see that his board fully disappeared which means he was actually quite deep right here there he goes for that layback snake just went a little bit High Way really bowled out

And yeah sort of an awkward Dismount so yeah we’re still waiting for that that score you you talked flick about you know Ramsey coming back right now in 2022 he uh finished fifth on the Challenger Series he qualified for last year’s championship tour but like you

Said it was tragic for him in the warm-ups up into this opening event at pipeline had an ankle injury took him out for the year yeah and I just for someone who has been trying for so many years to crack it on the world tour you know from the qualifying series to the

Challenger Series I mean that takes an incredible amount of resilience to go through a whole year like you finally make it and then and then you’re out and then you’ve got to try and come back I mean resilience is the first word that comes to mind it’s just incredible that

He’s finally here and finally getting his showing that he deserves yeah and uh so he did get the the injury replacement Wild Card will’ll see him in the first five events um here we go go live action on the tippy toes on the drop Griffin

Cola Pinto but it’s just going to be a drop for the San Clemente Surfer Ramsey Tippy Toe drop this time at pipeline at the front door makes a drop but that’s all that Ramsey’s going to get let’s get into it and hear from the last hit heat winner Jack Robinson

That’s right Jack the defending Champ here at pipeline starting 2024 off the same way here getting your very first Heat win what is it about this wave that you’re just able to establish a connection with it so quickly oo I don’t know I don’t know if there’s a how-to

For pipeline huh it’s uh and especially like when I was all fired up with our heat like me and Kelly I felt like and obviously Rio I all fired up so yeah it was a good heat had all the butterflies before the Heat and I was trying to let

Him fly but yeah it was like oh like just first heat again first everything first day so um yeah it’s good to be back how do you get rid of those sort of first day of the Season Jitters those butterflies and going against Kelly All in One

Heat I mean you just got to embrace it I feel like um yeah just enjoy it especially right now I have a baby I have a whole family here I got to enjoy every moment right so uh yeah you know like all the little things that are good they’re all like

I’m so happy and enjoying them so it’s like even if I get a bit nervous or anxious for the waves I still got to enjoy it because I have everyone here that’s you know it’s like the best thing in the world yeah I want to talk about

Baby Zen and Julia here rooting you on how has becoming a dad just shifted the way that you approach these Heats approach this season yeah it’s interesting I feel like uh you know it almost it’s just another level of life and I feel like you know I’ve got got an

Extra purpose obviously you can’t really tell anyone how it feels and they just got to do it and uh yeah I got that feeling right now so um yeah just enjoying every bit of it one of the things we were enjoying watching was that Arawa underneath your feet out

There walk us through what you uh what led to the decision to ride these boards in pipeline yeah I’ve always ritten Erics in Hawaii um you know and obviously I was on shies last minute and I got a bunch here too and obviously for the whole year but Eric’s like a family

Friend for many years ever since I was coming to Hawaii and you know when you just feeling it I was like Eric can I please can I have some boards please and he’s like okay and then we got some going and put some love on those things

So appreciate it Uncle Eric working out we’ll see you in the next round congratulations Jack thank you yeah Eric arakawa who was a you know really throughout Jack’s early career the supporter and shaper for Jack robins and he had those famous Moon Tales that he would get on those arakawa switched over

To Sharpie he looks like he has a mix in the quiver uh here in Hawaii now remember this season again the Vista CT shaper rankings is in play the points are accured for both men and women it starts at the quarterfinals now for someone like Jack Robinson riding both

Sharp eyes and Arawa it’s the heat that he loses out in on the board that is the board that’s going to count so we’re going to see if Sharpie is going to get Jack’s points or is if Eric arakawa the professor is going to get Jack’s

Points well I was having a little chat uh to Jack the other day and he was telling me exactly what he just said to AJ about how he’s you know wrode uh Eric boards for a long time and he told me that you know hasn’t just been this you

Know Hawaii season or last Hawaii season that he’s been sort of refining this quiver he’s been refining this Hawaii quiver since he’s been about 11 years old since when he first started coming here and one thing he told to Eric um before this season was hey I just want

These boards to go as fast as possible and you just do the rest you do the rest as long as they go fast I’ll figure it out um so yeah this is that’s the magic Source just as fast as possible yeah Eric a legend the first Shapers to

Really keep a catalog of measurements through all his Bo this is what happened to Griffin kapino kapino straightens out okay that wasn’t bad but what happened next is bad and that’s how the broken leash happened that’s how we saw Hawaiian water Patrol coming into activation there and that’s a pounding R

Shell that’s it that’s that section it’s like if it doesn’t carry you through further to kick out and then you’re able to get around kind of in the ANS area then you’re right in the Impact Zone Z especially if you’re kicking out exactly right there yeah Kyle po doing the grab

He’s in the Grabber position on the sled behind kamalani aoui second generation Hawaiian water Patrol his dad K malani driving the Red Bull jet ski actually was one of the founders of Hawaiian water Patrol and you can see Flick how how how choreographed these pickups are

W it isn’t their first first rodeo is it I mean these guys train and practice so much and that this is something the best water safety in the world and these guys have you know they they training all the time in this wave of consequence and I actually love that they’ve got that

Second guy on the back there ready to pick up Griff just in case if he was injured you know they got the second swimmer it’s it’s beautiful and they’ve done do it so well speaking of water let’s go out to the water with Strider walosi well you guys are talking about

All the action and all the poundings that are going down each one of these Surfers in this heat have been throttled Ramsay sucked over the falls backwards got sucked all the way through the inside just trying to get through those wash throughs uh oh we got a wash through coming my

Way and and we got Griffin having to redo his board and then we got Seth the cut on his nose from his wave so he’s you know that left that he went down on he actually took the board to the face and cut on his nose so you know all

Three of these Surfers just getting the you know going through the the washing machine and right now they just got caught Inside by another huge set so I mean it’s just non-stop out here at pipeline yeah we’re watching the Rin cycle right now Strider on the Live

Vision and there is no softener in this Rin cycle this is hard water pummeling down upon our Surfers yeah it’s been intense out here and you know what each surfer’s got that look in their eyes of you know when’s it going to get when am I going to get pounded because they know

They’re actually going to get pounded it’s inevitable out here at pipeline today there is no Real Clear Channel over here on the side where it’s usually nice and easy to hang out and report and it’s just intense action even the photographers saying how how fun it is

To see all the water moving cuz there’s no easy Road out here at pipeline today thank you Strider well we’re halfway through this heat and we’re going to step away for a sec the action is heating up day number one hey rookie debut Cole hman he’s going to be coming

Up in the next Heat we’ll see what the sanen surfer can Do don’t oh the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti is brought to you by Lexus experience amazing am by Yeti built for the Wild by Eventbrite onor off your board you’ve got plans with Eventbrite by szon bringing you the delicious powers of asai and by visa and Florence Marine X

Official Outfitters of the Lexus Pipe Pro welcome back to the opening day here e hukai Beach the site of Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti Ramy bam out in the lead over two great pipeline Surfers in the way of Seth Mon and Griffin Cola Pinto skyle along with lissy palmantier and pipeline Pioneer Rochelle Ballard calling the action

Here well we waited for a long time to have Ramsey’s debut here at Pipeline and looks like he’s stepping up right now flick yeah he is he’s obviously got that 583 that was for that one left which he got pretty deep in the tube there leading the heat but but you know what

He probably wouldn’t be feeling necessarily safe I’d say because Seth he’s locked in that 517 that was for that longer stretched out right went for that air on that last section and Griff really hasn’t got any scores on the board so as we see ramsy just come flying out of one at back

Door so I just think no one’s safe right now you know there’s still 10 minutes on the clock everyone sort of been through a big rinse cycle there’s been a lot of wobbly waves a lot of big sets coming through everyone’s no one’s probably feeling safe and I feel like we’re going

To see probably some things start to switch up in this last sort of 10 minutes about 10 and a half minutes right now Griffin Cola Pinto um waiting out there second priority of course his good friend Seth mon with first priority Ramy bayam is uh

In the lead here we go Seth with a little bit of a paddle Griffin on the shoulder and priority switches because of that that paddle what happened there little magician little smoke and mirrors Seth made enough of a head nudge it’s like offside made enough of a head Nodge

To stop Griffin from going on that wave you don’t get to keep priority uh when you when you do that little body Flinch and I think that’s an interesting point because I think it that’s there’s a difference uh when it comes to these sort of waves of

Consequence we see Seth but there’s a difference when it comes to these waves of consequence because you know you could if you even turn your head slightly that’s enough to stop someone from actually paddling into a wave versus something like a beach break you’ve actually got to make a considered

Effort right so or even some place like sunset or anything right yeah so even just that slight little look H creates that hesitation for Griff yeah Rosa I mean how how quick is the is the decision time between deciding to go and going out here at pipeline well

Especially today there’s a lot of teeps you know it’s really like pitchy and and and throwing um and so you have to get get under that lip quickly and you can see how it just Ledges over even with that like barreling kind of white wash

Foaming at it at the lip right so what happened there you see the wave it was a quality wave as well the priority judge we have an assigned priority judge upstairs he’s watching that he will flip that so we’ll have a screen here for the Surfers to see uh the priorities flip

But also the Surfers have the option of wearing an Apple Watch and that Apple watch will actually vibrate on your your wrist when you get priority so uh Griffin would get that vibration right there and say Hey you know the priority is gone to you that’s amazing yeah it’s just another tool sometimes

Hear the commentary like where’s the where’s the even priority discs like what’s happening M well Griffin with first priority uh and he needs just the 5.83 to take the lead right here again first a second move on into the next round let’s take a look at Griffin colapinto and his 2023 season four

Finals appearances just on one of those fours but we can look at the average placing in 2023 a 6.6 tied with Ethan Ying one on other Surfer has a better average than that and that is the 2023 World Champ Felipe too so colapinto coming off a

Banner season in last year but what he wants flick really and he’s within the grasp of it he was in the grasp it last year he wants to put his name in the game again is a world title oh 100% I you know what was really impressive for

Me last year was just he was just so consistent I mean he got that one win at Surf Ranch which was amazing but just if you look back through every single event I mean it was just seconds fifths you know four finals right incredible incredible consistency throughout the

Year and I I you know and then coming to finals at his home break uh at trestles you know he just would have wanted to convert there and I think he’s probably going to be coming into this new season 2024 just even hungrier than before you

Know yeah ended up third in the world Griffin Colin so the good news for Griff is he’s going to be on home court again if he’s able to make that final five the WL finals happen in September and that will happen once again at lower Trestle so relle Griffin’s going to have another

Chance to play on his home corn and that’s a decided Advantage definitely especially when you have um the whole Community behind you yeah that’s that backbone and support that feels so good yeah but he’s GNA have to get there and this is just the beginning of the road

Flick uh nine events on the championship tour this year we are going to have that mid-season cut again this year after event number five in your hometown Margaret River Western Australia uh so this is just a star of the road I I guess for most of these Surfers you

Would think the first step is make sure you make the cut before you start thinking final five for sure but if you were a surfer that made that final five last year I feel like you’ve probably already they might not be verbalizing it right now but I think that they’re

Already you know you know you conf they’ve got that expectation that hey I’m going to be making that final five again I performed so well last year let’s continue with that momentum so yeah I there’s certain Surfers on the tour that I think have already got their

Eyes on those events further down the year you know like the fij being back Cloud Breakers an event and looking forward to that and surfing that amazing wave once again not to mention on the way to that final five one of these Surfers both men and women are going to

Win an Olympic gold medal Griffin Kinto he will be in that Olympics when it DEC end upon Tao in Tahiti in July representing the US OFA and the US OFA when we look at the when we look at the framework relle of the tour this year we have so many American

Surfers on the championship tour I think the most ever that’s amazing and you know it takes a lot of work to get there and I I think that the you know the coaching and the mindset and the training and all that goes into it has uh created especially with the the

Olympics you know I think that was a big um motivator for everybody to just get the game started and and get get more into it instead of being spoiled by the industry Griffin Cola Pinto on a grinder and he grinds through that section grabbing the rail manipulating the board

Pumping up and down it wasn’t easy water it was a thick lip what about that wave wellow one word that comes to mind is like it’s not the nicest word but just throaty Barrel it was just so thick the lip how he came flying out of that section there was a

That drop was pretty intense too it was yeah that was incredible Strider what did you see really thick heavy just throttling barrel and went Griffin Cola Pito pulling in nice wave Griff he waited for that one it took him a while to get it but he got it and man

That thing lined up and everybody in the lineup all the photographers all the water Patrol just going look at this wave you can just see it coming Cole padding out watch the whole thing woo that was intense that was some great action that’s what we came for Griffin

Colapinto showing up yeah we’re watching the replay right now Strider and multiple angles really to appreciate how thick and gnarly that wave was that Griffin just uh got through there oh even just this takeoff and how low his center of gravity was How He adjusted when he hit

That little war ball it was it was so technical it was such a big barrel there was so many ribs in that Barrel that if you notice he’s kind of having to weave through those cords that are that’re um kind of wanting to bump him off of his

Board if you notice he’s up and then he goes down then he finally Rises to get out of it so that was just so beautifully served mhm when you hear Hoots from the water when you hear Hoots from the beach when you have that kind of

Reaction to a wave like this that spells excellent scores you’re looking at an 8.5 for Griffin Cola Pinto on that wave wow will that be will that be the cup noodle wave of the day we’re going to find out 805 post shows when we’re going to give that award by cup noodle

For the wave of the day in today’s competition it’s got my vote so far well it was for feeling yes but in terms of score Callum already has that higher score but feeling and just visually how that thing looked that was really really impressive I loved looking at that

Wave so with that effort Griff Griffin does go into second place not the first cuz he’s still holding a fractional score you can see it on the on the graphic he still is holding a fractional score in his score line but here’s a look at all the judges numbers relle one

Judge went as high as a nine well you know and you look at um that the big picture of it and for him to start at Pipeline and be able to Surf pipeline like that and to have trestles lowers as his home break that’s a big deal yeah it

Sure is and um he’s just got a wide range Griffin I I feel as a surfer that’s that’s where that’s what world Champs are made of with Surfers that have a a range in which they can perform at a variety of different breaks you can be Progressive but you can be brave at

The same time you can be a good technical Barrel Rider but you can be an a AAL list at the same time so his confidence level just like goes up another notch there’s a younger brother along uh Crosby Colin who’s joining his older brother on tour this year with

Their coach Tommy Whitaker with eyes on the water you know I think even like as a competitor if you’re going into an event you’re nervous because you um have a little bit of lack of experience or the ability to perform at that level where you’re thinking about the alternative

Situations that could happen that’s thrown out the door because he’s going out there and just going I just want to get shoted yeah you know and that and that confidence is what carries through like the nerves and and the his ability to perform is just going to be at the

Highest level yeah here another Vision here and we’re talking about Crosby kapino the younger brother of Griffin colapinto he’ll be coming up uh Heat number 11 of this opening round little brother is going to be up against Ian gentil and baron mamia meanwhile it’s Seth mon dropping into a funnel

Here in the foam the foam catches up with the youngest Mon and he almost comes out talk about putting in an effort that was amazing never giving up colapinto drops in wave tapers and and he’s just looking to chip away and just discard that fractional score to guarantee himself a second

Place and an advancement into the round of 32 wow I kind of thought that this might happen you know so much movement at the end of the heat uh we just saw there Ramsey’s last wave he’s put got him back up into first so Griff with only you

Know 9 8 76 seconds left yeah this is this is the story right here colapinto a 1.57 is enough to to take Griff to First Ramsey buam his inaugural surf here at pipeline he’s successful he’s into the round the 32 we’re going to see the local Hawaiian Seth mon in that

Elimination round as we take a look at all the numbers here thank you Michelle for joining us and the action is going to continue gang stay tuned thanks flick uh we’re going to bring in Joe Trel Laura en and another special guest when we return to the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti w e there’s no break there’s no break be careful easy None of my family served my dad was the first one really to start pushing me into waves at dhini I mean I’m a power Surfer and that’s where my Edge is we’re at 225 here Co is absolutely ripped shredded in these 220 lb at an elite level no one’s

Ever seen anything like it 2 1 dying it it’s too dark out to Dy my hair right now everyone call calls me Rodman approaching the tour this year is I get to Surf against the people that were kind of my Idols like Kelly Slater Gabriel Medina how how how now I get to

Do it with my best friends which is a bonus on top of everything journaling has been like a huge thing for me I have so much stuff going in my head surf train hang with the boys my biggest goal this year World title and final five right next to each

Other my name is Cole hman and I’m a rookie on the Championship tour so Cole hman so excited for his rookie debut right now looks like he’s into this one already The Rook getting into position and spit out of a barrel into the channel what a way to start your run

On the dream tour 6’3 225 I think the bio says 220 I just added 5 cuz he is just growing in front of our eyes thanks for being with us what a special day Joe Trel Laura en Molly pum joining us for the call today I surf for that finished in the WSL

Finals last year and excited for another year on tour Molly how good is this waves are firing sun’s out is this one of the best days you’ve had since you’ve been on the NorthShore since you came back for sure I mean today you can feel the energy of everyone and firstly I

Mean I’m so happy to be here with you guys it’s the best ever but yeah I mean the waves are absolutely firing and I’m it’s just such a good day to be sitting on the couch and watching or here on the beach watching it’s amazing yeah so cool

Laura to see someone like Cole hman start off with a wave like that I’m kind of buzzing for him you know when we have so much buildup and but then you learn what it’s like to have hype on you because you’ve won the Challenger Series you almost feel like the leader of the

Pack in away his confidence is proving to be really solid when you start off a Heat against a veteran like like Ethan Ying like that absolutely I mean you couldn’t ask for a better way to uh break into the world tour and I mean this year’s rookie class is so exciting

Uh obviously all those S manyi boys out here and look at into a paddle battle kashman up against Jackson bunch here a uh Young Gun peddle battle yeah how cool is this Jackson bunch in the event as a wild card representing the Hawaiian islands and these guys not wasting any

Time to battle for second priority never underestimate the small guy but damn Cole’s a big guy must be hard to beat him let’s see what just happened here so this was what Jackson Bunch just did Laura oh traveling for a long time there Jackson Bunch but unfortunately not

Squeaking out there at the end here Cole looking right behind him let’s see what he does taking off sliding under but uh straightening out there good read from Ethan too to leave that one that was a good read Ethan’s so smart these days well he always has been a good

Competitor but I feel like at the moment he’s just so in tune with like decisions in hat the idea of like reading the ocean well like you said they’re a good leave you know talk about that at Pipeline and back door what goes into actually knowing when to go and knowing

When to Hold Your Position out the back I think I mean when we say good leave it’s like a good choice not to take off on the wave and um I guess out there you’ve really got to pick your moments and really um make sure and be careful

Because sometimes some waves can be very dangerous and um yeah I mean you got to leave a lot of waves as well as try on a lot of waves but um yeah out there you’ve really got to pick and choose just because it is so dangerous and also

There is the best waves of your life out there Molly talk us through that feeling I mean you know you’ve only been surfing Hye for you know the last sort of 5 years but really getting into it the last couple of years uh and just you’ve excelled out there and know one events

And you’re just doing amazing so uh how how is it though when you get out the back and and there’s no crowd there anymore it’s just you and another girl what are those feelings yeah thank you and um I mean it’s still so new like every opportunity I get out there with

Just a few girls it’s I think they’re the bigger opportunities I like to capitalize on because you can breathe out there you can watch waves come in you can learn a lot quicker than a normal session out there um so yeah I mean it’s really special and I’m still

Not completely used to being in the rash yet there cuz it’s just so foreign without a thousand people trying to paddle into your wave and just trying to line up with the right palm tree really yeah exactly lining up the beautiful mountains in the palm trees I feel like

Everyone kind of uses the same lineup here we go it pretends that they’re not the same at the same time exactly you realize that yeah everyone keeps it top secret but loving this seat so far Cole Housman M got the first wave 583 Jackson Bunch 1.4 representing Maui

And man he’s been on a tear one at Holly Eva final at World Junior Champs in Oceanside saw him in the water recently and he’s on one of those rolls where he’s kind of Landing everything you can tell his confidence is through the roof amazing in the air committed in Hollow

Sections so a good opportunity for Jackson to really feel the shoes of that wild card story that’s always been around at pipeline I mean there’s been some devastating blows to the established guard by local wild cards for for good reason uh ever since you know the 70s really 100% local wild

Cards always come here and absolutely blow up and do damage and uh you know we’ve had local wild cards just uh really play Massive roles and even World titles and everything you know just being spoilers so you know here at pipe they’re really really dangerous they are

Pipe Specialists Ethan Ying in the red jersey what a hero he was last year after what we thought might have been a season ending injury warming up in Tahiti he somehow in Miracle fashion got himself back together not just to compete and show up at lowers but maybe

To turn in one of the best modernday power rail performances that we’ve ever seen ended up finishing runner up in the world so that’s our number two seed right there in red Ethan Y and strider’s pretty psyched about that was uh you’re looking great out there with the

Daylight hair is looking solid I’m I’m really impressed I know I was just I was just had to fix it we had duck dive another set that just came through we were just talking about what’s coming through this is probably one of the hardest days that you’re going to have

To Surf pipeline uh and you know when you know Molly in there talking about surfing out here in a heat this this place is absolutely unpredictable right now you’ve got backwash coming because the the beach is so steep you’ve got the these double up outside you know sets

Breaking on the second Reef that are pushing over so you’re doing all kinds of duck diving you got to look over your shoulder constantly because the W’s going to get you and then you got these waves that move in over the reef that look good but have a lump in them so you

Have to read the lump and anticipate what those waves are going to to do so there’s nothing easy about today it’s been it’s been nothing but Warrior mode for all these Surfers and watching everybody go through the rinse is pretty intense and fun to watch Strider Cole’s

Quick start did that surprise you at all not at all and you know what he just motorboated over the back of that wave and Ethan was trying to catch it and realizing there’s no way he’s going to get it and he did I didn’t think he was

Going to get it either but he just he’s so big and strong and powerful the way he paddles is impressive but then after the wave he was like man that felt really deep he like he had that look of intense and and Psych on his face he was

So pumped on that first wave and welcome to the T Co welcome to the T Co that is impressive thank you w Cole hman dominating last year on The Challengers series winning that title as uh it was really quick and you know going back to to March last year first qualifying

Series win that was a Qs 3000 you know couple weeks later finds out that he’s officially qualified for the Challenger Series and then he was able to go back to back he he actually had a tough loss at Snapper but then north naring thank you Laura for hosting everybody it was

Pumping bombing Jacob Wilcox in that final and Cole proved that it wasn’t just the conditions on Laura’s home court it was actually his momentum and confidence when he wins bedo the next week yeah Naran was the first event that I’d actually ever seen Cole compete in

And I think the last time I’d seen him he was like a little Grom like way shorter than me and then I just couldn’t believe how how much he’ grown felt like overnight over year and come back obviously made the Challenger Series and was just dropping excellent scores every

Single hit at Naran and just went on and I think that was when the world went oh well Cole is here and he’s ready to go and back into bedo next next event and that was an amazing run gosh what a run Cole in the lead right now and from the

Same town and probably a mentor to Cole is Griffin Co lento certainly tapped into the source AJ he certainly did Joe the S Clement many crew getting ready with kryp and kapino the first one in the water today to make it through when your heat Griff you’ve been through it

In the off season coming off of the torn lab room had surgery at the beginning of the offseason just got in the water a month ago how have you prepared for your first heat pretty much just a lot of physical therapy and a lot of uh just

Being with myself and you know not really not getting to Surf which takes up a lot of my days usually so I have a lot of free time had a lot of free time and uh just try to use that wisely and you know go deep and you know hang out

With my close friends and do different things and yeah it’s all really fun I just really want to thank I guess uh Dr Kramer and uh terara from modus they they helped me so much like Kramer did my surgery and and Tera really helped me a lot like push me in the physical

Therapy so that feels really good and I’m feeling strong now and you know the barrels actually feel better than turns I’m I’m still about like 80 90% on my turns but like in the barrel feels the best so luckily the first event’s pipe and yeah that’s where I’m at and I saw

You did get some time out here at pipe how did you put that into uh this the strategy here this morning to get your first Heat win uh just I don’t know just try to like stay calm and last year I had a really bad

Event here and so I just kind of tried to remember and do the opposite of everything I did last year and funny enough the start of that heat I was like oh my gosh I’m doing exactly what I did last year just like went on a bad wave

Was letting waves go just I get this thing when I pile out here I just get so excited when the waves are good I just like want the the very best wave and I and I get a little indecisive on like what waves to pick and um and so that

Started at the beginning and then I kind of there’s only like 6 minutes left at the end there and I think I just was like okay just go to like where you know on the reef like your favorite part of the reef just go there and like right

When I did that that good one came and I got it oh I just felt so good it’s so good to see you back in the water and thriving now your job is done Crosby’s coming up are you more nervous to watch his heat or were you more nervous to

Paddle out for your own um I’ll probably be more nervous to watch him for sure yeah it’s really I mean all these rounds are super important so uh I would love to see him get a good wave and this is yeah his first time or his second time

Serving heat out here but last time the waves were bad so yeah I’m super excited for him and then um I just want to give a shout out to Red Bull for I well Oakley and Red Bull Oakley made this new helmet I was wearing in that heat and uh

And it got it just got finished and we just got him and and usually Red Bull owns our head so we have to have Red Bull logos all over it but we didn’t have time to do it and they still let me wear the helmet so super thankful for

That and uh feeling safe good we love to hear it Griffin congratulations we’ll see you in the next round all right thank you well done Griffin Cino gosh it’s it’s fun to just to tap into his mind a little bit and what he’s been thinking about how vulner able he’s been

Able to be to the world you know when he started posting his journal entries and talking about doubt and really fulfilling his dreams you know for Griff he actually kind of took a lot of his friends on this trip to Florida in the off season this guy named do Joe

Dispenza it was this uh crazy Retreat where you go deep into meditation he brought Crosby you know Seth monice went on this trip uh got a lot of guys jet Shilling many more and it’s a taught him so much belief in what you can control and he’s kind of leading the charge uh

With the entire s Clen crew some of the Surfers from Hawaii as well but he’s going deep and now he’s taking that other role it’s it’s it’s not just about him now you know more specifically it’s going to be his younger brother Crosby as well he’s going to be looking out for

Molly yeah I think I mean Griffin and the S CL manyy boys the journey they’re on is so interesting I think surfing prior to them was very maybe not shallow but um um in today’s terms I guess shallow and then now these guys are really deep into their mind trying to

Figure out just any Edge on their competitor and um I think these guys have found comfortability and belief in going down that journey and just being like vulnerable and um I think I guess the whole deal with it is just so you don’t feel like you’re hiding anything

If you don’t feel like you’re hiding anything then maybe you can walk confidently because there’s no secrets for other people to piik at you the boss Felipe he’s such a boss what’s he looking at Laura oh he’s looking at this Jackson bun taking off looking like he’s

Just going to be up and out missing out on the tube right but yeah too studying the conditions the rainning World Champ who’s just gone back to back as Samuel poopo and a wild card from the NorthShore vahu named Shion Crawford coming up next all lies on to

To set the pace for the tour and that’s what happens when you wear bright yellow you know what that’s like B yeah I think I don’t know what it’s like to wear pipe though I mean I want to know what it’s like there we go that

Means I would have won the world title well how’s these waves but yeah I think um yellow Jersey Felipe is so used to that he probably doesn’t even know what color he’s in he’s just cruising Laura feels like he’s kind of entered a new era of his life of confidence of

Established uh how he’s established himself as a world champion as we have this glorious view from the sky these are the world famous homes on the beach at pipeline you see the tent there that’s where we are you can actually see the sand is Shifting so much today when

We got down here this morning there’s uh the beach is a lot shorter there’s that Big Cliff drop off that you can see in the bottom of the screen but uh as this SWR pushes in it’s uh trying to push away that sand which is is obviously

Better better but uh yeah back to Felipe I feel like you know his speech the other night at the WSL Awards was so amazing just he reiterates how just just how hard he worked to get to where he was 10 years it took him to get World

Titled number one and the first to go back to back and win two in a row so that was uh I just love hearing what he has to say and um you know he’s such a family man and it’s uh yeah really cool to see his Evolution and I mean even

Sitting next to you right now Molly you like you’re only on year three and you seem like you’ve just grown up so much you feel like you have seems like you haven’t had a red W today yet either you’re very calm and controlled micro

Keeping a lid on it no I think um yeah this year being my third year obviously I had the half year the first year so last year felt like my first four year um but I don’t know it’s just like you just grow with like you grow in the

Jersey you grow with the sport and um I definitely feel different again this year I think I’m way more settled and just confident to put my energy into where I want to and like I guess too when you come straight on you’re just so excited and there’s so much to like

Watch and enjoy like oh my God like capitalize on all these cool moments but then just trust that you’re going to be here for a few years and like not try and take it all and experience it all in one year um so now I feel like third

Year coming on it’s I feel a bit more at ease to um know that I’ll hopefully have some more time to just take it in I don’t need to like watch and see everything and be a part of everything Ling our time with Molly Pam she’s going

To hang out with us for this entire heat but we’re going to take a bons soy Brew break back with heat number five where the rookie Cole hman still out in front 583 for his first wave on tour E for e good morning everybody it’s time for the pulse if you’re just joining us or you want to refresh your memory of what happened so far we had young Kade Manson The 21-year-old from s CL many sandy net getting stuck and providing the heaviest

Wipe out of the morning and this was in the opening round ouch he popped right up out the back and shook it off but he’ll be in the elimination round then we saw on heat number two Medina dropping in on Callum Robson this was just a block cuz Callum was already

Getting on a roll then Medina packed this one lot of foam on the face turned in an 8.33 had himself in the lead but CeX wanted more the Aussie almost slid out then got puffed out of a nine back to first place kept on swinging Callum

Robson the underdog in that that he gets a big win to kick off 2024 as he’s into the round of 32 and then oh yeah goat stuff started happening Slater Jack together with Rio waa Slater going back door turning a 717 on this one looking healthy the 51-year-old looking for a

Ninth pipe title this year but it was all about Jack Robinson taking control 6.4 Jack getting the win Slater advance in on in second into the round of 32 and wa going to the elimination round thanks for watching the paul action continues now with the opening round Heat number

Five with 8:15 on the clock Joe Trel Laura an and Molly picklum here for the call is interesting Molly since you’re in the same crew with Rio WEA and the coaching of Glenn micro Hall uh for the debrief for for Rio would you kind of be

Included in that to kind of learn like the mistakes or things that Rio might have done right or wrong yeah for sure I think that’s a special thing about having like a group and a bit of a team you get to learn from each other’s experiences and um yeah I think Rio he

Just got a little bit too selective potentially and not like enjoying the whole of Pipeline and um ANS bowl and all sorts of waves out there I think it he just got caught a bit too far out or a bit too far in at times so um yeah I

Think I wasn’t obviously right there when Glenn and Rio were talking but I think the whole gist of that heat was just to find some opportunity because even the boys they weren’t on like the most perfect waves they just made waves work so um I think that’s kind of you

Just got to find your moments that you can out there really love that do you have a favorite on the men’s side of who you like to watch and do you have purpose in a day when you know you’re off for the day on how many Heats you do

Want to obsorb and what kind of energy you want to get from them I guess on the men’s I mean they’re all s incredible but particularly John I think he’s obviously Kelly watching how well he knows that reef is pretty cool and um Griffin there’s so many of the

Boys that I watch technically too like trying to learn how to slow down in such big waves it’s important to get scores and then I think for the rest of the day it’s just like live it like another day um of course enjoy the excitement like it’s such a beautiful day there’s good

Waves and good Surfers so of course I’ll take the time to watch and learn today but I’ll probably go for a surf at sunset or h e or and then maybe even a late late one but we’ll see just try and Dodge a crowd conserve some energy for

Tomorrow when we have no crowd and just barrels live in the dream live in the dream that’s what we’re doing right now we live in yeah as we see waves setting up now pulling in quickly under the hood not getting super deep Ethan Ying as we know Ethan Ying world famous for maybe

The best rail game on tour pretty easy to say that sentence I’d say this would be an area that he wants to improve on you know unfortunately he got injured injured going to Tahiti early but that was I think what was on his mind getting there early getting some good ones

Unfortunately he got hurt but here at pipe and back door he’s made some Heats but he’s still waiting to get added into that category of favorites into an event like this yeah and I know a big part of Ethan’s off season after the WSL finals

I mean firstly he turned up at the WSL finals without even knowing if he was going to be able to serve and then went out to lowers had some amazing looking DHD boards and was just absolutely on fire whatever he was doing in the gym in

His physio it worked because he was he was on and then you know after the finals uh after the second runner up Place uh he went home and then got to go to Tahiti and get the monkey off the B you know he got injured there as we look

At this way for Ethan swoops in late just comes back doors that one super nice spat out the end there and uh yeah just that would feel really nice with 5 minutes to go he hasn’t had a lot this heat so he was very selective at the

Start but then he’s been able to find this J just really seems like he might have even been uh under priority there so he’d be feeling really good about this right now but yeah as I was saying he got the monkey off the bat going to

Toiti there was a big late season swell there in October and uh I know that he just felt that you know that confidence again you know after having breaking your back at one of those waves and then just know you want to get back there and

Just you know as a surfer feel like you can find your confidence and you grou again for sure and speaking of that trip surfing Australia so I was forunate yeah I was fortunate enough to be there and speak to Ethan and kind of realize too

That they are human they do take off and they do these crazy things but they fight the same emotions that we all fight it’s just amazing and even more inspiring when you realize that that they’re like fighting the same like oh this is scary and like they have that

Trauma like he was saying there was we were out it was like 3 4ot and it was scary and for him it would have been a walk in the park any other day but that Trauma from just falling on a wave and hitting the bottom knowing that it can

Happen on any size here we see Jackson Bunch trying to make his way back into the seat Jackson just quickly up and out we yeah great Insight Molly you know just on that turnaround mentally you know getting back on the horse so to speak and and proving to your mind that

You can pull it off again we’re going to see Cole hman big takeoff putting him way behind but he catches up to it not able to get shacked on that one and Cole will have to step off hman still second Jackson Bunch still in third and Ethan out in front getting that

6.33 another great thing about Ethan his style doesn’t change if he’s in Hollow waves if he’s in 20 foot waves two foot waves he is always so easy to watch as we see Cole ejecting there well I speaking to DAR Handley back to uh Ethan uh he has brought over here 22 new

Boards 12 were here from last year additional on top of that he’s got three of everything cuz I was asking DHD I was like so what’s uh what’s Ean going to be r riding today so he’s either on a 64 or 66 sweet spot and I was like well is at

Heavier glass he goes no he’s got three of them uh 22 boards new ones and uh yeah so wait what’s that total of 34 quick M I didn’t fin how many did you get Molly yeah yeah not 22 new ones no honestly we’re so fortunate to

Have Darren I mean he takes care of us and at the end of the day he’s always telling us like a week before we’re leaving if you need more boards like let me know we’ll get them sort um so we’re super fortunate and then I think Ethan might have been more

Prepared than me even and being like yep I’m getting 22 boards there I mean for Darren can’t surf for a whole week cuz he shaping those scenes it was kind of heavy I was I saw Darren Darren Hanley and Brit mer having a conversation on my

Break I walked right up to him and they just stopped talking really fast do that happen to you guys oh yeah I think I’ve uh lost the trust of a few people they’ll tell me one thing I’m like that’s great nugget the commentary and they’re like damn it I know they just

Buttoned up real fast so I’ll I’m going to stay on it you guys I’m going to try to figure out what they were talking about some secret stuff probably for the year as we have a minute 50 on the clock Ying out front 633 and a 2.0 I caught up

With Parco yesterday a winner out here A World Champ he was just noticing the form of Ethan and really in his entire career he notices how he just consistently improves and even after the injury from Tahiti and missing all that time he showed up at lowers and he was

Better so he’s just going if he can start off strong at pipe and continue that theme this year after finishing runner up in the world it’s it’s a guarantee for a world title in his mind so I think that level that he keeps noticing you know with a world title eye

World champion type eye from Parco that’s got to be a pretty special thing to witness and and then even better for Ethan to feel as he’s locked into this one pulls in under the hood great positioning for ying and the man from Strat he goes down right when I thought

He was coming out that’ll keep that backup score it’s like such a fun line too when you’re like trying to come out and you want to stay real high but then you end up too high and you get over so close he drops to the back of the line for Priority First priorities

With Jackson bunch and this is where wild cards are really scary when they only need a 564 let’s take another look Laura what happened here nice and de he can see he was just trying to as went Army there just go as high as he could but it just

Pinched and uh did not want to let him come out there but so smooth love that beautiful line that he took and yeah you can see he tried to go up and uh just bust his way through that but so stylish too yeah yeah everything he does is just

So polished that’s that’s Ethan I wonder how hard he actually tries to be like as a keep you know when everyone’s like trying to create their style oh my he’s an opportunity for the boys 4 seconds to go this is the moment for Jackson Bunch pulls in bonus section wow and he looks

Towards the crowd these are those opportunities for wild cards to show the world with they’re made of and Jackson Bunch delivers at the buzzer only chasing a 5.64 that was from Kell Kelly Slater es 2 seconds left what a bomb Jackson bunch I mean put your money on

It that’s going to be the 5.64 what a way to round out your first ever CT heater pipe in a heat where you didn’t have much how about this one Molly this is incredible the line he had to take to make this I mean that just proves the

Wild Card why they’re so scary they know how to ride a barrel especially here in Hawaii good on here Jackson works hard and he puts in his time out there and this is what the outcome of it is oh what an angle what a moment for him is

This his debut like first heat ever on tour yeah this is it Jackson Bunch getting the call up representing the Hawaii region look at the entry and how wide open this one was two crucial over the phone ball wow look at the numbers the Wild Card turns in an 8.77 on the

Buzzer incredible performance from third to First on an absolute bomb at pipeline well done Jackson punch Ethan y goes to Second and hman the rookie on tour will have to Surf again later on today in the elimination round what a special performance and always fun hanging out

With Molly picklum as we set up a brand new heat coming up next too is the headliner we’ll be right Back e turn the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti is brought to you by Lexus experience Amazing by bons soy official milk of the WSL and by Pacifico live life anchors Up welcome back to the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti look at this scene on the sand people were lining up in the dark for a good spot to watch the famous Jerry Lopez pipe house Herby fleeter as well we’re looking at that top floor watching the best waves and getting the

Best barrels as you look down the line a lot of the sponsors homes there and a lot of great fans have come come out for the opening day of competition just the third day of the waiting period for this event and it is just a glorious day one

Of the best days weather wives wave wives we’ve had in a very long time out here we’ve had some crazy Kona winds shredding the lineup lot of weather sun’s out and it’s firing we’re still just kind of settling a little bit after that buzzer beater from our wild card in Jackson

Bunch that was unbelievable especially in a place that you know you haven’t been to before on tour you’re just a wild card all you want to do is show the world what you’ve got and he did that Jackson is hanging out with AJ Jackson certainly putting the world on notice today with the

Buzzer beating win to start your pipeline competition coming in as the Wild Card how did you want to approach this heat I mean I’m just kind of here to have fun obviously to win it is the goal but to get to Surf pipe with three

Guys out it’s a blast we could see you having a blast especially on that 8.77 at the buzzer what did you see on that wave and did you have any idea if it was going to count or not when he started paddling I mean I surfed a

Pretty bad heat the waves were not going my way I didn’t have Priority One Time the entire heat and I just knew that there was 30 seconds left when Ethan was going on his wave and I seen the next wave and I was going no matter what if I

Was too deep or I just had to give it a try and I made it and I’m I’m psyching as you should be the crowd psyching to being from Maui what does it mean to you to get to Surf this competition in Hawaii it for coming from Hawaii this is

Like every little kid’s dream Every Little surfer’s Dream and to finally be here and surfing it it’s pretty awesome and hopefully I’m here as on tour instead of a wild card next year you’re offer Good Start Jackson congratulations we’ll see you in the next round and now

We’re going to send it out to Strider in the water who can give us more an in-depth feel of what it feels like to be out at pipeline today Strider uh it feels amazing and to watch somebody like Jackson Bunch get a wave like that on the buzzer it was pretty intense the

Wave was heavy but look at this thing oh Shion Crawford oh my gosh that was Heavy that wave was so thick and gnarly I just looked over my shoulder and just saw him falling out of the sky met with the lip it is just nothing but nuts out here and

He just popped up wow helmet’s on it’s on this is intense in the water today you got glory and then you got just defeat right there getting pounded but he’ll get back on the horse and get back out in the lineup goodness gracious Strider that was Radical Shion Crawford

Picking himself back up you know this wild card call up means a lot to him it’s definitely feeding off of Jackson bunch he wants to do the exact same thing I think that he became world famous for the damage he’s put down on his home break at haliva in the

Challenger Series but now this is a great opportunity to show the world what he can do at pipeing back door against not just the world’s best but the the reigning world champion along with Samuel pooper who had a lot of success in his rookie year Laura yes Sammy did

First ever C te here at Pipeline and he uh got fifth place what a finals with his brother Miguel as well and so uh he really started off that year with an absolute bang incredible rookie performance and uh it’s amazing to see Sammi back here on tour but let’s have a

Look at uh this absolute bomb to off the heat through the cycle just snuck under that one but unfortunately just hair too deep and didn’t have any projection off the bottom to push through that just bottom dropped out and uh so wild seeing how crazy that takeoff can be when

You’re willing to be weightless and taking off that late but you have just such a small room for error and to re-engage that Rail and it looks like Shion was just fishing to really engage that Hillside rail so he could make that pit what an effort though yeah I think

It’s incredible I think too when you’re paddling into waves like that you saw there was like a slight moment where he was getting to his feet where you kind of see the top guys out there continue to paddle to get down it a little bit more so there’s a little less to air

Drop down um but I mean he did a really good effort I think two out here once you committed to the wave I think you’re best to commit to at least try and get under the lip and away from the direct impact into the ground into the Rock um but

Yeah it was a good effort to at least get under that well done to and what a moment for Felipe too accomplishing a lot in his career and congratulations Felipe joining The 100 Club your 100th career CT event right here at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by yeti in 100 events

He’s accomplished two World titles backto back as he’s still the reigning world champion 15 Championship tour wins that very first one 2015 at Snapper which uh changed everything he won three events that year now 15 total along with two World titles ended up having a great season last year

As well with sunset Al Salvador another clinic at Jeff’s Bay let alone what he does at the WSL finals for that second title and calls that heat with Ethan buing one of the best he’s ever had on tour late drop again Shion locks this one in under the

Hood and the spit and that clampy section ends up taking him down but a lot more control it probably felt good after a wipe out like that just to catch away very quickly so funny I swear I’m known for that like get out there go a wave get

Absolutely flogged and then get back on the horse and try again nothing better than starting your heat with an absolute bang and know that wave obviously could have worked out to be an excellent score if he had been able to get into that and make it but uh

Yeah back on the horse again slid into that one obviously no scores on the board yet but just kind of nice to rinse it off yeah it’s cool to see Shion just getting a couple of waves quickly I mean after a big wipe out like that Strider I mean

How important is it to to make sure you can catch another way very quickly well you know it was interesting you paddled back out and he just said hey I am so stoked I got that out of the way so getting pounded like that you really do you get the butterflies taken completely

Ripped out of you you come up you’re still alive you got a bunch of adrenaline and then you’re ready to go you can see how settled he looked on his on his next wave which you can see the butterflies were gone he’s ready to to

Play the game so it’s going to be a fun one for him to finish out out here at pipeline I’m actually really excited to watch too send it I want to see this guy start packing some bombs out here at pipeline he’s a World Champ he’s got it

In him let’s go strer where is Felipe positioned at the moment he’s on the shoulder of the left which means he’s staring down the right basically it was the same position that that Kelly Slater took when he ped out he got in the lineup and he was sitting there looking

For those right handers which is kind of more to the shoulder on the right on the left of pipeline so it looks like he’s out of position for pipe but he’s actually in position for back door good man Strider thanks for the inside Felipe too’s actually come close to a Ted back

Door it was in a world title Year too before he was a World Champ got clipped right at the end but it would have been unbelievable he has had those perfect numbers out here so he’s identified a part of the reef that he really wants to

Sit on today yeah there was that one stat at the bottom of uh that stat deck of of Felipe and uh 13 career 10-point rides how is that this this man can do some wild wild things out in the ocean and I think the majority of those are in

Finals which is really crazy when you talk about momentum and not peeking to early he gets in a roll of confidence and then he basically can bulldo the field as we we see an opportunity just go through the lineup interesting with wave selection Molly even if you’re not in first

Priority what kind of options you might have waves that no one’s looking at yeah I was stok you st of that question about the positioning cuz it’s so true it’s really important I think what priority or what situation you’re in for where you want to sit on the reef and

Obviously Shon here is just sitting underneath just wants to get any waves that those boys may miss from the inside there but um yeah It’s actually an interest oh here we go maybe Felipe beautiful view from the beach here and an opportunity setting up for Samuel poopo extending the bottom turn

Still traveling and poopo gets to enjoy the sunshine after his first wave is completed the 2024 season Samuel wow what a run he had last year ended up falling off tour which was heartbreaking came back to Snapper and all of a sudden was getting chaired up

The beach for a big win on The Challenger Series then the craziest thing happened he like couldn’t make a heat totally he he was doing a lot of things he got the wild card for socer M on the CT and had to show up late to

Bito Lost first round we’ll get back to that how about this first wave Laura yeah just a smaller one here at back door and uh just a nice one long just got to thread through that one and uh just kick out right before that close out but yeah look Felipe looking as well

And wonder who had priority there I think it was neutral priority to no one I think Felipe maybe saw it was going to go a little army thought yeah you go somewhere I’ll wait for a Big Hollow pip well not a bad call I mean Sammy poo

Looks like it’s going to come in around that mid-range score but uh it’s going be best best score of the hit so far I’d take that at the start of heat feels nice not bad at all Samuel poopo turned in that quarter final as a rookie and

Prove to himself that he can compete in pipeline numbers in 567 takes the lead she on to Second and Felipe still waiting with priorities we say hi to our friend again Jesse Mendes who’s in the Red Bull athlet Zone how’s your view from where you’re watching Jesse oh it

Looks amazing here the sun came out blue skies waves are pumping and talking about semi I was just wanted to give a little equip um update for you guys he’s riding a 65 which is the same length of board that Matt mcgil wrote In first heat so everyone’s probably in that

Range you’re probably going to have a few taller guys that will ride a little bit bigger two in bigger maybe three and a few guys that likes to get under the ledge and ride those smaller boards maybe a 6’2 but You’ most likely be in

That average of a 65 today so yeah just wanted to give you guys a little update on that good man thank you Jesse 6 point 65 has kind of been a magic number we’ve been hearing downstairs from a number of the competitors uh which kind of just shows

You how intense it is out there there’s so many guys that are willing to ride much shorter equipment but the demand for some length of pipeing back door is really evident today absolutely I mean I know yeah like the likes of John John and baram Mia they they always seem to

Ride around the 61 62 no matter how big it really gets and uh like Jesse said that’s because they love to get know in closer under it and uh you know feel comfortable taking those extreme drops uh but yeah most people that I’ve spoken to today like Jesse said around that 65

Swe but Molly did you get a surf this morning out there or did you yeah I went early I took a 66 I actually went Peach black so I was going a bit blind this morning um but I’m glad I just picked up my biggest board I have and

Unfortunately I actually creased it on my way in so I’m 166 short but hopefully well I know who’s got a lot of sixes Ethan I might have to get that guy up literally there was a lot of you out there this morning there was a lot of us

Yeah there was so many people it was wild to yeah going to be first one out there get down the beach I paddle out with like 10 people at the same time and we got out there sitting a little wide cuz we couldn’t see a thing it was like first

Lights at 650 here and I got out there at 6:35 head torch Red Bull Head torch next year on the helmet imagine exactly wow it was Peach black as we see this one setting up Shion Crawford a back door gets blown out of the pit he

Earned every bit of that one wow had a wipe out to kick things off looking pipe got clipped on his second effort and now his first make he can tell this man wants it he’s charging he doesn’t even have to wear a shirt to the WSL Awards he didn’t in

Fact just the suit let the rig breathe a little bit you know that is Iconic I absolutely love that did you see that we had everything look at this this is an absolute teee back door a bit wider almost at a section and went so umy but he snuck through

Still spat him out three times a charm this is his third wave and look he separated himself from Felipe over there and I’m sure Felipe look he’s watching out the back just going damn where was I for that that could hurt to hear this number come through Lee halfway through

The heat hasn’t stood up what do you think on this one Mary this opened up so much here he must have just been standing there going oh yeah and then but then it got a bit sketchy yeah he got clamped there but he went high and stood strong bulldogged out of there

Pipeline I mean back door letting him out there he’s got to be stoked though like again first heat CT getting spat out of B I love these dangerous wild cards they they main business oh yeah and they take every bit of this seriously even though he’s a wild card

He’s well prepared just like you’d be at any event around the world Crawford throwing down an eight-point ride so we’ve got some wild cards showing up this morning Jackson Bunch stole the show on the last effort to get the win in the previous heat now it’s up to

Shion to go back to back Crawford working with the famous Chris Gallagher G’s been in some great Heats out here in the past made the finals day at pipeline famous for coaching Baron to that wild card win a couple years ago and gosh many more he’s been coaching

For decades as we see a nice drop into the pit for Samuel poopo throwing down a back can’t hook off the top looks like he’s going to frame it vertically and and have that beautiful Rhythm on that JS surfboard JS industry is making some great boards for Samuel poopo this

Year Molly for sure I like that he’s going to turns too like you saw I feel like some people needing one or two Point rides getting through so it’s like just add those half a points another point and also I’m sure I’m I’m sure Sammy knows that uh Shion just did

Something special and uh at the moment all he needs to do is really put that pressure on Felipe who hasn’t who hasn’t actually caught a wave yet so 567 for Sammy right now believe they also letting him go on this a smaller wave but uh nice drop there short short Che

But come in at the 4.33 and yeah just a backup I wonder how Felipe is feeling like 12 minutes to go you got to need good waves now like total 10 10.5 going he definitely has done enough sitting probably for his Camp they probably want him to get started especially since

Samuel poopo did take advantage of the combination of turns and beautiful read into the inside of the pit there Laura yeah that was a really nice shaped wave on the inside obviously shorter but still he got that spit out and uh this would have felt nice you know just to

Get the Reps up and uh yeah the more he’s doing right now the more it’s going to really be getting on Felipe’s mind should I have pulled the trigger sooner should I have just gone a small wave uh you know sometimes having priority and holding it for so long can be a curse

And these are the things that Felipe is just going to have to be wiping out of his head and I’m sure he knows how to do it he’s a World Champ yeah I love watching Felipe in Barrel especially front side tubes you know when we typically see it in Big Hollow Beach

Breaks where he can go 100 miles an hour inside the pit and beat multiple sections seen him do it a back door as well and he can find the right one he’s looks like he’s just really dropping anchor and looking for a particular type of wave to really get started 10:45

Samuel poopo just took the lead off Shion Crawford though has the eight-point ride and just needs a two to get his lead back as the pressure builds on the reigning world champ and John John well he’s done this a lot surfing on his home break coming up next Minut it was a beautiful night for the Alexis WSL Awards these guys arriving in style as we had so many great speeches from our Champions some great Awards and it’s just great to see everybody all dressed up over at the Turtle Bay hosting the WSL Awards once again it was great to

Have Lexus on board giving everyone rides to this beautiful ceremony honoring the rookie class our Challenger Series champion and of course the wonderful cariss samore who got surprised actually didn’t think she’ have to get called up to the stage so big thanks to Lexis for putting on a

Great event and big thanks to Turtle Bay if you guys haven’t stayed there yet I highly recommend it it’s recently been completely redone there’s two slides that go into the pool as well and they’re fun for grown-ups too I’m down thank you so much that was cool ban what was your favorite part

About the Lexus w words beside being honored yourself Laura yeah I mean just you know seeing the world Champs get up there I think and and talk about their Journeys I I absolutely love it and you know everyone the rookies uh the Challenger Series winners uh the longboard World Champs it’s just so

Inspiring and amazing to see and hear everyone’s Journeys to the top cuz everyone has their own battles and and their own sacrifices and their own stories and so I think that’s just the most yeah special thing is just hearing that and just seeing her everyone obviously wants to thank and yeah so

It’s amazing did you have a favorite speech Molly I knew you were going to put me on the spot Joey yeah no but I felt I actually walked away of course you just so inspired exactly what Laura was saying but I thought everyone spoke pretty well um obviously there was a

Couple funny ones where the characters just came out but um all in all it was definitely like walked away going wow if I got to do a speech up there one day the pressure is on I Sierra cracked a great joke when she won her world jior title she was like

I’m up here doing my two favorite things saying a speech and wearing a dress that was good that was a good way to break the ice then Ian Gentile said he was rooting for Rio waa in the last event so he didn’t have to go up there and give

His speech but he was one of my favorites it was uh just from the heart right amount of humor emotion as well I love to Ian’s approach to his speech obviously getting Rookie of the Year and he highlighted here we go flee 630 to go

First wave of the season it’s just an up and out and that hurts waiting that long with first priority and it’s basically a throwaway score now you’re back you’re in the back of the line could uh if we could get an insight into what their heart rates were doing on their watch I

Feel like his might have just gone up a fair bit just going oh damn it that wasn’t that wasn’t how I was planning to do this so how would you break down what he’s done in this heat so far Molly I think he potentially had a strong plan

Um I saw as I looked over my shoulder saw his positioning it seemed he wanted back door a nice deep back St one and unfortunately that wave never Rose and um then he kind of adapted and went over to Pipe there amongst that break and I

Mean now he’s just trying to get the ball rolling I guess and obviously had a bit of a misread on that one but hey it’s pipe 5 minutes 30 to go there’s every chance you can get two waves like we’ve seen the goat do it is a

Replay yeah that wave just didn’t open up unfortunately for him and I think he was probably just hoping that would be you know a mid-range score even a four just to get himself back into it but it just didn’t do like what sami’s smaller one did earlier and and open up and and

Really sort of uh give him that opportunity so and this is the opportunity for Felipe Toledo to try to go for a crazy one you know he’s always been the king of high performance he’s always have to deal with critics saying that this is where he needs to improve and I think he

Looks at it as okay yes I can improve there and think if he does think if he becomes in that favorite list at pipeing back door and and you know in Tahiti thinking a cloud break when it’s really big I mean then he’d truly be unbeatable you know from

Start to finish but I love where his head’s at as a veteran he knows he’s comfortable in his own skin he loves his support crew but every time he paddles out it at pipe it’s that opportunity really you know to prove to even just to himself he doesn’t worry about maybe

Proving it to the world anymore like what he wants out of this wave yeah you don’t want to be paddling out in a heat trying to prove yourself to anyone else in the world you just want to just go out there and think think about yourself

And and do your best uh your best work but sometimes if you do have that exterior pressure then you know it comes creeping into your head but uh yeah hopefully he can just get the ball rolling and and finish off with a nice a nice ride here he’s a smart competitor

Too like here we’ve just seen him sell the Rookie of the wild card on a wave I mean not this one but the wave before he sold Shan on just a bad wave and got into paddle so that Felipe moves up in the priority I those are the little Wis

They’re the little WIS yeah and I feel like you’ve got to take them like take the little WIS with confidence still there’s like it’s not over till it’s over right here he goes Felipe really could put on a performance here yeah it’s true and there’s so much into what

Goes on it was fun catching up with to after he won his world title and he just knew the moment where he had Ethan you know he could see it on the look on his face that comes from a veteran that comes from a guy that’s surfing in his

100th event where there’s that little Art of War in between and his rhythm was on his side and you can see him right there Felipe trying to get into this heated Samuel poopo super deep at back door and ends up coming out great high line on the exit and throwing out the

Claims that he does plan sometimes before his heat starts and that was beautiful what a great read great execution I’m laughing only because I spoke to Samuel we had breakfast this morning together I’m staying in the rip kill house we’re so lucky and Samuel he

Was saying oh I I like to plan him but then I never get the time to so you probably saw there he paused and then he thought oh what was my claim again and he said I want to try and do this Spider-Man one and that was it see the

Frustration of Felipe there going that was the wave I wanted that would have you know this is going to be very high around see he paused then he remembers that’s what planning e Claims can accidentally do nice to know that he’s in the present moment of his of his

Surfing and then is like oh what am I going to do now to claim the Spidey senses were alert on this one Samuel poopo getting a Jem but those are the back door waves that Felipe loves and poopo taking advantage of having the higher priority to get this one that will

Definitely improve on a 433 and strengthen his lead over Shion Crawford just timed it beautifully it was like he spent exactly the right amount of time in that Barrel before it completely clamped that was a good raid Jerry exactly right wow love to hear about the claims

That youve planned Molly in just a second but I was catch up with Strider wusi wow Samuel just got a gem of way the back door was man Samuel is has proven himself out here at Big pipeline uh you know obviously Shion sending it

In and we saw that right off the bat I feel like that’s what too needs to do he’s got to just send it on a few so he gets those uh butterflies out of the stomach and kind of gets into the driver seat out here because at the moment you

Can see the hesitation he’s and he’s only looking to the to the right and I want to see him step up and serf pipeline the way that you know he’s got the talent he just got to get over that Fear Factor I mean Molly you you know

You you’ve had to do it you’ve come out here you’ve charged some sick waves uh you know obviously you know Laura has been out the back at out of reef charging those massive waves what is it what does he have to do to really get over that fear don’t ask me that’s a

Laura question she’s a maniac what do you do actually it’s such a good question cuz you’re a small like woman you’re not a big crazy like you know what I mean and I always paddle out there and and just see what happens and then yeah just have to let go and and

Just not think feel in the Moment Like You Do It pip like I can’t do what you do it no no no but like when you’re going for a wave when you’re paddling in are you thinking like don’t think just go commit paddle hard or are you like oh

I hope I don’t die but let’s try I mean I feel like my brain the way it works in waves is that it’s like the quietest it’s ever been but we’ll get back to that later 20 seconds to go here and what an absolutely cracking heat Felipe

One last shot just taking off here unfortunately a bit wide on this one and uh he’ll be um yeah he’ll be pretty bummed with this this heat first heat back 100th heat congratulations though fipe you are an absolute icon event that’s so crazy it’s surfing in all these events but yeah definitely

One he’s going to want to forget about quickly just had the five before that and he’s going to be in the elimination round later on today but I’m loving the topic that Molly and Laura were just breaking down the the mental game that’s a part of uh surfing slabs surfing

Shallow Reef surfing really big waves where you’re putting yourself in uncomfortable situations but let alone when it happens on tour when you have to put your head down and commit well done to samel poopo 13-point combined total moves on into the round of 32 along with Wild Card Shion Crawford John John’s

Coming up next with KY belly and Jake Marshall bringing kpo and Jesse for the Call we for back at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti Bonsai pipeline is the field of play today and one of the greats out there John John Florence kicking it off here skits off the bottom and just a pocket ride for John Florence a few points on the board he’s matched

Up against Kyle eelli Jake Marshall in this heat again welcome to the opening day of the 20124 world surf League Championship tour I’m KY girl along with former CT Surfer Jesse Lio Mendes what a start we have today and what a heat we have on hand right now I know it’s so

Impressive to wake up and see those conditions for the first day of the season that’s amazing and this is a stacked heat we had John former winner we have KY belly which loves conditions and Jake Marshall that is also not scared to throw himself under the ledge

So fun he ahead of us yeah it is the opening round right now so we’re going to have two of these three Surfers advancing straight into the round of 32 third place in these Heats go into the elimination round which we will likely see this afternoon 1.5 is a start for

John John Florence so nothing sign significant on the board as of yet Jesse yeah um I mean it looked like a great wave like he had a lot of size to it just a little cornery like not much wall in front of him so he wasn’t really able

To get deep inside the barrel but num just a warm-up ride for John and getting all the nerves off first um wave of the whole season so yeah taking it off so open priority right now between Kylee belly John John Florence the third priority he’s going to fish under that

Priority under the ledge in the barrel in the puka out of the bubble John John Florence just this is his backyard Jesse he just makes it look so easy even under priority getting like that yeah and there’s only a very few guys that are capable of doing that you

Know I know this is not going to be the biggest score ever but still something under priority everyone’s sitting down he’s um actually warming up and yeah getting some scores on the board and you never know how the the Heat’s going to turn out so it’s always great for you to

Have a few backups mostly when you got no priority and he’s looking for another wave you know we had the Kona win so let’s take a look at this one one more time just yeah just identifying that there was a potential of a backup score right there and just making us as much

As possible out of that wave like I mentioned nothing special but great ride right there for him um kind of late for that wave actually and able to just snuck in just before to hit um landed on his head check this out as he taken off

Still he was standing up on the board and the wave was already breaking on top of him so just shows a lot of um technical SK SKS from JN to being able to pull that off and this is just another way for him out here it’s like

He probably came out of that nothing special anyone else would be freaking out yeah normal human beings that would be a ride of a lifetime for John John probably just like huh whatever slouching on his way paddling back out 4.5 is a score for John John Florence yeah just schedule schedul

Pading out the back take a look and congratulations for John John Florence this is his 100th career event had two World titles eight eight event wins average Place uh 8.6 Heat winning percentage for his career 65% but you know what’s the impressive number down there 16 career 10o

Rides if he does that this year that would be 16 Yeti 110 Co coers stuffed with gear but celebrating John John Florence will’ll get into his numbers at pipe which are equally as impressive here we go kyoe belly right behind the current in the barrel spit comes out Kyle

Barely able not able to make an exit Jake Marshall wants his hand in it gets real high there for the exit so the N Surfer gets his first score on the board all right and that’s what made Kyle so um dangerous out here he’s so unpredictable he’s is able to identify

Good waves here and challenging waves and that was almost a huge score for K on the board to start the heat unfortunately right there he just went a little bit too much too high and yeah good effort though that was a great great RM wave as far as he went yeah Kye

Belly 30 years old on guadua Brazil we take a look here at Kyle’s ride and this is what happen you see him letting the rail go he just draw a perfect line right there but you’re going to see a right here he gets very deep he’s probably blind not seeing

Anything so he just goes just a little too high when the exit of that wave and actually there’s a second section Barrel so as soon as he’s coming out it feels like if the if the wave was finishing he would have been fine but he went in to

Another Barrel but he was like too high line and just got lipped and that was sketchy watching the end here and the wave just spinning off into a floater right there yeah I mean he’s been successful out here last two years Kyle’s made it to the semi-finals so you know talking in

Context of this event Kyle’s going to be a guy to watch because back toback semi-finals for Kyle belly uh the proofs in the pudding right there yes and also Kyle is not afraid to swing against jjun we’ve seen it before we’ve seen it before a few amazing Heats so this is

Definitely going to bring the best out of those two and we expect fireworks great point underground rivalry between Kye belly and John John Florence let’s celebrate Samuel poopo because he just took out a win here in his opening Heat at the championship tour AJ yes he did

Kypo Sammy I have to imagine it feels so good to be back here at pipeline after having to re-qualify for the CT what did you do coming off of that win at sakar to lock in your spot at second on the Challenger Series how did you prepare for this year’s championship tour to

Ensure the results were different uh yeah a lot a lot of things have been doing a lot differently than the other years um feel like this year is my first year that I’m really taking my whole life as a professional person and uh besides getting in water you know

Everything outside of water taking care of my healthy and uh my the way I uh eat and stuff so a lot of training uh right after sakurama you know we didn’t have a lot of time uh for us coming from the Challenger it was only two months I

Think till we got here uh so we just got right back to work and um stok to be back and that means thinking through every single aspect of Surfing here in pipeline including Molly telling us the claim you had planned ahead of time that you going to go Spiderman if you got a

Good one what did you like about that 7.33 uh yeah that’s funny it’s just I really like to keep my my preheats really calm and just relax you know talk to everyone and I was having breakfast with Molly and she was like oh what are

You going to do for a claim if you make a good wave I was like I want to bring back the Spider-Man one from Portugal and I always plan things but whenever I do the good wave I just forget about just so many emotions and this one was a

Little bit more more calm so I could remember the claim and do it um it wasn’t an amazing wave it wasn’t an excellent wave but I knew uh the score was going to be enough to probably make through that heat um Philip was having a

Hard one so I was like oh if this score comes in at a six or whatever seven I think I’ll be fine and that was more about the claim than the actual wave so fair enough brail uh Portuguese or englishu p all right congratulations what did what

Did Sammy say Jesse he was basically thanking all the support he gets um on the background the people that work that no one sees it so coaches trainers um nutritionists and all of that support from the family and after that he just mentioned hey i’ I’ve got the work done

And I hope hopefully this is going to lead you a great year for me yeah he was you know back on tour it was emotional over there in the last stop of the Challenger it was 2023 for Sammy poop his mom was there watching every single heat and he was isolated from everyone

Basically just hanging out with his older brother Miguel and Mom and that was a crew right there and he came through and I’m happy to see him back on the championship tour yeah and he was doing that just now here too he had Miguel in his Corner which oh we might

See John coming up here comes John John pulls in travels through the barrel over the fo ball spit John John comes out with the vapor and John John Florence as that as we expected it was just a matter of time it was just a matter of time perfect wave

Too like what a way to choose a wave um amazing potential of a good score on that wave he identified that select the wave went and also read it perfectly stri Strider out in the water what do we got yeah just a beautiful execution right there for John Florence but really

The the ocean telling the story The the conditions out here everything’s super smooth everything’s got like a good line on it and you can see there wasn’t a bunch of washers coming through so it was it was time for a good wave to come through and you know luckily or well the

Skill of lawence having priority during that wave you could see how perfect that cylinder was and how epic it was all the way through the end of that wave so you know right now we’re going to see some more really uh quality waves coming through as the conditions are absolutely

Butter out here just perfect check it out these replays in John John Florence just a master at the barrel when we talk about pipeline John John has the highest Heat winning percentage of everyone in this event 71% Heat winning percentage at pipeline for surfing like that just yeah and like

What’s impressive about this wave right here you’re going to see the spit coming out and what that does it makes you completely blind so basically for spit Split Second right there it was all about feeling like he had so many repetitions out here that he knows what

He has to do even if he’s not looking so it’s almost like he can do it in his sleep and just coming it up with a nice scarf just a little extra half a point right there for him this is going to be an excellent wave it sure is it’s 8.33

As we come out of the Replay for John John Florence John John goes to the lead Jake Marshall got away that was a crazy drop wow what a drop he had right there it it felt like he was not going to be able to stick it because you can

See the nose starting to get um touch the water but he was able to just muscle through it use the the hand to kind of help him get the edge and also probably a lot of back foot right there so he can get that nose out of the water and stick

It um stick the rail and get the drive that was an amazing ride for um Jacob just intense and short but just very very technical and hard to do it yeah Jake Marshall you know back on tour he’s had that that seesaw kind of professional career where he’s been on

Tour off Tour on tour having to qualify through the Challenger Series um but he’s showing that he’s showing up this year with some intent again I I was saying earlier today that this really is a Scouting Report day in a way it’s an opening day it’s the first time we’re

Going to see all the men and see you know what happened and the work that people have done in the off seon yes completely and there’s a lot of work a lot of months mostly for those guys that didn’t make the top five they have probably about six months to work on

Everything that they kind of want to as far as equipment as far as just um his um technical surfing and Jacob for sure had put into work he had a little bit of a um less of a time because he was on the Qs um trying to the Challenger

Series sorry trying to get back on tour but yeah looks like he’s ready and sharp yeah you know what speaking of sharp we want to look sharp right now and we have some sharp looking merch for this year’s Lexus Pipe Pro there there they are a collaboration between visista and Florence uh

Available at WL store.com or on site over here a great merchandise and it’s it’s cool to see two really Powerhouse and and New Generation surf brands in the way of visa and Florence combining to put together all of the merchandise for this year’s Pipe Pro yeah that’s awesome um keeping in between surfing

And yeah bringing those knowledge together and yeah making doing a great job score comes in for Jake Marshall on that drop of 3.7 77 is the mark that he got mostly just for making it to the bottom and completing that wave kyoe belly out in the blue jersey right now

Needs to get some work done um but you know the situation is not dire at all for eelli half of the heat to go and again first and second in this heat moves on into the round of 32 so Kyle just need a 3.84 to take that second place off of

Jake Marshall yeah still um actually not early stag as we’re already on the second half of the he you don’t want to let so much time go by cuz you can end up and with your back against the wall with not much time and sometimes needing

Two waves so but I think in in this situation as Kyle sits right now he he should be patient at this moment and try and identify another wave like his first one and come out of that cuz that was going to give him a great score and he’s

100% capable of both pipeline in back door he’s such a specialist in this conditions there’s the Florence Ohana hats and all the supporters for John John Florence I mentioned his stats here at pipeline 80 uh 71% Heat winning percentage the highest out of the field Gabe Medina has a 70% Heat

Winning percentage here at pipeline Kelly Slater a 69% Heat winning percentage at pipeline but it really is when we talk about pipeline top dog right now given the analytics is John John Florence two runner up two runner up finishes five uh six quarterfinals and of course 2021 where he beat gay

Medina for a pipe title yes completely um and as far as just technique and DB riding he is he’s the guy to look right now um on the top level um I don’t think there’s anyone ahead of him obviously you have guys like Kelly and Gabe that

Matches him very well but I think he might still take the notch on just the grace and style and how easy he makes everything looks I agree with I and the Comfort level right this is this is quite literally JN John’s backyard where John grew up on this beach and started

Surfing this wave at about 8 years old and with along with his brothers and the brothers pushing each other and then that’s how we came to uh become a pipeline superpower John John Florence he’s in the lead and he’s already shown us excellent yeah it’s um so impressive to

Always watch him out here and looks like we have kind of a second reer they’re looking at it let’s see if they’re going to take it here comes Kyo big beefy looking wave drawing off the bottom grabbing onto the rail pulls High through the bubble comes out of the

Barrel Kye belly answers the call and he will change the situation in this heat that was a beautiful RM wave for Kyle very hard to deal with usually you expect those pipe waves to really Bend towards the reef and this one bent out so what that does it kind of gets high

And tight and he had to really adapt his um line throughout the halfway through through the barrel think we’re going to be able to see this um very well but right here it starts to having a look beautiful just a classic pipeline bottom turn and right here see that the

Wave bent away from from the shoreline and he just had to really Highline it and pretty similar to what John did after like a nice carve so beautiful rhm wave right there nice drop wave bands starts to clamp but he’s able to really get a high line to it and muscle through

That section right there that was beautiful RH wave for Kyle technical backhand tube riding by Kyle eelli will come back with that score after this short break we got an exciting heat in the water John John Florence Jake Marshall Co belly what’s going to happen stay Tuned e e I thought that was cool that visla and WSL wanted to kind of put a little attention onto the shapers it’s always interesting without surfboards there is no surfing and to kind of let people kind of understand that better I think is always an interesting thing at least

You can only sit there when there’s a guy sitting waiting for a wave for so long and like what are you going to talk about so you may as well bring in like what they’re riding and different stuff like that I think it’s kind of cool if you watch everybody today they’re all

Sitting inside I mean guys are getting second reers too and rolling in but most of the best guys are on the first reef and they’re sitting underneath it it and paddling into it late and like standing up under the lip or just knif not even really standing up backside front side

Guys standing up but um it’s just a different approach I was talking with John earlier today about like just Pipeline and his boards for that and stuff and how that same thing is like oh this just got adapted like the biggest board I make for John John for pipeline is a

66 into the mind of Northshore shaper John pisel his team writer John John Florence is on the lead right now John JN and John bringing that design feature of the ghost that really changed the way Surfers looked at big wave boards and Boards uh for waves of

Consequence let’s take some a look at some of replays Jake Marshall started off Jesse wow that was another very late drop that just show how comfortable he is but this wave actually provided him a chance to actually get much dipper and on a different side just a roll in from

John and just a perfect stall huge spit coming out now that was two beautiful rides right there back to back as you see it right here John just with the rolling but kind of like a double up in front of him just so much intensity and

All that energy coming out on that spit um he’s going to get rewarded very nicely for this one and notice like you pointed out Jesse that he has the reef so wired that he found the section go just kind of roll into this Barrel yeah and that’s just um pipeline most of it

Is just obviously for those guys that are in this level it’s just about learning how to position yourself and John knows every wave how they break and how they’re he can predict what’s going to happen once it hits the reef so that’s just show you right there he was

Just in the perfect spot to actually roll in into a wave that turned out to be such a big Square barrel and so much energy you know yeah great read great positioning rewarded with a 6.87 that’s a nice backup to Jon John’s 8.33 he already has as a score line strong lead

Over the pack 6.6 for Jake Marshall that we saw in that replay puts Marshall in second place Kyle e belly has priority Kyle already has a 7.5 we were waiting for that score when we went to break 7.5 for kawi belly he puts himself right in

Play he only needs a 2.87 to get into second place and turn the heat for himself so this is still a very tight heat especially for second and advancing position in this heat totally but the tricky part about pipeline when the ways are that good is that a twoo r is not or

2.87 is not that easy to get because you’re most likely not going to get on turns so you need to put yourself in a critical spot in order to do it and it could be a onepoint ride or eight-point R Great point I mean you can get drained

The whole way around but if you don’t make it out you don’t get the score let’s see if Kyle gets the score here nice drop kind of a pocket ride coming through there slips off of the bottom Jesse Mendes I’m asking you your opinion of that wave was that enough for a 2.87

That’s close I don’t I think he might be just over it like I think he would really put the Nao in the coffin if he would have done a turn right after I was just speaking about turns not being so scorable here but it was it would have

Been a good compliment for him that wave had size and had intensity but it was a very short ride so because of those two factors I think it’s going to going to go just above but yeah we’ll see yeah the judges they said no a 2.33 for Kyle

Eelli but like you said it’s hard to get that 2.87 and and Illustrated right there we saw Kyle take off on that wave looked like a great effort but he’s still chasing that 2.87 I know and that’s all because of the tube time right there the wave was critical but he didn’t have

Enough tube time and he wasn’t um behind enough on that wave to actually get super covered that’s why I was like for him to nail that score he needed on that bottom turn to not disengage and and heit it as high as he could and then

That wave would have probably been in a low three point right surely when we’re talking about fractions of a score that would have made the difference just to nail that turn to your point point now it’s desperate for kwi belly we can see him right here number 41 5 minutes

Remaining and he’s in the back of the line another look at this effort okay let’s see why the judges see it right there as soon as he disappear he already comes out again and he kind of drove through the barrel like they almost like you to be a little bit behind and

Disappear for a long time and as he bottom turn he kind of hit a bump and just um disengage his Rao and he ended up like falling um backwards and he he had actually landed a turn like critical turn right there he would have probably got into three-point range and

Unfortunately for him right here he sits in third priority but my looks like he’s going to find something underneath looking on the corner here ibelli pulls in again this is a tight Shack with no exit clock continues to tick down Jake Marshall wants to defend his current second place position Marshall with

Priority Marshall looking back door Jake pulls in under the hood thick grindy barrel and that felt good for the enen surfer coming out out of that one and he will add to his score line and improve his position make it harder for Kye belly yeah in the end of the day even if

Kyo got the score he would have been just a fraction like a few seconds until um Jake got this wave that was um very critical drop and let’s mention like he’s done the best drops off this seat so far like in both the three waves he got he was always super late and

Underneath and he was able to just knife it this wave specifically he was just behind the Apex which it makes you just get deep enough and gives you a little bit more extra time on the bottom turn in order for you to um actually get under the under the hood and that was

Beautiful ridm wave for him check this out the waves already breaking he’s still taking off and just knifes it enough to get that nice barrel and so much energy into that reef and that was a nice ride for um Jake Marshall a sharp eye under Jake Marshall looking like it

Has some sharp rails just getting in there and able to slice through maintaining that drop gets to the back door Barrel was still waiting for the score for Jake Marshall and kyoe belly now three minute drill for the Brazilian he’s going to have to get busy he’s got second

Priority there is going to be some waves coming through he’s going to need more he’s going to need a 6.98 kyoe belly because Jake Marshall just dropped a 7.83 yeah and that was that was fair um I almost um like half of that um not half

But like a good portion of that score came from the intensity off the drop like that drop was so late it’s so so hard for you to put yourself in that situation it’s so scary so much risk and I’m glad they rewarded because he deserved that score for

Sure yeah when we’re talking scores coming into the championship tour uh this year we have the most detailed brief ever from our head judge uh Lully Perera to all of our Surfers about the criteria for each of the first five events on the championship tour and it

Is a full page detailed brief of what they’re looking for and what the criteria is for each of those stops and how they may change in between stops so I think um the communication and the transparency between the judges and the Surfers is at an all-time high totally

And um the good thing about it as well they used to do that but the day um off the contest and now they’re doing previously which is um good for the Surfers because they can actually train and get prepared for that type of condition or that type of criteria so

Yeah that’s an awesome um ad for to through yeah and I like how it’s a five-page brief so Surfer can can change us way up ahead like to your point can change their approach from stop to stop to stop because the criteria there’s the base of the criteria is the same all

Year but it does change at different waves yes 100% And there this heat is actually identified that very well for this wave you’re talking about the drops with with Jake Marshall that is really pointed out the the commitment the knifing the drop they’re going straight into the barrel

And so Jake Marshall well executed and of course what did we expect John John Florence he’s in first surprise yeah and Kyo like he’s actually not that far behind needing a 6.98 if that first wave he wouldn’t fall which I didn’t thought was his um fault was actually the degree of difficulty

Coming out of that Barrel is that high and he probably couldn’t see anything because of the spit but he would have probably be maybe in first place even right now but just that details making him sitting um third place now with second priority 20 seconds left it it looks tough for

Him yeah tough go of it here 20 seconds some lines coming through here we’ll see if uh we got any takers in this final 15 seconds beautiful shot up above of Pipeline and what he’s Blue Water here we go ibelli knifes it off the bottom Yanks on the rail disappears in the tube

Spit and gets gobbled up so we’ll see him Kyo eelli in the elimination round there’s the numbers John John Florence as expected advancing on into the round of 32 Jake Marshall did a great job a 7.87 a 6.6 kywi belly onto elimination round we’re onto another heat we’ll be back with

Leonardo fanti Liam O’Brien Fredo Marias Bo e congratulations you have provisionally qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics in Tahiti I’ll try my best to win another metal for Brazil you provisionally qualified for Paris 2024 wow that’s amazing you the Olympics one of the coolest experiences in my life and so to

Do it again and and go back to Tahiti you know I feel like I got a good relationship with that place that’s a deserving spot to achieve a Olympic gold represent Hawaii and all that going to the Olympics and it’s the biggest Sports stage in the world love to win it

Someday with the experience under my belt from the years previous I just feel like I have a really great chance at winning the Olympics it would mean the world if I could get that medal really looking forward to being the Olympics being on that platform so many brilliant

Athletes it’s been a huge goal of mine and starting to work towards I’m just going to put my head down just got to work hard and do my best my dream is will and I will hope that I can make everybody proud going to have to play to

See shows on put my best F forward and guarantee that I’m going to be there it would be amazing to get a good result to inspire the Next Generation you feel like you’re representing every single person that will and that want to win is stronger than I’ve ever felt that belief

Of being able to win a gold medals I have it more than I’ve ever felt it it’s pretty surreal I know I’m going to have to dig deep you’re Olympian forever you’re a medalist forever those people are not [Applause] Forgotten Tahiti bound follow the journey with Tahiti bound Champion by Cho on worldsurfleague.com yuru got a new heat out in the water Le fante Liam O’Brien Fredrico maras is ky girlo and Jesse Mendes on the set with the call your thoughts on this reman heat Jess that’s a great heat all

Regular Footers um kind of have a feeling that um I don’t know as far as experience out here um as far as how much he have proved I think Leo has the edge on this one he’s definitely a specialist at um bar riding mostly for back door so it’s going to be an

Interesting one I think he has big chances of doing very well but that being said Leon also is amazing out here amazing at getting huge barrels um at off the wall as well which is just a few feet to the to the left of it and Kik is

Another great power Surfer that is used to Portuguese um slabby wave so yeah it’s a great heat yeah Leonardo fante last year’s runner up here at Pipeline and he is a surfer also representing Italy that you know Paid Dues here at pipeline as well he broke

His back here in 2015 let’s take a look at at the year comparison for Leo fante it was a tough 2022 for fante not making that cut lackluster results came back won the Challenger Series in 2022 came back onto the championship tour and made a final in his first event

Here at pipeline Jesse Yeah it’s very impressive to bound back that strong but that’s the type of guy he is he the Italian Warrior you know like so loves a fight loves to put himself self against the wall loves you like have challenges mostly against big names so he proven

That before and he did that that year when he um came back last year and just ended up losing um to Jack Robo but great first start um great start of the year for him fante right now um he’s been nursing a little bit of an ankle

Injury we’ve been working on at the same physiotherapist physiotherapy Hawaii Bart and the crew over there at physiotherapy Hawaii who help a lot of the the Surfers both local Surfers as well as visiting Pros uh so he’s been doing some some of that tuning up the

Body I’ve been seeing him uh in the facility the one thing about Leo fante is not only is he a great Surfer he’s a hard worker he puts in a lot of work cross training to be at this level yes the last few I would say the last 5

Years you have put so much focus into it and I was actually pretty um close with him with the Italian team and he was telling me was like Hey last five years it the years that I mostly worked and when I surf a surfer says work they not

Meaning by training and surfing because that’s the fun part they’re saying outside of the water so yeah he’s been working closely with a bunch of support from the Italian team and he’s yeah it’s definitely paying off for him it’s time to hear from John John Florence that’s right John John getting

A chance to Surf right outside his house a little bit this morning for career CT number 100 John when I say that number what do you think of yeah that’s crazy um so a lot of events a lot of Heats a lot of competing a lot of Surfing and

Someone told me that the other day and um it just got me really excited and gave me a lot of confidence actually I was like wow like I’ve spent a lot of time surfing Heats um now and yeah cuz sometimes you you know you you come up

To the beginning of the year and it’s like everything’s restarting and you feel nervous like like you’re a rookie almost like you’re coming into it for the first time ever but um I don’t know for every reason that that that gave me like a lot of confidence like oh no like

I’ve been here for a while and like yeah I don’t need to think about it as much I guess well you have been here a lot but there is some new for you this year your beautiful wife pregnant with your first child how has that affected your preparation this off season and the

Mentality you’re bringing into this 12th year on tour um yeah it’s a crazy one having a we’re having a kid this year um we’re really excited and it’s going to be really fun and just uh it’s just such a big year the you know we have the tour

And the Olympics and having a kid um and so it’s uh overwhelming when I think about it all but it’s really exciting I don’t know I’m just more than anything I’m excited cuz it’s just like so there’s it’s all good there’s so much good stuff going on so um yeah we’re

Going to have fun with it and yeah another good thing first heat first Heat win of 2024 how much confidence that give you bringing it back to the Lexus Pipe Pro going forward in this competition yeah uh first heat of the year it always feels like a little neres

Just getting into it you know but I’m stok the waves are super fun and I felt really good out there I was just excited and um I I didn’t even want to I didn’t want to come in I was just like God I get the like I felt like I didn’t get

The one I wanted um but I don’t know so I just good energy exciting yeah you’ll have another chance later in the competition happy to have you back John thank you liamri straight into action with Liam O’Brien dropping into that one unable to find an exit uh congratulations to John

John Florence and his wife Lauren on the news there John John he’s been busy he’s got a lot a lot of stuff going on Got a Brand think about the Olympics the championship tour he even took time to work with us at w cell1 ocean with the

NorthShore Land Trust just a couple days ago to help clear out some invasive stuff in the tarot patch in the ly there Liam O’Brien right now we’re looking at some stats for Liam obrian the 24y old out of Burley heads Australia third season on the championship tour and also

A visla team Rider Liam O’Brien so uh we’ll see what lob comes through and to your point that you made earlier Jesse you can get a big barrel at pipeline but if you don’t come out all you gets an97 yeah and that’s unfortunately because it’s so much effort so hard to

Do what he just did you’re putting yourself in so much risk but you need to complete the maneuver in order to get the score and this case to come out of the Barrel in order to get the score so yeah good effort but not that rewarded because he didn’t come out looks like

We’re going through a little rub wubble right now there is a set that kind of came in cleaning them up so what that does just a lot of energy in this Reef right here specifically and all the water moving and trying to exit out kind of makes everything lumpy it’s about

Like the last 2 3 minutes I look back and it was kind of um bouncy but it’s about to clean up right now hopefully there’s a set and then they could be in the right spot and get a good opportunity right now yeah local winds are tough right they they swirl

Throughout the day and really depends on the weather um I mean the not just the long range wind forecast but also just within the bubble within the hills and you know orographic heating when the land heats up we’ll get a little bit of seab Breeze sometimes um so really hard

To predict and to your point pipeline goes through its different moods throughout the day yes and it’s a tough place when he goes through a bad mood in your heat because it’s so hard to manufactur score here if you’re somewhere else in a beach break or

Something you can maybe get a close out and do a big punt or something like that and you get rewarded but here you really need that quality wave in order to get a good score see the rocks on the shoreline there illustrating the uh Longshore movement of all the sand here

At ehukai we’ve had primarily West and Northwest SRS so that has swept the Bottom clean here most of the sand has moved over to the east of us right now on the NorthShore more towards Rocky Point and puka uh which is really good for pipeline um so we got a good bottom

But it’s just really about having a clean swell and those clean winds to comb with that good bottom that we currently have totally surfing has a lot of aspects that needs to come together in order to get a good day and to tell you the truth looking at the forecast I

Thought today was going to be a runnable day but definitely not as good as it is we’re getting nins pretty much every heat so this is exciting look at the flyby you can see all the exposed rocks and the size of the beach which has shrunk with every West swell and that’s

What we want sometimes you know we come here and the beach is twice three times the size as we’re watching right now so it it just shows you this is the illustration of how how busy and how active the swell pattern has been on the Hawaiian Islands this winter we’ve had

Swell after swell after swell after swell how scary yeah scary if you’re here and you’re a professional Surfer that means there’s been a lot of swell in the water and you’re having to put yourself in Risk so but on the other hand we have amazing waves so that’s

Great that’s been weeks and weeks of big waves not a lot of high performance surfing happening uh lately it’s just all about big barrels and big turns and big water 18 minutes on the countdown nobody has made a move nobody has has uh put in anything any kind of

Keepable score as of yet Jesse you called it I mean this is going to be the jigsaw puzzle Heat this is going to be a a Rubik’s cube of a heat where you’re going to have to solve the problem in this heat cuz I see a little bit of a

Problem right now with the current condition totally and that’s pipe like for you like all you need is a big set to line up um to clear the lineup and there a lot of water moving and that’s what’s just happening again right there this wasn’t the second Reef set or a third

Reef set but still it makes everything so much energy in the reef that makes the water move weirdly and sometimes you just get those moments that every time oh looks like here we go it’s going to be FAL vonty grabbing the rail off the bottom makes the drop but no Barrel to

Be had yeah and that’s what I was just saying like that was a beautiful wave but there was so much water from the previous wave that made that wave just get destroyed get deformed there was a lot of whitewash and just didn’t Barrel if maybe that was 20 minutes ago where

The ocean was all clear and nice that would have been a eighto ride but for now yeah they’re going to have to solve the puzzle like you said got some waves on hand right here priority with Fredo Marias kikas the pride of cashk portug go out in the white jersey wave coming

Through here he’s not going so Liam O’Brien said I’ll take this one stalling on the backand just a pocket ride there trying to get under the the lip as much as he could but the wave again really peaky and taper yeah and as much as we say here um

As much as we recognize that it’s going to be a puzzle solving probably of a heat um because there hasn’t been any Great Waves ridden the Surfers already know as well but the is sometimes you get first priority like Frederico and how are you going to go in this wave

That lean went if you got priority you kind of got to just really Cal yourself down and was like okay I got to wait and identify a good wave no matter what if gets to the end of the Heat and nothing’s happening and then I’ll swing

To a wave like that so he’s doing a great job being patient right there but it is kind of a a nerve-wracking type of heat I like that Insight from you as a former competitor because I feel for someone like Fredo he’s been around you know he’s 32 years old he’s been oh

Coming out of the barrel there just catching up with Liam O’Brien so under priority lob snuck went in there and on the P back out but I was going to say with Fredo Marias I mean one big score at this point for what’s on the board guarantees you a way out of

This heat yes and and he is more than right to do it sometimes it’s just the luck of the draw luck of the roll into dice cuz you see third priority identifying a wave way underneath and it’s not going to be a huge score but for this moment right now it’s something

And yeah let’s see how it’s going to play off this you know got a water view of this for Liam O’Brien yeah nice um just foot work right there just um extend like using the front of the board so he has more St stability and also like um getting more

Drive throughout the barrel and nice style yeah great composure for him y nice style but still just the two for Liam O’Brien Liam O’Brien in the lead with a 1.6 and a two-point ride Fredrico moras holding on to Priority stoically sitting out the back and again from your analysis Jesse kikas

Is is really surfing a smart heat right now cuz he’s not flinching on anything until right now FR Rico maras priority air after all of that time and all of that discussion Fredo Mariah’s hands over priorities not going to help him at all yeah and this

Is we’re going to take a bonsoy brew break right now get get it froed up fill the cup we’ll be back with more action here at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti Happ for r well there’s no W white pipeline in the world and every Surfer that I’ve got from all the way from Molly and the girls all the way down to Ethan they’ve all got you little unique CH touches in their pipe boards some want them heavy

Some want wi no some want what guys want to ride them short so it’s a it’s each individual has a different sort of way that they want to approach po last year when they told me the visible shaping Rings were going to happen I thought this is fantastic you know we can get

Rewarded for sort of what we’re what we’ve been doing for a long time making surf ports and you know looking after our athletes yeah it was just a great race between s of five of us in the end and a little bit of banter was going down between some of the Shapers which

Was fantastic and it’s a four four horse race I think to the end and um I’ll win and we’ll see he comes second and third after that this SE T shaper rankings Darren Hanley he’s got a stock of surfers on his boards Molly Pam Ethan Ying Connor liry Callum Robson Isabella Nichols

Jacob Wilcox and Liam O’Brien on dhds and Liam O’Brien out in the lead in this heat 8 of the opening round and Kaio along with Jesse Mendes low-scoring heat though anyone’s game as we are down to 10 minutes and 45 seconds Jesse Yeah that’s a total open game in

Just what we mentioned previously it’s all because of that water moving there’s been too many sets with the sometimes with the weird angle and just mix that up see it’s going through right through the middle of the um the peak right there creating just yeah they’re like

Struggling even to stay on the spot right now and that happens only a few times in a day clean like today it only happen a few times a day and they’re getting the unluck side of the jaw right and it has to do with swell angle as

Well as tide but then that rip that you can see on your all that white water that these guys are pounding across usually that rip would be in the channel that rip is running straight through the lineup right here which makes it extremely difficult and if you go in a

Place like Portugal it happens every time a set comes yeah so you got to dodge those but here at pipeline the roof’s so perfect that only actually happens a few times in a day that this clean right and there’s one reath one reath yeah and there’s a big Channel and

Everything but sometimes it happens and they they got one of those Heats so they’re going to have to yeah just really fig figured out what’s the strategy for this moment and Leo I think sits in the like in the best spot in some sort of way but also in the most

Pressure because he actually needs to make the decision cuz he sits on priority right now and he’s thinking do I go for a mid-range score or do I wait and like see if I can catch a good one until the last D minutes so it’s tough decisions for those Surfers right now

Yeah and what about just even you know paddling and making a droing these waves are convert are lumping up on each other and you got the rip that’s sucking you out to see at the same same time let me tell you it’s not fun at all I mean some

People think it’s fun yeah it’s it’s nerve-wracking it’s so scary and not your mention you also have the adrenaline of for heat and yeah everyone watching you know there you go verante finds some clean water finds the barrel valuable wave for the Italian you talked about utilizing and using his priority

Did just that he’s going to take the lead in this heat he just needs a 2.7 yeah that was I think identify a clean wave out there that was the biggest test right there and he did um got a decent Barrel it’s not going to be a huge score

But for this heat it’s actually a very special score um great great read and wave there for Leo as you see it right there kind of snuck underneath nice drop just deep enough for the judges should be stoked there was a little bit of a a backwash through it so he managed that

Very well and right there almost felt like let’s see this barel again and then I’ll go back to the turn but um see that wubble right there he was he managed to Highline it and go through it very nicely and right here it almost felt

Like the wave was too tight for how long of a board he had cuz he did everything right it’s just the board felt probably looked a bit a bit too long and he wasn’t able to um keep like lose the speed a little bit to really get tied on that

Pocket hereon on the paddle back out still waiting for the score for Leon Naro feon the feeling in the room is that he’s going to get the number and take the lead now the winds switch again glassy conditions currently the 4.67 is enough for Leo

Fante to take the lead a paddle there by Fredrico Marias and Marias does not go he goes to third in priority and just like that Leo fante gets the lead and Wales straight into second priority yes that was um kind of a mistake for Federico ping for that

Wave but that’s just what I mentioned like they’re starting to starting to freak out a little bit because the the clock’s running out and the waves are not that great great so they’re just trying to get anything that they see that looks kind of clean and unfortunately for kers right there the

Wave went way too underneath on him but as I look back right now and I’m looking at the ocean it seems like it’s clean up so they might have a few opportunities by the end of this heat hopefully let’s hope for that yeah a little bit of cloud coming

Cover comes over us the wind continues to swirl it did take a breath for a while and just went glassy but but just like that another little breeze comes through here and the confused line up lineup you can see on your screen uh becoming a challenge for our Surfers

Super tight heat however just with a 5.57 two-wave total for Leo fante easily Fredrico Marias could go from third to First Liam O’Brien could easily go to first place nothing’s locked so this is going to be a tense final 6 minutes 100% kypo um it’s going

To be very tense looks like we have a Peak coming up they’re identified that already they’re scratching for let’s see what turns out Liam O’Brien’s got priority he’s going to use it here right left he goes right back door pulls up after a huge drop and just gets

Clamped and not a good feeling Liam O’Brien not going to get the score he needs going to remain in second place right now but giv some opportunity to fedrico Marias to steal that second place off and talk about Rhythm right right like Leo got that wave got a a

Nice kind of a backup score for today um and then everyone committed a mistake maybe not so much l o Bren because that wave had potenti he was just a little bit out of position and too late for that takeoff and he wasn’t able to drive

Through the barrel but then now Leo sits with the best SC of the heat by far Y and um with parar so he’s in a great spot right now he just needs to make one more right decision and he should nail that c yeah I call I call that heat

Control with Leo fante where has control of the heat because he has both priority and the lead look at this for Liam O’Brien yeah that’s what I just mentioned see like he was so late so he disengaged lost contact with the water and as soon as he engaged again as you

See it right here the wave is pretty much breaking on top of him he did an amazing effort to actually right there got some air stick the rail again but it was kind of just almost a little bit too late for him to actually get a big pump

And go through that section even though it would have been hard because that wave clamped in the end but yeah great effort for that takeoff was very critical to do but unfortunately it’s going to be another small score because it didn’t come out of the barrel sometimes there’s beautiful heat

Sometimes there’s grindy Heats we’re just watching a grindy heat right now same stuff’s on the line first and second move into the round the 32 third place into that elimination round the no stop sets like I keep looking back and it’s just wave after wave yeah and that’s what makes it a

Little bit messy as well as much as you want the sets to come you want a little breaking between them so everything regroups flying by looking up towards Rocky Point and puka back to the beach where we can see some pretty massive lines come through here scratching pante with

Priority body drags into this one comes with the spit another section for Leo Fon tries to doggy door out of that get ax on the way out but what an effort Jesse yeah that was a great um wave read right there was um able to stall in the

Beginning and maximize in that first section that was very slow and then as um The Wave started a section in front of him he really put the battle to them out and start driving through that Barrel made everything he could unfortunately he had to doggy door and

The wave was a little bit faster than him as you see right here take off and he really slows down in the beginning right here maximize that tube time in the beginning and right there starts pumping through drive through as soon as he was going to like nothing nothing he

Did wrong right there it’s just the wave didn’t let him out beautiful bumps into that second section and just getting clip but on the end that was going to be a great score still his second best score of the Heat right yeah Leo fante with 1.93 for that

Effort the re the judges recognized it he’s in the lead here 2 minutes 45 taking a look at the career at pipeline for the Italian last year a runner-up finish but he’s had some great results over here before a couple of nights in 2021 he was in the quarterfinals yeah

I’m not sure as far as the statistics but from what I remember this is probably one of his most consistent events like um he has a pair of nines he has a fifth and a finals like that’s that’s an amazing um statistics for him yeah and Theo fante actually you know fulfilled

Probably almost every surfer’s dream in that he’s a homeowner in Hawaii now he has got a house here on the NorthShore you achieve that through a career that’s a big big big um you know that’s that’s something huge for your life that you’re always going to have a

Part of it and we’ve seen that Jordi Smith buying a home here and hanging out now Leo fante’s got a home here by yaa newly engaged to his girlfriend Sophie uh Life’s good for f ofon hey it’s he can’t complain right like he also um lives in in France part time in Portugal

Part time so like amazing places for waves this is a little better because it’s warmer he doesn’t need a wet suit so he’s stoked on that one yeah probably easier to find places uh not as crowded in Portugal compared to why because guess what the gig’s up over here man

Everybody knows every spot every time that is everywhere we the most Surfers per capita in the entire world I have to say about the Hawaiian Islands everyone surfes here I could agree everyone it’s part of the it’s part of the culture here so every locals that were born and

Raised here Surf and all the people that moved into surf also surf so yeah it’s it’s pretty packed here we go kikas threads that through gets a little spit on his back on the way out rrio Mariah comboing it up with a couple of turns too

3.2 and he’ll take second off of Liam O’Brien smart turfin um could have gone a little bit deeper on that wave if he stalled but at this moment right now he only needs a 3.2 so like you said he’s a veteran he knows what he needs to do

Sometimes you don’t need to get tens you just need to make her heat for the next one so smart surfing for him right there nice um identified a good wave like almost like for pipeline almost a easy wave to ride you know had a good entry just perfect positioning had a good spit

And as you see right here perfect entry right there just got covered enough nice spit he came out and combed it up like different than Kaio Kai ended up falling he actually did two turns nice finish of a turn and yeah it’s looking good for him smart surfing one

More look at it from above yeah right there like he could have got deeper right there if he stall it if he actually put his front leg in the water to slow himself down but yeah overall smart surfing CU he didn’t need a seven-point ride he only needed a 3.2

Did the job a 4.17 for for kikas for Rico maras he’s on to the round of 32 Leo fante he wins the heat Liam O’Brien on to the elimination round we’re going to bring in Joe Felicity and a very special guest when we Return you for oh another great opportunity to open up the WSL Vault rematch once again the 2006 pipe final it was Radical remember we came off a couple of crazy Andy Kelly battles in the past and they had another one Celly was in syn nine-point ride beautiful conditions at back door and it

Was just on the heat of their rivalry was felt on the beach they were peeking with it remember at this time Andy was already a three-time World Champ look at the numbers just battling each other I remember hearing from Cory Lopez who was in this final later and it basically it

Was just them two in the final just doing their thing everyone was giving them some space more insight on that from Shane but it was uh so fun looking back these guys were pushing the sport harder than anybody else in the world at the time 19.87% two shook hands and we celebrate one of the cvest rivalries of all time Shane at a front row seat for a lot of that action over the years as we welcome you all to the booth once again Joe Tel felicy Paul Mater and thanks so much for

Joining us Shane Dorian quick you know before we even say hi just diving into that final what do you remember about that one in 2006 I mean it was um yeah it was just really exciting finals uh I remember it was it was it was really classic because

It was kind of like at the apex of the Rivalry like between Andy and Kelly and so although there was four people in that final everybody was really focused on Andy and Kelly and um I remember there was a moment when when Andy got this insane left and he was paddling

Back out and there was another wave and and Kelly and Cory were paddling for it and Corey kind of pulled back and let Kelly go and Andy just started screaming at the top of his lungs paddling back out screaming at Cory yelling at Corey he didn’t even focus on what Kelly was

Doing he was screaming at Cory so angry that Cory let Kelly go that he felt like it was like a personal insult to himself that he didn’t challenge Kelly and keep Kelly off the wave but it was so fun like that emotion that excitement that pressure cooker situation and that was

Like the height of Andy’s Powers right there it was like amazing it was like a superhuman performance I thought it’s like people always talked about as like Tupac and Biggie which side are you on and I mean Cory’s from Florida but he was like boy like they were sparring

Partners so Andy let him know uh great looking back on the Vault so stoked to be with flick and Shane Doran for the call in this one Ryan Kalin taking on Jordy Smith and Emi colani devault and we’ll get to see their form after a serious time off in the off seon Ryan

Kalin the highest seed from last year out of this three pack number 10 seed coming into stop number one super talented goofy foot from Mary beach in Newcastle Australia wait for them to get started here potentially waves on the way now from this angle you can see it

Front on remember Ryan already got a quick one up and out 37 so he’s in the back of the line Jordy and Emi are going to try to outpos each other if they can here and it’s starting to set up now nice drop in for the South African

Jordy Smith ends up going down on his first wave of the season but I’ve loved his roll out here in the last handful of years putting in a lot of time to turn this event into a strength and when you come off a offseason it’s kind of wild you really

Miss these guys I feel like I just haven’t seen enough of Jordy lately you know he’s a he’s a dad now he really enjoyed all that time off we’ll see what happens happen on this replay flick what’ you see yeah it just looked like he made it to the

Bottom but just that lip sort of crumbled a bit on his head and possibly a little bit late little bit late into that one but kind of just wanted to roll the dice sit deep Thani as we see in my in my colani devault beautiful takeoff Maui boy trying to

Wipe off some speed and did a good job he got a piece of the end of that one oh tough when wave like this is shoving you down the line trying to burn off that speed and stall small score there for em this one’s just getting started let’s

Catch up to the Italian Leonardo is with AJ yes Joey down here with Leo back at the spot where you got your best start your best finish last year runner up here at pipeline little bit different today a little grindy we’re going to get into that but how did you prepare for

The season starting here at pipe yeah obviously you know last year I had my best ever result and that was amazing it gives me a lot of confidence but I think I got to put it behind and start from zero the level is so high so it doesn’t mean that you get

A good result one year the next year you’re going to do good and then today the waves are good it was very tricky um my heat I felt like it was all over the place a lot of big sets a lot of gnarly um gnarly waves but I am uh not my

Proudest heat wi but you know a Heat wins a Heat win and we’re here to compete I know you’ve been watching these waves all morning but once you got out there how did you feel like you needed to adjust the strategy you know um 9 years ago exactly today was the

Exact day that I got hurt here at pipeline so that was on my mind a little bit but I’ve spent so many days out here that it’s it’s behind and it was almost like uh uh in a way good memory because it made me um a tough competitor it made

Me learn so much and I went out today ready to uh you know fight some big challenges which there was every every single minute of that heat and try to take it all in and get the year started so uh that’s uh grateful for that it may

Not be your favorite Heat win but a Heat win is a Heat win you’re moving on before we let you go is there anything you want to tell friends and family back home about your mindset coming into this season congratulations see you the next round thank you glti thanks so much AJ

And Leo fante is an absolute Warrior on tour so impressed with his mental strength last year and coming from so many injuries the one he mentioned nine years ago has created so much toughness with his ability to take care of himself he’s addicted to his training guy’s an

Absolute beast in the gym loves pipeline loves back door and you could tell 6.6 combined total for that heat win you know he’ll do whatever it takes to get the W flick well a win is a win and he said it in that posted interview with AJ

We’ll get back to that point looks like am I kind of doing that fade to try to get a piece of the pit it’ll just be up and out so small scores continue here in Heat number nine but yeah it’s you can kind of tell who’s going to really

Establish dominance and heats you know sometimes forget about the numbers the goal is to make it into the next round for sure the 100% that’s the goal and some of these Heats haven’t been is consistent or maybe he didn’t see the kind of wave that he was looking for out

There and it I I’m in the boat as a win is a win and it doesn’t matter how you get it done and especially how you just want to be advancing you don’t want to be in that elimination round the elimination round is the one where you

Go home so yeah you know 6.6 that Leo’s got a lot left in the tank Ryan call and standing straight up in a fun looking wave at pipeline he’s done that a lot and Shane seen him do that a lot as uh Shane talk about the growth you’ve seen

From Ryan K and when you first met him to what you’re seeing today as a veteran of the tour yeah when I first met Ryan he was um he was a Grom and I and uh and we served together it was like a like a billabong trip that the Aussies were

Doing to um Bali and I surfed with him at uluu and bigan and I remember them saying like he was like this hyped up Grom and I remember his surfing was at the time was so polished and mature and just had he already had power he already

Had low and he already had like this Poise and like this crispness to his surfing didn’t surf like a little kid didn’t have that kind of grommy kind of noise in between turns and he’s he’s always just been just a classic such a nice guy and then when he first started

Coming to Hawaii he was really unsure of himself you know he’s like kind of shy in the lineup and like quiet and like really didn’t want to like you know just kind of like waited his turn and stuff and it’s been cool to see year after year him building that confidence he’s

Had some really big big Heats out here some super big moments at Pipeline and to see Ryan now in the in the lineup I I’ve been surfing on a pipeline a lot the last couple weeks and there was a couple Windows where the where where the

Where the surf pipe was good and all the boys and girls were out there practicing and Ryan was really like assertive aggressive energetic confident and like taking waves like paddling all throughout the crowd like head down like nice and stuff but he just was like strictly bus business and there was like

One session um in particular that Ryan like basically got like the five best waves of the session and there was probably 30 guys out from the tour I love that and that he’s earned that for sure like what you’re talking about of coming here and he’s even you talk to

The guys one of the most humble guys you’ll ever meet but also he knows what he’s been through he knows what his goals are you know coming off a year where he’s thinking of like a top 10 season the next goal would be final five

For sure this year for sure I mean Ryan had an amazing season season last year I mean finishing second of bells uh to eth them was incredible and um I sort of echo what you say shame when I first met Ryan and we were similar ages but I

Would always study him like I’m a goofy footer and I I just love his style he just had flow was a word that came to me as well just really beautiful to watch just the I think it’s the space between the turns just how he connects everything together just looks really

Beautiful and also you know he’s got quite a bit of height so he has the ability to get that real nice compression and exension and you really see that in his surfing and like you said too he’s also had amazing moments out here and um I’m hoping that this

Year Ryan can sort of take that momentum that he had last year and sort of go one B at that top five position would be great but just also got to Echo he’s just such a nice guy and part of that sort of crew of Aussie boys all hanging

Out like Liam um Conor o ly you know Jackson Baker when he was on tour they’re just all out here having a good time supporting each other and yeah just really lovely guys you know such a chef as well when you had so many Aussie Champions and Legends kind of move on in

The last uh few years you’re looking to You Know Jack Robinson Ethan Ying arcal Connor o those guys to fill those big shoes and I think they’re doing really really good at it Ryan is uh able to get big scores on his back end as well uh

Graded Bells last season getting a a runner-up trophy there it was a big part of his run toward that final five picture looking really healthy at the moment one thing we always like to check are conditions in the ocean but also sand conditions Laura where are you yes

Guys I’m down here on the beach this year it is looking so different to the last few years actually different to what I’ve ever seen um you know in my years sort of coming here the last few years but uh we have a massive berm here so unfortunately for The Spectators they

Are crammed on top of this berm the good thing is they’re not getting washed away by those big waves coming up cuz they have a bit of protection but uh basically all the sand that is usually here is down the beach at the moment so

We just need a few big swells to sort of push this out flatten it back unfortunately this burm although it’s fun for these kids to slide and roll down it does cause some backwash so this afternoon especially as the tide comes up and this uh this tide hits the burm

It could cause some Havoc for the uh Surfers out there so we’ll have to see how they sort of take that on thanks so much Laura I don’t know if there’s any other place in the world where the sand moves More Than This stretch of beach on

The North Shore you’ll come down here in the summer and it’s gigantic it it’s bigger than a football field winter months come around and the beach just completely disappears it’s actually really stressful for people with beachfront homes you know there’s there was a swell earlier in the

Season waves were coming into the homes right on the sand destroying Furniture it’s you know if you live on the beach here fulltime you’re constantly checking the forecast to make sure your stuff’s all safe full on anxiety and just nervousness and check in the swells and you know like

It’s it’s funny because like a lot of times in the winter time here in Hawaii we’ll have like a huge swell that’s like predicted like yeah did you see that swell like like a week out or 10 days out thing looks like it’s going to be 40

Foot and that’s all like fun in games like if you don’t have a beach front house if you have a beach front house you immediately start thinking like what can I do to sandbags you know wall off my house or whatever it is but yeah it’s definitely stressful there’s that one

Year long time ago Freddy P was all stressed out on tour he had a pool in his uh yard and the pool was basically in the ocean you guys remember that that was crazy it was just uh so stressful not being there to protect your your property but yeah everyone on their toes

Around here the sand does change a lot how do you think the sand is right now you know for for the event Shane it’s optimal um it’s it’s a little weird because um like as Laura said like there is a bit of a burm but luckily it’s

Really not affecting it too badly like sometimes a pipeline there’s a BM and and what happens is when the big sets come they wash up that burm and back out and it creates this really bad back wash which makes the Wave Super imperfect clampy dangerous but right now we’re not

Really having that the conditions are pretty clean out there it doesn’t seem to be affected too badly by the by the by the backwash and and the really good thing is we’ve had a ton of West swells and as you can see pipeline looks like

It’s kind of far out to seea right now so that’s because there’s no beach and the that West swell has created this really strong rip current that rips right along the shoreline from left to right if you’re looking at the ocean right there and so all that sand

Is like up at puaa up at aukai up at gas Chambers and you’re really not really getting like sometimes at pipeline you get that really bad sandar at the end of the left or even in the middle of the lefts so like you get this perfect wave

At pipeline it ends up closing out right into the sandar on every wave and right now there’s no sand out there at all and that’s how you get these classic conditions on the lefts lunging into this inside section was Jordy Smith just looking for a completion he’ll get it

There but still talking about small numbers so far in this match up Heat number nine of the opening round best number is Ryan kalin’s leftand pit that turned into a 3.5 so much of the story to tell in the back end of heat number nine stay tuned more coming up right after This e for it’s time for the the pulse we’ll get yall caught up with the biggest stories of the day welcome to the tour Kade Madson oh my goodness he is okay he actually posted that he was all right coming up from the worst wipeouts of the

Morning and it was in his first heat on tour action continues we had Medina do a nice smart block on Callum Robson then he got a giddy up into an 8.33 thing was Callum just got more motivated ended up getting spit out of a nine how about this cannon of spit just

Launching him to safety well done CeX Robson wins Medina advances as well Silva went to the elimination round and then on the buzzer Jackson bunch out of rhythm didn’t have priority for any sets 877 to steal the show Ying advances behind him hman gets sent to the elimination round where

He’ll will also have his friend Madson that is the Pauls keeping you up to date with the best stories of this opening round of competition Heat number nine still with some time on the clock and is still joying enjoying our time with Felicity Paul Mater and former top five

In the world Shane Dorian we spent some time on Ryan K and I think it’s a great time to’s get caught up with the big man Jordy Smith he’s got longevity on tour only guy with more Heats than Jordy is is Kelly and Smith has got a ton of

Experience and I’ve got some question marks just cuz I haven’t seen him surf a lot in this offseason flick I guess before we get there we’ve got some action to cover here was a split Peak yeah here we go this looks like Emi flying out of that back to tube

Beautiful carving maneuver there so that’s actual first wave sort of like a substantial in this heat and here we go this is splitting the peak with Ryan up under the lip and he comes flying out too so that was a really really nice nice split Peak there kind of really

Good to get this heat underway too as we look at this other angle here Ryan just pumping through that tube and yeah he’s going to be pretty stoked with that I’d say this Heat’s really starting to take shape got 9 minutes left now so Ryan out there in the lead 683 and a

35 yeah he’s done well did well on that read on the split still has his lead out front imay Kalani Dev vault 817 as the big number and Jordy Smith down to third with priority but Jordy Smith yeah he’s been on tour forever uh back when those you know bidding war

Days to get stickers on his board to constantly mentioning Dane Reynolds in the same sentence when they’re both on tour together owning the point breaks of the tour like Jeff Bay and even a right-hander that Shane had success on called Bell’s Beach uh he’s done a lot

And he’s always been a world title threat and I love that he’s still has his head in the game to you know kind of lean on his experience and see how he can apply it to the Young Guns on tour for sure and I think he probably held

The record for probably the tallest guy on tour until Cole this year and I looked it up because I was like how tall is Jordi and how tall is Cole and they’re both 63 so he sort of still holds the record but he shares it now

With Cole it’s funny how it works with with height when you read those bios I saw Crosby the other day I’m like how tall are you and he’s like 6’1 he’s like I’m like well then I’m 5’2 if you’re like these guys are giant you know and

Some of them kind of add inches some kind of shrink it down but yeah there’s some big guys on tour these days sh you need to get the tape out line all these dudes up and pull out meas but Shane did you have any Jordy sightings in these

Sessions at pipe and back door you have you seen him out there lately I have I saw him out there one day I didn’t you know it’s it’s hard you know cuz normally at pipeline I’m not catching waves so I’m out the back so I so I

Don’t see all the r all all the rides either that or I’m getting pounded on the you like on the inside so but yeah I saw I saw I saw him out there a couple times it’s brutal you know like it’s it’s really hard on these guys everybody

Out there right now you can you can you can you can like what you don’t see is like all those free surfs out here where there’s a hundred people out everybody’s frothing there’s like a window of like 3 hours where the wind is good and everybody’s out there trying to practice

And then you got all these like kids coming up they’re like sort of 14 to like 17 years old who like all trying to prove themselves and there’s like 20 or 30 of those kids and they’re Scrappy and they’re super confident and they want the waves and they’re Savage they’re not

Going to give anybody a wave and then you have like you know like boogie board girls dropping in on the side and then then you got a sub dude like coming in and there’s just so much drama out there and so it’s just it’s interesting so

Like all of a sudden like it’s funny cuz I’m I’m coaching Ethan ying and after his heat he was like it was so surreal being out there with only two other people no one in the way you had priority waves approaching you just position yourself you do you know it’s

Just really it’s so such an interesting Dynamic imagine um imagine LeBron James going to like practice for like the you know the the the the the last events the last tournaments of the year and there’s people throwing basketballs in the front of him you know what I mean it’s just

Not going to happen it’s such a fair comparison that’s crazy different when there’s certain spots on tour where people don’t surf all year and they only surf because their heroes are in town as we look at that big section for arcal Emi trying to punch through right

Underneath them down to 530 here in Heat number nine yeah it’s it’s such a wild idea of trying to get your warm-ups in and I think sometimes it’s about just reframing your mindset of going I’m just taking notes out here you know even if you watch for 3 hours and don’t get away

It’s still important to to be present to find your lineups to see what the guys are doing that are getting the good waves well I feel like there’s two sort of camps right and uh I’ve spoken to a few Surfers about this but some guys and

Women they want to be out at pipe regardless right they want to be out there even if they’re not catching the waves at least they’re seeing you know positioning in the lineup okay identifying that’s a wave I would have gone but then there’s the other kind of

Surface that are like you know what I kind of just want reps on the board I want my feet in the wax I’m going to go surf Hal Eva and so there’s sort of two different approaches there and want to sort of like you know what are the GU

Guys and women doing that your coaching Shane well there’s the right approach and then there’s a wrong approach no I mean everybody that I’m coaching honestly I just tell them you got to serve pipeline you have to there’s there’s where they are and there’s where they want to be right and

There’s no no going around there’s no easy way to get to being you know John John Florence there’s there’s no there’s no easy way to get to being Moana Jones there’s only one way and it’s hundreds of uncomfortable sessions hundreds hundreds of beatdowns hundreds of waveless sessions where you don’t get a

Single good wave hundreds of sessions where you paddle out and break your board before you catch one hundreds of sessions where you paddle out and get dropped in on twice and that’s your whole session I mean that’s literally the only way through is just going through and like doing the hard yards

You know and and but you know the the the the flip side of that is is that if you’re willing to put in the work you do see this incremental progress over time and even the sessions where you don’t get a wave you learn you do you learn

Like these little bits and pieces even from watching other people who have it figured out as we watch the paddle battle from the sky that’s Ryan Kalin on the right Emi colani devault on the left they’re going for second priority because Jordy already has first but every decision in priority

Could be the difference of you being in the round of 32 or the elimination round round it’s like Emi might be just getting a little Edge having that inside track and it will go to Ryan Kalin it’s so interesting he like this Joe because it’s like sometimes it’s

Like 3 minutes left and it’s Battle of the backups right like look at the backup scores there so true I mean with having one big score for Emi I mean you’d be laughing to have an excellent range score in your first heat of the year but then a 167 is keeping him

Really vulnerable right now especially with Jordy right behind him with priority weight for a special wave as you can see all the different moods of pipe and back door throughout the day today this West North West Direction has been solid it was kind of crazy out there yesterday pretty

Frightening kind of scary kind of day at pipe wind changed in our favor and allowed us to really capitalize on this day and the SW of flick as we saw this morning it’s matter of Great Wave selection not being on the wrong waves a lot of broken boards in that morning

Session before we got started for sure there and you can still see it even looking at this shot I mean there’s a lot of lump there’s a lot of wonk there’s a lot of bump in the face of the wave um I’ve seen a couple of replays

Today that have just been who was it I think it was Griff’s wave just even just musling that bottom turn and just holding on sort of for dear life and as he was doing that he was hitting rivet after rivet and he just sort of muscled

His way through that um so there yeah there’s just been moments and you know I’m actually surprised that it’s cleaned up as much as what it had I mean the forecast always said there was going to be light winds today but yester the last 2 days you know that we’ve had coner

Winds it’s been really strong it’s almost looked at like storm at sea so yeah it’s nice to see a cleaner ocean and yeah I yeah it’s nice to see a clean ocean Shane on a day like today your lineup marks with this kind of Swell this kind of energy are you kind of

Moving throughout the Heat or can you kind of rely on one spot drop anchor and grab two waves that’s a good question Joe it’s it’s funny because um I’m a coach and and a lot of the people I coach you know they’re relatively new to pipeline like um like even Ethan he’s

Been here for years but it’s like you don’t get that much practice out there so Ethan and like some of my girls that I have they’re all looking for this specific lineup like oh I just need to go out there and find this one lineup and everything will be good the waves

Are going to come to me I’m going to get all the good waves if I sit at this one spot if I just have priority and I sit here and keep looking at this lineup on the beach it’s going to come right to me and pipeline is just not like that you

Like you might have the perfect lineup for one day but the next day you go out there is the same size just slightly different wave like just slightly different direction a little bit more West or a little bit more North or a little bit different swell period and

Next thing you know that perfect lineup you had is just unusable and all of a sudden the perfect lineup is 20 ft away and then there’s a day like this where it’s very Shifty it’s it’s you know we have a lot of swell in the water today

It’s 10 to 12 fet but it’s a short period swell so it’s really peaky super Shifty and we were talking just now about how messy and weird it was yesterday and so you have that leftover bump that leftover sort of storm Vibe out there so it’s very Shifty 10 seconds

On the clock in Heat number nine and Ryan Kal in 683 and a 3.5 is able to keep the numbers ahead of Emi colani devault even though Emi had the best single wave score Emi will be in second it’s a great spot though cuz top two

Advance on to the round of 32 and the veteran Jordy Smith will have to deal with the elimination round later on today coming up next Conor oi takes on kanoa igarashi and Eli Hanaman e for the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti is brought to you by Lexus experience Amazing by Bon soy official milk of the WSL and by Pacifico live life anchors up thanks for being with us opening day of competition third day of the waiting period for the Lexus Pipe Pro presented

By Yeti Connor oi in the line of now representing Japan as we set this one up with Conor live that worked out really well just talking about it kicks out of a way and pipe love this guy another one of those big guys on tour real cool guy to

Catch up with loves a laugh loves a t with his friends when the occasion arises in a good way and just really cool to hang with a guy that’s grown a lot that’s gone through a lot of hard work and challenges when we talk about keeping himself on this Elite platform

Of the championship tour but turning in his best last season he’s the highest seed in this matchup in blue also representing Japan keno igarashi and Elijah koha hanaman representing lah Maui making his rookie debut this is going to be a fun one to break down flick Let’s uh start off with

A goofy Connor o with your expectations on him at this event in the season I just I find that you know from everything I saw from Conor last year I feel like he’s really just settling in and I’ve got to Echo what you said he

He’s been through a lot uh over the last 10 sort of years I mean he’s fallen off to it he’s had to fight his way back on he’s had sponsorship changes um I just I I love I’ve always been a fan of Conor surfing he’s a big strong powerful

Food and I’d like to think that you know he’s probably got his sight set on that sort of final five is Connor’s first wave was a really big TP you can almost see like a lot of weight went on his uh toeside rail there and almost uh sort of

Catching rail but we have a look here sort of regained came flying out but it was a real big teepee so there it wasn’t really that stretched out he didn’t really get that much length from The Chew but you know feet in the wax first wave .17 Keno gashi out there in the

Blue jersey and it’s Shane it’s been fun to follow this guy’s uh career obviously a Phenom as a kid he’s kind of always been in the spotlight silver medalist in in Tokyo when it felt like the whole country was putting pressure on him and he came through almost got gold and then

Last year kind of would almost seem like a recovery Year from all the success he had the previous season yeah for sure I mean I’m a huge fan of canoas he’s he’s so fun to watch in a lot of different kind of conditions and he’s so he’s he’s normally so

Composed but you know he’s also had a lot of adversity too it hasn’t been easy for him um he’s had a lot of tough Heats he’s had had a lot of tough breaks wow oh my that was wild let’s get a replay of that that was Eli wow quickly Eli

Hanaman there he is popping up going for it on his rookie debut here this guy’s had or felt the pressure to succeed as the wisely get off his board and try to find some space if any underneath his set that’s still pouring through but one of the hardest working

Guys to come out of this rookie class is Eli hanaman putting in a lot of time at pipe and he’s already one of those guys that has gone through a very scary wipe out a couple of years ago right at this venue what’ you see here Shane yeah just

Steep and deep super late amazing control and poise and confidence I mean most people get hung up on a wave like that first of all most people just duck dive it and go over the back you know like but like he whipped it head down knifed down the face grabbing the rail

Perfect I mean just absolutely perfect technique he just was so late that he’s he just wasn’t able to maintain that speed um and just got engulfed but I mean absolutely sending it tons of tons of confidence um it’s been amazing watching Eli’s kind of transformation

Into to you know an adult and a like he’s you know I like we’ve all like every single surf fan in the world has watched sort of like the transformation from Eli being like a 12-year-old minig Grom in some of those old edits that he was just a absolute Phenom as a little

Tiny kid um incredible aerialist and really good skateboarder when he was a little tiny kid and to see like all the hype that whole crazy hype machine when he was really young 13 14 15 and everything was kind of going his way had every sticker in the world on his on his

Board and um it just it seemed like he was like the chosen one and then he went through like a few years that it was like tons of adversity he couldn’t win a contest couldn’t win a heat he felt like he couldn’t buy his way out of a heat um

Tons of struggle lots of adversity and it’s really neat to see him finally having his debut on the world tour and I feel like I it’s funny I was talking to these guys this morning Eli Kade Matson Crosby colapinto Cole hman and they all felt like it was their first day in high

School you know that nervousness where you’re like new it’s like a big you know it’s like nobody knows who I am and it’s like it’s all unknown the classrooms like what do they like and then you got like the upper classmen that are like kind of flexing on like kind of like

Starting their dominance and stuff and it’s like that whole dynamic is so fun and interesting and to see Eli out there in the big leagues for me like being a Hawaii boy he’s so awesome and being from Lina and all the adversity they’ve gone through in that town and just see

It so well represented in Eli is amazing a it’s so cool and such a great comparison you know just the kids on tour trying to figure out where the bathroom is of these contests let alone surf their Heats as we have a veteran of the tour standing by great win for Ryan

Kalan who’s hanging out with AJ yeah Joe a veteran of the tour and yet still with some first aid Jitters Aral is what you’re telling me how did you manage those today um I don’t really feel like I did I don’t know just been so long since we’ve uh competed like tahi was

The last time for me seriously and um you know just to try and remember everything that I do uh how it’s going to feel even though you you know you never exactly know but just trying to you know accept whatever was going to happen and just go out and have fun surf

Pipe with no one out that was uh that was very motivating what was your process once you got back to Hawaii to get yourself back in competition mode get into a routine and be ready for today to get your first Heat win of 2024 um it actually got easy when I got to

Hawaii when I was at home I was like what am I doing like there was no waves and I was just like I trained a beit but surf when I could um but once I got here it kind of felt pretty natural uh yeah I don’t know just

Surfing these waves and trying to get back into you know the Rhythm and figure out boards you know back with dog working with him again and just um he seems to bring everything into line pretty easy so I don’t know just it’s been a good few weeks before the comp

And then obviously the morning of is a bit like oh like like you said going back to school or something so um yeah I I really enjoyed it though but yeah it was nice to get that one out of the way I don’t blame you congratulations first Heat win

We’ll see you in the next round thank you very much thank you AJ thank you Ryan great job shaking off those first heat Jitters which kind of reminds you how tough it is to create the energy that you do feel you know at a championship Tour event the biggest

Stage in the world best Surfers in the world a wave like pipeline even though you’re out there free surfing it and like Shane told us Ryan getting some gems all of a sudden heat’s on all your goals are right in front of you you’ve got a clean slate going back to school

You know a reference you got straight A so far you haven’t messed up yet you know you still could do it all as we look at the back of kenoa gashi playing with the backwash there let’s get the free ride out let’s have a look flick I really liked this wave beautifully

Surfed and what I really liked is he didn’t just kick out there he sort of just identified maybe that these last two Heats have been a bit slower a bit lower scoring obviously we saw that eight from IMI but other than that they’ve been a bit on the lowest of

Scoring end so just squeezing every last bit of this wave and from this angle you can really see that he was really deep in that Barrel you couldn’t see the nose of his board at all it was fully um covered yeah beautiful uh grab R here and just squeezing every last sort of

Scoring opportunity that he could I love the turn so cool like it pip you so often see people get a big barrel like that and they’re stoked and the times time ticking away way until they just kick out but when you see someone just like take the time and like eye up the

Section and do a big old grab rail car hack and it’s just it’s I don’t know something so good it’s funny I was watching the other day and this guy got this insane Barrel I forget exactly who it was and I was with Griffin and Crosby

And we were at PK’s house and this guy got this insane wave at back door glassy Big Barrel comes out and there’s this perfect face and everyone was like that I’m so sick yeah and he kicks out of the wave and it’s this perfect Bas and everyone

Went so bummed they were more bummed on the fact that you didn’t do the turn than they were stoked on how sick barel we’re going to duct points for that you’re just want to complete the whole package and I mean in a wave like this

When you have all the power in the world coming at you all the speed in the world it man it’s so rewarding to lay it down for sure I mean the Barrel’s a great feeling but for me sometimes just laying into a big section and doing a really

Good carb just visually it looks good and it also feels good too there’s some that are Timeless you Tom survey shot Tom Curr you know the crazy forehand carve you know is just ingrained in all of our minds so something that he did years ago right

Here at back door it’s such a separator too you know especially like on a on a on a day like this everybody’s riding like a 66 or a 68 so like if you see somebody come out of a barrel and a nice face and do like a proper on rail turn

On a 68 there’s a lot of people who can’t do that and so it’s it’s really cool when you see someone like use that opportunity to kind of like differentiate themselves and I feel like the judges are always looking for that always looking for a way to separate

People so if you can give those judges a like a clear indication that hey like this is what I’m all about I’m going to get barreled as pipeline but I’m going to come out into like a fierce turn pretty cool yeah better than any claim you know just laying that down last

Impression in the judge’s Minds which kind of reminds us what’s on offer on that endsection big carve or or Big Air especially for guys like John John or or Gabriel Medina that’s right oh I mean that that is the ultimate right and as surfing keeps progressing and these guys

Are just getting better and better and better um we’re seeing more of that and I think the dangerous thing out here as well is that you know in a heat where there’s three people you might think that I’m just going to let that wave go right and the guy might need I don’t

Know let’s say a five a six a seven um you we’ll get back to that moment but wow out the back oh thought he was coming out of that for sure that was Eli Eli going down swinging backto back attempts to kick off heat number 10 in his rookie

Debut remember he had the wild sliding out attempt at pipeline which was really Brave and really technical went down on the right as well so he’s obviously really worked on getting his head really strong about recovering from that crazy wipout he had out here that sidelined

Him for a long time that’s a one-point ride but he’s already made a big impression on his willingness to charge right now in this matchup shame sure I mean he’s putting the hard yards out here he you know he’s he’s a Maui boy but he pretty much moved to Wahu the

Last few years and he’s really spent a lot of time out here at pipe and it wasn’t easy you know be being being a kid from Maui and being a smaller kid and coming out here in the in the lineup and getting flexed on by the bigger

Older guys for years it’s it’s really intimidating and and um I think Eli’s done really well to get out there and just sort of pick his windows and he’s had some phenomenal rides both on his backand and on his front side and and um and you see Eli wearing a helmet that’s

A new thing for him and uh his confidence I feel like he was already pretty sendy even without the helmet but after a couple pretty gnarly wipeouts out there it’s cool to see some of these younger guys you like not being afraid to use a helmet out there and and it

Only elevates your confidence and and being more self assured and feeling a little bit more safe that you can you know kind of give it 100% ESP especially like with this event being the first event of a very long and important year you know it’s like if if you can do

Something that’s going to make you feel a bit more safe um I’m all for it lick where do you weigh in on the the helmet conversation I’m all for it if it’s if it’s shallow and yeah shallow big really really thick like yeah 100% I just for

Peace of mind and yeah for protection obviously but I I have a bit of a different opinion when it comes to surfing bigger waves that are on deeper reefs I personally don’t wear a helmet then but um under the impression that you know the waves the the water’s a lot

Deeper there and it’s less likely that you’re going to hit the bottom but for waves like pipeline you know Teo you I’m definitely if I’m ever going to go out there and paddle I’m definitely going to wear a helmet for sure seems like we’re seeing more and more helmets every year

You know it’s it’s actually kind of felt like a slower process to to get a lot of the lineup wearing them and I suppose maybe we can relate to the process that you heavily involved with Shane with like the inflation vest that you were working on where it wasn’t like everyone

Was signing up for that overnight there was still a lot of opinions and people had to get comfortable with the idea of change yeah for sure there’s also like a weird stigma and Surfers are Surfers are very stylish like they like their style like their their black wet suits and

Their white boards or they’re like super fluorescent boards and like they’re you know like they’re they’re you know they’re very about like an aesthetic that they’re in to you know like you got the Soul Surfers and the hipsters and the like punk punk kind of Surfers and

And like a helmet is like all of a sudden you’re wearing a helmet like that’s that’s like kind of throws your style off for a lot of people so I think that was part of the slow progression that there there wasn’t very many people wearing helmets and and now it’s just

Been like this thing that’s accepted like hey it’s it’s making it safer and it’s pipeline you hit the reef really hard of your head and get really horrible brain injuries from one wipe out so I think there has been this sort of a like like an adoption a slow

Adoption very similar to when I first started snowboarding a long time ago almost nobody wore a helmet and now almost nobody’s not wearing a helmet snowboarding and I think same with snowboarding it’s been a slow progression of like you know you see you see the consequences of of not wearing

Helmet and um it can be pretty bad yeah Eli even posted a photo he was like this might not look cool but this is where I’m going with this and that kind of speaks to right what you’re talking about about style and probably dream of having those stand up Barrel shots you

Know with nothing on your head you know that would be in the magazines but when it comes to competing keeping yourself healthy looking at your entire career Eli making a smart decision getting home safe looks really cool yes oh always getting home to your family at the end

Of the day and you know that’s that that’s it’s very cool 1250 on the clock in this one Canoa gashi leads 517 as High Mark still looking for a solid backup score here in Heat number 10 we’ll be right back Fir I know I’m back here to the Lexus KY Pro we’re over here in the aai beach park and we are with Donald Donald you have set up an amazing shaping Bay right here on the beach for everybody to see you got local Shapers like Daniel Jones talk tell me

What’s you know the the whole project and what how to spurred up yeah so just super honored to be part of the visista shaping space and you know really connecting what we ride how we got there what we made and then enjoying the ocean but yeah I think showing and sharing the

Craft of building a surfboard is endlessly fascinating to me and to everyone else so just sharing the craft and what do we got over here we got Daniel shaping an an asymmetric which is basically uh you know a very unique style surfboard Daniel what’s the uh basis behind the asymmetric just going

Fast and loose just keep it interesting Daniel grew up on the NorthShore local guy and who are the other Shapers that you guys have here down here shaping with you uh I think Matty rer Kay Alexander was here this morning and uh looks like got Josh

Peterson Alex Lopez that be a good one and uh again yeah that’s his golden planer you want to check that out the golden planer well you have you used the golden planer yet not yet am my so the planers are you know a lot of surfboards are made with um you know

Machines and and they’ve got a lot of different um you know things that cut the the foam for them but down here they’re traditionally shaping boards with planers which is loud but definitely an art and a craft so it’s really cool to see these guys down here

On the beach showing the public what’s happening so thanks for being down here absolutely I think the details and boards and the depth and detail that these pros need and that their experienced teams and Shapers and board manufacturers go to and the length that they do and the time they spend getting

What’s right to be used and the waves of consequence at the highest level is is really fascinating it’s great to be part of it and highlight everyone’s crafts and and platforms that they’ve Built Well thank you very much for being down here thank you Daniel I’d love to see

The live action right here in the beach park and now we’re going to throw it back out into the water because there’s a lot going on it’s a lot going on Strider I hope they let you take a pass on one of those boards with that planer

I know we’d have fun doing that great Shapers in there Daniel Jones also Donald Brink incredibly Creative Minds when it comes to building boards and right now you could scan that QR code code with a chance to win a very special surfboard coming right out of that this

Pip Pro shaping space a lot of great names that they threw down there Alex Lopez for people that don’t know that’s Jerry’s son who still shapes boards with his father one of the best ever at pipeline so a lot of great things to do while you’re watching Heats and checking

Out special crafts lick have you ever made a board before I’ve never made a board before I’ve been in shaving Bays a lot but never made a board maybe it’s in the future it’s definitely on the buck Le something you’d like to do Shane you ever done it before I have yeah I’ve

Shaped a few how did it come out you know the coolest board I ever shaped um a buddy of mine named bugs um who’s a close friend he hit me up once and said he wanted to do a do a board that was like a collaboration for charity and so

I shaped this board with um with let me see I need to remember everybody John Carper um Jerry Lopez um I’m I’m trying to I’m trying to think who else shaped it I think um Rory Russell was in there and uh any anyway like four legendary Shapers and it was

Really cool to do like a collaboration um and and that was really cool and and the coolest thing about it was um I wrote it out here at pipeline after when when it was done and it was a Single Fin so it was like this really cool kind of like

70 cool template um and it was yeah it was really fun Bard ride and I wrote it out here on a couple big days and then and then we auctioned it off and raised a bunch of money for charity so that was a lot of fun it’s all time but how cool

Did that feel like riding something that you made it was really fun and just to have like a board that was like kind of touched by all these legendary Shapers um it was just a lot of fun it was it was cool and and you know um um Jerry

Had a lot to do with it as well and uh and just sort of like knowing that that’s what those guys were riding at pipeline here in the’ 70s and going out here to pipe and trying trying to like put waves together and and not stack it

And mess it up um was a lot of fun it just gives even more respect for what those guys were doing on that equipment Everything’s changed so much and that was kind of the era too with Jerry a lot of guys were making their own boards to

Have the edge on their competitors you talk about people want to train harder they’d be like I’m going in the shaping room and creating something that’ll give you the edge you can go back to Simon Anderson introducing the Thruster he won Bells when it was 10t the day before

Finals day 1ot the most reliable setup when he introduced the Thruster but you look at now like the demand of boards you I was talking to Matt myis who was V the shaper of the year last year he has more rookies on tour I was like okay how

Many boards did you prepare for the Hawaiian leg of the CT and he’s like it’s easy to say 200 W and because he said the demand of pipe and sunset the different moods that it could bring everyone’s got at least 12 to 20 boards if they’re on the Mayhem team and that’s

Just for the first two stops of the year the sheer number MERS are outrageous but they they need it right I mean it’s important at this level it’s like the way they surf you know Molly was in here earlier she creased to 66 in a warm-up session she’s going to have to

Try to find a way to replace that you know as the the week goes on p66 is going around today I heard that a few 65s I’m sure she’ll find one she’ll find one for sure yeah I mean the depth of your quiver is pretty demanding these

Days Shane yeah and you need a good a really really good board in every size and then you need a backup in case you break it like um I’m I’m coaching um a couple of the American Girls Lakey Peterson um Sawyer Lin blad and Alyssa Spencer and for Alyssa and Sawyer it’s

Their first year on tour so it’s a little bit unknown you know and they’re asking me kind of about equipment it’s maybe like a month ago even two months ago and they’re like you know like I was thinking maybe maybe a really big board

Like a 60 or a 61 and I’m like girl you need a 63 you need a 66 and you need a backup for all those boards you need a number one for every single size and then you need a backup for it as well uh

So so awesome 18 years old on tour I think in her mind she was saying she thought like maybe a 6’2 would be the board and even that feels gigantic she’s 5’5 and then gosh just got a crazy one the other day and immediately was like

Matt I need a 65 you know like that that 62 felt like a toothpick as we get cut off with this one knifing that takeoff standing up that looked exactly like all of his highlight Clips I’ve been watching for the last few weeks Eli getting a make

Welld deserved there flick yeah that was beautiful and uh probably feels nice for him that was so late that was such a late takeoff wow grabs the rail and I just love how he stands tall super relaxed super casual it’s kind of like one of semi Acclaim um yeah that was beautiful

And exactly what he’s been looking for uh so well deserved putting in the time the guy hosts so many people at his house as well he’s got everyone at his house all the time loves having that environment they’re surfing all day playing ping pong at night I don’t think

Anyone could be Eli pingpong guy is a weapon but it’s h cool how he balances his fun but also super focused Ultra healthy and happy to where he where he is right now in his life uh got engaged last year was able to qualify even was instrumental in helping

Some of that crew like Kade Madson at soccer ammo and Kade had a shocker lost out if he would have won his he would have been on tour and Eli said I got you and was able to get the win that made it official for Madson big ramp backand whip that’s what

He’s famous for his favorite Surfer on tour Felipe too and I’m definitely can match him in the air that’s that would be a fun battle in a high performance setting those two going to town above the lip his Landing rtio is incredible but I love his ability to to match it with his

Willingness to charge Shane what’ you see here yeah just he’s so technical you can see you can see that level of comfort and that only comes from lots of lots of sessions out here in these waves just knowing how to like whip it as that wave is coming in under under the lip

And just you basically have to be at the bottom of the wave when you’re padding it’s so steep it’s so intense and you can see it it was super technical as well as his last wave just that really late drop and then just using your Edge almost not even using your fins for

Stabilization but using your whole edge of your board and your rail line um you know and then just boosting that air at the end and um Eli loves this wave for airs he said it’s one of it’s like one of his favorite air waves um actually that air section for people with the

Right eyes it you know like if you’re looking at it correctly like and if you’re air person that you know the air section at the end is insane and like for EO for John John for Gabe they’re looking at that thing like it’s an insane opportunity for a which is really

Cool oh it’s so cool especially when have all the speed coming out of a barrel and to go Skyhigh we’ve had some crazy highlights on that endsection ramp especially on the pipeline side of things as we look at a minute 20 to go Conor’s dropped down to third Canoa

Holding on to Second top two move on to the round of 32 and third will be in the elimination round today Conor with second priority it’s up to Canoa both will let that one go also just a reminder how cool it is for the island of Maui having some

Representation in this event Eli fulltime on tour Ian Gentile got rookie of the year last season Emi colani devault back on torad Wildcard Jackson Bunch into the mix as well first male to qualify for the dream tour was Dusty pay years back as we see that stall trying

To get a bit of the barrel there great technique but not super deep but just enjoying that Flawless effort on the back end of Eli Hamman flick for sure I think it’s interesting there’s another lump here behind this wave and Cano’s got priority only needs a sort of small

Score here see what’s going to happen any takers kenoa gashi has finaled out here in the past was runner up to Michelle bz that was that heroic moment where he opened up a spot for Ezekiel Lao by going all the way to the final double qualifying for the

Tour and we will run out of time the last score still coming in for Eli but it’s not going to matter he’s still sitting out in front solid Heat win for his rookie debut on the championship tour Canoa gashi moving to the round of 32 and second as well thanks so much

Shane Doran for your time can’t wait to do this again action continues here in the lineup Heat number 11 coming up next we’ll bring in Kyo and la for the Call 11 for I just wrote like I a pro Surfer I’m kind I’m positive I’m going to be the best surfer to come out of San Clen okay I got into surfing because my dad had a surf camp he’s gotten Griffin and I into it and he’s gotten me like fired up on

It Crosby was the younger brother and everything was about Griffin he was happy for his brother but now it’s game on appreciate it the boss Crosby is a little more of a wild Card a goofball he’ll play any character I’m a basketball professional from Australia they’re really in tune with their emotions and they’re not afraid to show it love you wow I feel like competing and being a professional Surfer is almost like a fast track to loving life and and

Finding yourself my name is Crosby kapino and I’m a rookie on the championship tour Crosby’s with his big brother now on the championship tour and this is his debut here at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti Crosby k T up against a couple of surfers from Hawaii Ian gtil

And baron mamia this is another challenge in the opening day of the Season welcome and thank you for joining us I’m Kyper gr along with the world record holder Laura en and Laura I love this heat on paper I I have been anticipating to see how Crosby is going

To bring his act to the big stage here at pipeline absolutely I mean he’s he’s here the rookie on tour with all of his mates and his big brother working with his big brother’s coach uh you know they you know they ride the same boards they’re from the same place

Obviously but uh yeah let’s see how Crosby can really turn this in and uh yeah take on his first ever HTE on tour Ian gentil just getting a a ride there just a up and out for Half Point ride for the surfer um from pya Mai Ian gentil second year on the championship

Tour Ian gentil the 2023 WL Rookie of the Year year um last year his rookie year had a Ninth Place finish here at pipeline there’s Gentile your thoughts on him and his surfing here in Hawaii Ian GLE laor yeah I feel like last year it was so amazing

To see Ian gentil arrive you know his his story is such a fascinating one he was such a young gun he was sponsored by Nike and and I had all this um you know sort of Rave around him as a Grom coming from Maui and and then you know he

Disappeared he took time away from surfing and he went and studied and he’s come back now in his you know mid to late 20s and is absolutely doing such incredible surfing and making a name for him on the world stage and to be rookie of the year last year I absolutely loved

His speech he got up there he was so real he was one of the speeches of the night kind of just talking us through all of his sort of mistakes that he made he said he will never ever paddle out late to a he at Sunset again against

John John Florence uh he obvious viously got the timing a bit wrong there but that is um he said he had nightmares about that his whole rest of his uh year which understand understandably yeah that was the uh Lexus W cell Awards night that we shared

Over at the Turtle Bay in he’s got a great group around him as far as a coaching leadora also sparring partners with yodora as well as Jack Robinson I think the collectively that’s really helped someone like Ian gentil also out there Baron mamia the NorthShore your kid 24 years old talk

About someone who’s comfortable at pipeline that’s Baron mamia the 88 on his back representing the 808 area code um Baron mamia arguably one of the best local Surfers out here at pipeline Laur your thoughts absolutely I mean his first year coming in here and getting a ninth place and that Heat against Kelly

I mean I feel like we could rewatch that heat over and over and over he had Kelly up against the wall obviously Kelly did some Kelly magic in the last 3 seconds and uh and got him at the pipped him at the post really but Baron at that point

Obviously uh yeah just came and showed the world we could do yeah went on to uh in 2022 as a wild card taking a win at sunset here we go Crosby in the barrel it’s a Growler and Crosby Cola Pinto welcome to the championship tour Crosby

Cola Pinto on his first ride as a CER Laura yeah and you could hear the be absolutely erupt I know Griffin and his dad are down here watching and that is one awesome way to start your CT career that’s way get door draer he’s done that over and over again

I’ve seen Griffin and Crosby you know surf that you know back door and part of the reef there so many years and they both absolutely charge and there he is on the paddle back out 22 years old freshly qualified for the championship tour we’re anticipating a great number and a great

Start for this yeah look at this so nice and deep air drop into that one and just perfect line you he could tell when that one came nice little Jam to finish their kicks off but look at that TP perfectly positioned nothing crazy too deep compared to what he’s had out

Here but he just knew that wave was such such a dreamy one slicing through slowing down Standing Tall right here that was such a nugget and uh yeah he just had to ride him hold on there love the hand up there as he gets spit out of the barrel a nice

Jam here to finish off the number comes through for this effort that you’re seeing on the replay a 7.33 for Crosby colapinto and an early lead for the rookie scratching in here Ian gentil looking for something gentil goes Pike grabs a rail just a little bit of a

Shampoo right on top of the head he going to try to clean it up with a couple of turns but not not really the the wave that he was looking for right by him Baron Mia gets the pump grabs the rail get spit out we’re talking about

Comfort at pipeline Baron M how was that that was one of my favorite rides of the day that was absolutely insane I cannot wait to to see the replay of that one Baron Mia he is one of the best out here we know that he rides those small oh P ble battle why

Not Crosby’s getting the full welcome to the tour peddle battle well the judge is our priority judge is already given priority to frosby Kinto probably in the fact that if it’s close like that it’s the surfer that you know rode the last wave usually doesn’t

Get the uh the priority here we go Baron really quick though looking back door mamia casual just punches out the back time to catch his breath go straight back into it but uh you know that’s I love watching these local boys just sniff out these waves along the

Reef and uh it’s what they do every day I’m out here but yeah cannot wait to see that replay yeah speaking of young Hawaiian hopefuls you got to look no further than the rookie Eli hanaman he’s on to the round the 32 Strider with a Heat win that’s right Eli

Congratulations on a great heat first heat first event you’re on the glass must feel good yeah this is insane first rookie heat and I’m on the glass so can’t complain tell me about the the mayhems and and the crew that you guys basically all qualified together with

Yeah I mean the proofs and the pudding Matt won shaper of the year last year and uh he’s got a lot of work cut out from him now cuz just like five more of us just qualified so uh yeah big shout out to Matt he’s making all my boards um

I’m riding only mayhems and uh they’re working great uh yeah and appreciate everything he does for me does the competitive uh ping pong challenges carry over to the water oh yeah for for sure yeah well we can’t wait to see in the rest of the event congratulations on

Making it to the glass first heat and I know there’s a lot more from you yeah it’s crazy I mean two years ago I was watching this event from a hospital bed um from surfing this wave and so uh to be here um and winning heats is two

Years later is crazy and uh I don’t know I just felt it all week it’s just been Divine timing and I just I don’t know I just felt it uh and I’m really grateful to be in the position I’m in well congratulations on the comeback and being right here man we’re right there

With you we can’t wait to see more thank you yeah Eli hanaman talking about January 24th 2022 where it was a dark time for Eli knocked out underwater had to be resuscitated came back found himself in a hospital Dazed and Confused also found out that he had lacerated his

Pancreas so his board must have hit him underwater took a long recovery was a long road for Eli hanaman to be here today and it’s so fitting to celebrate that Heat win for Eli but back to current action this is a 8.93 low for Baron Mia yes excellent wave for Baron

Mia that was that was a wild one look how thick and chunky it went here just let’s go big pump almost went too high there had to readjust and just got spit out of that bow you could tell that he was absolutely stoked with that look at

How it drops out here he gets so low off the bottom realizes got to put my foot on the on the gas and uh yeah just pushes through that section it’s so cool what Baron did on that wave in which he went from grabbing the rail letting go

To get that big pump in we can see it here again grabbing the rail let’s go right here AI style gets the pump in then back into the three-point stance yeah that was just so technical you know constantly adjusting every little bit you know having to come off the bottom

And realize I’ve got to to get get going uh down the line and then obviously realizing I’ve got to get down and not be too high right now and uh that was that was a one one wild ride just finishing off a ride there that’s going to be ride number three for

Baron mamia and will’ll be standing by for that score Crosby kapino back door pulls in gets caught up there you can see the entrance was not clean and he will not be able to get through that one yeah unfortunately that one you can just see is clamped down a bit looks

Like he might have lost his board broken board for Crosby there so unfortunate so this will be the drill right now for Crosby kapino he’s going to get pushed in the crew from Hawaiian water Patrol will come and try to scoop him up and get him there they go AB

Learner on the ski pro be quick to get on the sled and it’s going to be a trip to the beach for some new equipment for Crosby Kinto yeah I’m sure just as Eli was saying Matt Bolis has his work cut out for him this year how good was that that

Was an absolute whip around Tommy Whitaker on the beach the uh coach for Crosby Kino with a new board couple of words from Tommy witz and Crosby so that already with a keeper score of a 7.33 needs to wrap this up get another score he’s got 16 minutes and 55 seconds on the

Countdown well Baron with an 893 Crosby with a 733 they can uh really sort of run run away with this obviously 68 minutes uh 68 and a half to go so they’re they’re looking pretty good just having to get you know something in the M mid-range to really put the pressure

On a in yeah interesting story we got another another set of Brothers over on the championship tour Crosby and Griffin Co Pinto we got Miguel and Sammy poo but in the history of professional surfing we’ve had a number of Brothers Derek and Michael H Flavio and Ne Pats Cory and

Shay Lopez of course CJ and Damen hobgood another brother duo we can’t forget Andy and Bruce irons Tanner and Pat Galis another brother set and finally the winners the rights they had three siblings on tour at one time Tyler Owen and Mikey So Family Affair love the history on that those families feeding

Their kids absolutely amazing I mean I think you know sibling Riv rivalry is such a thing and it’s uh it’s just so beautiful to watch and I love that opening piece that we got to see of uh Crosby just saying you know how much he he looked up

To his brother but uh now they’re at the time in their life where yeah I’m sure he just wants to beat him so badly it’s it’s true when when Crosby qualified in Sakura at the end of the Challenger series season last year I interviewed him and asked what do you look forward

To the most in the 2024 World Tour and his answer was Heats with my brother I want to surf Heats with my brother so I thought it was going to be baiting my brother there we go I’m sure that he had to hold that one

Back AJ what do you got for us Kyo I just got a chance to catch up with Tommy Whitaker who was the one who handed Crosby colapinto the new board after breaking his first one Tommy telling me that it’s a 68 he’s on now a little bit

Bigger than the one he started the heat on but Tommy telling me that he told Crosby just breathe while you’re out there and he asked Crosby are you having fun and CI said I absolutely love this great Intel there from AJ mcord right on the beach and uh we’re halfway

Through we’re going to take a break right now we’re coming back to this exciting heat Baron mamia went excellent Crosby colapinto right in the action Etho Ferrera he’s coming up in Heat number 12 The Wild be we do it better than any place around the road down coming out to the countdown 10 seconds we the number one Security in a surf business Kaka Solutions humble beginnings to where we at present time you start building a relationship with all the Surfers it’s almost like a

Ritual that every heat that goes out every heat that comes in man they make sure they shake your hand or you get a hug simple stuffs like That it’s in our blood dud go do what you know best we get to give back to people we get to provide Mal great peace on that man right there my brother Kimo Leong head of kanaka solutions Kimo a fixture here for decades as Security on the NorthShore and along the way Kimo has hanai or adopted hanai is the Hawaiian concept of of adopting he’s adopted a number of

Traveling Surfers into his family one of them being Jack Robinson so that’s that’s Jack Robinson’s uncle right there Laura absolutely love it K he just gives the best big be hugs every time you’re down at the contest side and uh yeah obviously don’t want to be on his wrong

Side a he’s thrown me before quite a distance but he is just you know he’s such a kind gentle awesome human and we love him he’s a he’s a bloody C up one of the great characters that you will see uh in our annual pilgrimage to the mecca of Surfing and the birthplace

Of Surfing here the Hawaiian islands and baron mamia that Hawaiian right there knows how to disappear and come back out of the puka the door or the hole no problem for Baron mamia he’s in the lead right now Laura yeah Baron he’s uh just really putting his stamp on his

Heat obviously got that excellent 893 35 I’m sure he’s going to be looking to close out this heat and try to get another drain up conditions changing again Laura yeah we’ve just seen that wind sort of puff up and be a bit uh variable this afternoon it just keeps swinging around

We’re seeing the tide come up throughout the afternoon and looks like Crosby’s having a look at pipe oh yeah Crosby Kinto that was a fierce drop would have wanted to be a little bit deeper but was able to negotiate that he will uh increase his score line with that effort

On that brand new board yeah that 68 it was looking good you know 68 seems like you know considering that Baron’s probably riding 6’2 that’s where he sort of always loves to ride out pipe and back door he’s just really comfortable on a shorter board but know Crosby likes

The longer one so it’s each their own really yeah yeah well it it worked out for Crosby Cola Pinto he’s currently in second place really the surfer with the pressure on his and the P by his name Ian Gentile trailing both Crosby and Baron and they they Crosby and baron

Keep on putting up numbers with waves like this yeah that was was such a tee super steep drop and uh nothing too deep but uh just getting the feel of that board and straight back into it how’s the water Vision yeah I love that water Vision thank you to the crew

That sit on the jet skate all day getting the absolute shot yeah look at that steep drop just perfect positioning and uh just sweeping under the LD there got a bit sort of wobbly we’re going to see these waves get more uh you know sort of wonky ass the afternoon goes on because

That high tide will push out more backwash just with that big burm on the beach there so still waiting for the score comes in as a 4.5 so crossby does increase his position and more pressure to Ian jentil Ian needing 8.33 at the moment we always ask surf line um you

Know give us some insight on what’s going on and so for that I’m going to go to the VIP headset with Jonathan Warren Jonathan what’s going on with the wi win and what are we going to be expecting yeah hey thanks for having me guys yeah it’s uh basically we’re expecting a seab

Breze this afternoon um but should stay on the Mellow side should be light so it’s still pretty clean pretty clean surf for the rest of the day but you know maybe maybe like a little bit of a little bit of like a texture and crumble

To the waves but for the most part I mean with how you know with this size and especially with the shape should still be some pretty good barrels on offer and then look for that wind to uh likely slack off this evening for glassy conditions as we head towards the end of

The day Jonathan any updates that since this morning upon the status looking in into competition perhaps tomorrow yeah all right so the current swell right now has been slowly just easing through the day as as we have been seeing through all the Heats um it’s going to get smaller smaller tomorrow but still

Enough left over I think in the morning for uh for it definitely be worth a look um you know but dropping to round head high to one to two feet overhead and with the period and with uh a secondary Norville starting to mix in too I think

Uh the best bet be uh back door down off the wall uh pipe not so much uh given those uh given those specs but uh and then as a day you know and clean like we’re expecting basically similar wind conditions that we’re seeing today uh just basically light uh light offshore

In the morning uh variable kind of swirling around in a light light uh seab Breeze in the afternoon too but by the afternoon that West Northwest Energy drops further and uh the north Northeast swell picks up even more and that’s not a good direction for pipeline so uh

Basically I think our window tomorrow if we were to go uh definitely the morning is worth a look um then as we make our way further out uh the north Northeast energy just becomes the dominant source for the next few days like Friday Saturday Sunday uh it’s primarily that

Swell it’s in the water and that’s just too steep for pipe um for it really you know have that shape that we want to see um conditions also kind of go south on us uh we’re expecting North winds to rise up over Friday get pretty strong

Just blowing it out all bumpy again um like like we saw like the other day and uh those trades are going to start clocking Northeast by Saturday and still very strong so not a good day then either uh again mostly that Northeast swell and Northeast winds um not much of

The West Northwest anymore uh and same with Sunday Sunday the trades start varying a touch more favorable like a little more easterly like East Northeast but still strong uh there’ll be a trade swell component in the mix the Northeast swell and just like a small West Northwest uh the next swell that we’re

We’re watching for that’s of note um to have some potential run days uh is a as a longer period Northwest SW it’s going to be uh setting up here over the next uh over the next two days we’re going to watch a storm develop off Japan um and

It’s going to kick a longer period Northwest well towards towards here uh that’s going to it’s going to build in through Sunday into Monday peaking on Monday right now it’s looking about you know seven maybe eight feet of deep water swell uh with on the peak around

15 16 seconds so that’s good that’s good for pipe the bad thing is that there is a low developing that’s going to develop Northeast of Hawaii so we’re going to see a reinforcing shot of a healthy size shorter period Northeast well so combo and we don’t really want to see that for

The reef uh Trade Winds look all right like by that point the winds shift more easterly so you know East trades is actually side off side to Offshore kind of breezy but the but the Direction’s good so I I think uh after after today and maybe tomorrow morning our our next

Best options would be Monday and Tuesday with that next Northwest that next Northwest swell like again not not ideal like I you know we actually prefer to see just just the Northwest swell and East trades but we’ll have a little bit of that Northeast Crossing in here to make for pretty challenging conditions

Well thank you so much Jonathan always appreciate all the input and information from surf line if you’re not already a premium member become a premium member to Surf line they’re one of the many components that we use in one of our partners when we look at making a call

Day to day today of course it’s all about showing up in the morning and judging panel as well as tours and competition all getting together as long as well as you know Surfer opinion when we make a call Laura it’s pretty dangerous him telling me that the weekend could be off but

Uh we’ll um yeah we’ll still wake up and check it but uh that’s that was a lot of information to unpack right there hey he’s got a you’ve got the most incredible memory that was great what coffee you drinking Jonathan thank you well we’re down to under four

Minutes right now and Crosby out in second place in advancing brother right there older brother Griffin looking still nervous Griffin also in a way uh obviously a support squad for for Crosby since he was born but also you know he’s kind of mind surfing and playing strategy on the

Beach for his little brother there yeah and Griffin was you know down on the beach supporting all of you know the whole s many crew Crosby at all the challenges at uh you know the back half of the year after his year was done you just saw him wherever you could just uh

You know being there and supporting and you know sort of coaching and helping and I just I love love that you know they are just supporting each other so much uh obviously in the Challenger Series Crosby was staying with all of his friends uh and they’d all be down

The beach and uh yeah just classic classic video and uh moments of them all just hanging out together and supporting oh Crosby looking pretty good right now but Ian Gentile yet to play his card his card is priority and he has to make sure that he has a hand Worth

8.33 or better to go into second place and avoid that elimination round big moment now for the surfer from P Mai yeah sometimes just holding that priority can be like Philip too earlier today just a bit of a curse just not really being able to you know sort of

Either just hold on to it for too long and and choose or find the way you want there been Midway mid-range scores that have been had under priority so Ian would look at those and probably just be feeling as you maybe should have given it more of a roll of

Dice down to under 2 minutes priority still with Ian Gentile as a competitor right now Laura I mean what what’s the game plan what’s what’s the two-minute drill I mean you can see Crosby’s just going to sit as close as he can to Ian he won’t be able

To do much you know Ian’s got priority but cros will just put that bit of pressure on him maybe try to push him in or sell him into anything kind of any sort of mind games you can do right now Baron’s so you know he’s pretty chilling

Right now he should probably just get out of the way and make sure make sure he just yeah he’s nice and safe yeah Baron in a great position 14.1 two wve total so that’s really when we look at the analytics that’s going to get you through opening round Heats no

Problem down to a minute now and some movement in the water and I like that we’re seeing less movement in the air and the wind backing down B yeah absolutely love that and you know it’s it’s something that happens on the NorthShore here you know usually

Around 1 2 the wind will like puff up a bit and there’ll be that sort of crumble in the face but around 3: 4 it it always seems to Glass off in the afternoon and uh that’s sort of what we’re going to see this afternoon which um those who

Want to go for a late surf sounds like it’ll be pretty glassy that is what uh Jonathan from surf line told us and he’s been pretty good at all the forecasting so we’re down to 30 seconds and Ian Gil may be going out of this heat sitting down unfortunate circumstance just with

A 3.5 and a two-point ride uh not being able to play that priority card and like you said Laura um sometimes that priority anchor can come back and get you yeah can for sure sure Baron’s whole crew will be stoked riding Channel Islands and uh yeah his whole camp and

You know the community around here will be absolutely pumped for him that was an amazing performance great Surfing by Batman Baron mamia he wins the heat along with a great rookie debut from Crosby colapinto he’s on to the round of 32 Ian gentil he is on to the

Elimination round we got one more heat coming up it’s going to be Miguel poo EO Ferrera Jacob Wilcox when we Return L world family the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti is brought to you by Lexus experience Amazing by event brigh on or off your board you’ve got plans with event brigh and by chaso official sunscreen partner of the world Surfly welcome back to the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti Miguel poopo in a cavern coming out with a spit that’s the start for the tour veteran and our top seed in this heat 12 of the opening round Kyo Guerrero Laura aner what a start from Miguel poopo oh love to see

It welcome back migy we missed you uh he had an injury last year he’s back onest the injury wild card and uh that is one way to kick it off he’s had some massive results here in the past and yeah must be feeling really good to be back there

He is on 12th season on the championship tour he’s also joined by the 2019 World Champ ealo Ferrera as well as West in Australia’s new rookie on tour Jacob Wilcox all goofy foot heat out in the water here and I’m buckled in ready for La yeah this is an absolute cracker of a

Heat to really close out this round it’s been an amazing morning and uh well yeah it’s afternoon now it’s almost coming up to 2:00 here in Hawaii and look how glassy it still is that’s uh that’s pretty pretty bloody nice yeah so closing out this round this is the final

Heat of the U opening round here today we’re going to go into to the elimination round um right after this heat you know we saw Felipe too in his heat looking out of sorts a bit Laura and we did get the news that uh Felipe is under the weather right now so with

That being said when we go into our elimination round we’re going to start with heat number two of the elimination round uh so just give an update we’ll get you more details but uh that’s the goings on and the sequence of events that we’re going to uh go into after

This heat number 12 of the opening round ah that sucks to hear I mean um yeah nothing worse than being under the weather fighting an illness while you’re trying to compete and do your best especially out here at pipe so uh really hoping uh Felipe has a quick recovery

Yeah and you know what when I look at Felipe too and I look at the remaining four events before the mid-season cut Sunset he’s won there bells he’s won there Portugal he’s won there yeah and Margaret River he’s won there so um still a lot to look forward to this

Season for Toledo right now 6.5 that was a start for Miguel poopo Ito Ferrera only has a 1.5 to his name and it’s not going to get much more on that wave so lead still with Miguel poopo it back he’s had a bit of a sticker change on the top of his nose

Head to toe Red Bull now and uh here he goes hee just taking off nice and deep here oh unfortunately just getting a bit too oh pushed through that it felt like he went too low but he must have adjusted and pushed through that fortunately just not making it chip on

His first wave Jacob Wilcox that is the rookie and here goes Miguel poopo getting the best wave of the heat so far that a beautiful wave stalling and just maximizing his tube time there and yeah 6.5 so he’s out in the lead 14.2 wve total

For Baron M we’re going to get back to that cuz back door Jacob Willcox parked goes complete the Western Australia Surfer our rookie in this Heat doing a good job at back door with that we’ll go to our last Heat winner Baron mamia excellent job out there with a 14.2 wve

Total Strider yes indeed a great job thanks kpo down here with Baron Baron local boy uh obviously you know this Reef like the back of your hand but you you seem to always find the gems out there is that just local knowledge uh I mean I guess you grow up

Surfing away you know you kind of have it figured out but I mean pipeline has so many different faces so I guess you never really can Master it um but yeah I just got just right place right time I guess your surfing seems to have matured

So much you know just being on tour competitively uh just watching the other guys or you know where do you go for that uh yeah I feel like uh watching other guys you know getting on tour you start to realize a lot of things about your surfing real quick surfing against

The best guys in the world so um yeah just making adjustments uh I changed board sponsors I’m riding Ms now and they feel really good and yeah I’m you know really excited for this year on the boards that’s a 64 traditionally I’ve always seen you on really short boards

So I was like well well he’s got a little bit more lumber I mean for most guys that’s not a lot but for you it seems like it’s a step up yeah uh I kind of got into the idea of riding a little bit bigger boards it kind of

Makes uh wow that was sick wow um but yeah it kind of makes it like you know a lot easier I guess I mean everyone has been telling me to ride bigger boards at pipe and Sunset and stuff but I’m just don’t really like to listen sometimes

You know but we live and we learn and um I’ve learned from a lot of my mistakes recently so uh I’m just trying out some bigger stuff I was riding six sixes all year so uh yeah I mean I feel really good on them so so well congratulations

On the on the new sponsor and being on the glass we can’t wait to see more out of you right on thank you guys all right back to you guys wow yeah Baron mamia out there with a with a new model uh that he’s developed with Brit Merrick a a pipe

Rook a 64 pipe rook and Brit Merck comes to the NorthShore to work with all of his athletes during that interview though we saw some action happen out in the lineup with Miguel poo poopo on the paddle back out here and looks like Miguel’s in Rhythm yeah

Miguel is uh feels like pipeline’s just giving him a very beautiful welcome back and must feel really really good here we go Miguel deep perfect positioning coming off the bottom and uh just this wave unloading on him just pictures pipeline there nothing too deep but just riding it love his feet on that

Board way further up stalling double arm drag there just to really maximize his time in the tube right now and just getting absolutely spat out so feel like it was a little bit pretty similar to his first wave might go a bit bit further um further above it but uh yeah

He just rides this wave so well doesn’t he sure it does uh his highest wave score in his history of competing at pipeline has been a 9.93 so nearly a 10-point ride and he continues to just put on a show we’re talking about equipment with Miguel poo and he’s made

Equipment change over the off season he went from sharpy surf boards to join his brother um on JS Industries here’s the numbers coming through Laura and you’re you’re right his similar score to his opening 6.5 may come a little bit north of it but actually right on the same thing Bravo

Italo fera taking a shower right there with a lot of spit on his back now these waves absolutely unloading right now and uh the boys just having me oh Jacob will it’s a tube Fest absolute tube Fest right now uh all these boys charging digging in this is a really really

Stacked heat the three goofy Footers it’s not very often that you get three goofy Footers in a heat and here we go Jacob Wilcox entering into his first ever CT paddle battle and looks like he might be getting the better of it yeah Jacob Wilcox 5’11 Italo F 5’7 maybe the uh the

Longer reach of WI coming into play right there with that paddle battle and he looks like he’s going to get to the lineup before Italo Ferrera we’ll leave it up to the priority judge to set the priority we know that Miguel poopo has first priority yeah love that in Insight

From Baron uh you know just saying that he’s actually you know we’re talking about his small boards as we’ll get back to that Ito just an absolute Vision that’ll be a shot someone just got a wonderful shot here comes that water shows just how wide that Barrel is yeah these

Waves are just coming in really peaky at the moment and just unfortunately the boys not being able to get too far behind it so just really getting quite short barrels but they’re just big throaty quick barrels that’s that’s the classic that was that was a shower here we go with

Jacob Wilcox yeah Jacob Wilcox unfortunately he wave was the third wave of the set so a bit frothier so I feel like might go under ito’s wave and yeah same sort of thing you know they they taking off deep but they’re not really getting those long long tubes right now

So possibly positioning maybe needed to be a bit bit deeper but myel Ito looking back door oh drops into this one on the back hand back door Ito Ferrero doesn’t see anything ahead of him wisely kicks out early before that wave just crashes onto some very very shallow coral

Reef still waiting for eo’s previous ride to set the situation as well as the judges ow us the score for Jacob wiox amazing to see Jacob Willcox on tour he had an incredible season last year on The Challengers H just absolutely shredding and I feel like

This is you know a long time coming his debut here on the 2A he’s been he’s competed in I think three CTS as wild cards in the past and yeah very very deserving to have his spot onto a cemented and it’s an absolute charger from

Wa I feel like he’s going to he’s going to be one to watch an absolute Danger Man especially when the waves get big cuz he’s yeah he’s no stranger to Big nly tubes takes a look at that one going to let it go under priority ealo Ferrera

Slides under the lip drain through that session and Ferrera under priority just finding a couple of gems just got right up underneath Jacob Wilcox scored that wave that was uh yeah that was absolutely amazing you know Ito just had that back door wave and it almost perfectly positioned him a bit deeper

And further in just swing under on that wave and and yeah get a bit get a bit deeper I feel like that might even go he’s best of the haat yeah previous score a six-point ride for EA Ferrera still waiting for one more score for Ferrera ealo our 2019 World Champ ninth

Season on the championship Tour on the P back out and really that when we look at 2019 probably the one of the most exciting finishes we’ve ever had to a world championship happened right here at pipeline between Italo Ferrera and Gabe Medina whoever won that final in

2019 also won the world title that was a great day feel like yeah I was watching that that final through the TV and my heart was just absolutely pounding I mean just to to have a final heat in a final and and the winner decide the

World like the world title just that was just unbelievable and that’s what really sparked on having the W final five exactly yeah because of that moment and the pressure and yeah and the trust and everything that those those two must have gone through to make it that far in

The event and really fight for the title was was pretty amazing it was a an amazing day of Surfing lines coming through here Miguel poo in the lead he’s the senior of the crew been on tour the longest 32 years old F on off the chore uh he’s been a

Semi-finalist here in the past 2022 Miguel made it to the semi-finals here at pipeline he’s had a number of good finishes a quarterfinals in 2013 for Miguel poopo as we look at the career at pipeline for Miguel yeah last year Ninth Place here aen by John John that third place that

He had a semi-final against Kelly that was the year that obviously Kelly won that event and every heat was just so so exciting the waves were absolutely cooking and yes you go through look at all those amazing servers that he’s had hits against some of the hype Specialists and best in the

World and yeah Miguel poo is just feel like every year he comes back to the tour he’s he’s just reinvented or worked on something or just he just shows up with something new in his surfing or something just his evolution is really really beautiful to watch and uh he’s

Always had that style and that flow and you know he’s he’s fallen on and off tour and he’s fought his way to be here and seeing him get that win at at Tahiti and uh couple of years ago was just so special after 10 years finally breaking

Through with his CT win migy in the barrel stalls double hand track out with the spit for Miguel poopo and he will extend his lead in this final heat of the opening round where we’re halfway through at 4 minutes and 50 seconds in this opening round and

Miguel poopo really in Rhythm yeah he’s just cemented himself as one of the best batt riders in the world really so so nice to watch well we’ll come back with that score the last of Miguel poo has been all Miguel in this Heat final heat of the opening round check this out poopo

Pipeline we’ll be back after this [Applause] [Applause] Number of let’s get you caught up on the action from today on the pul some of the top moments this one right here an 8.77 for the wild card from Maui Jackson Bunch with a buzzer beater third place to first place lost in the barrel at Pipeline and the young wild card get

Some CLS on the beach John John Florence he’s not a wild card he’s the guy to beat out here John John Florence 8.33 a 6.87 Florence what could you expect nothing less for John John Florence he’s into the round of 32 along with Jake Marshall out of that heat Elijah

Hanaman rookie on the championship tour from Lina Maui comes through a six .83 a 2.87 and Elijah onto the round of 32 now you’re all caught up here at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti final heat of the round of our opening round Heat

Number 12 out in the water I’m Kyo along with Laura en feel caught up Laura what a day honestly we’re going to have some some awesome highlights loved Eli just coming out of that Wave It’s like a new way to look for the camera just saying hello

I’m here how’s this guy hoop in the barrel again previous wave he got a 7.6 Laura and he we talk about Rhythm he’s dancing to the Rhythm right now he’s on beat he is he’s driving right now a 65 65 and a 76 and uh just looks like he’s having so much

Fun out there and uh yeah just loving loving his return to pipe feels special when those those Heats sort of unfold for you or you just every wave you know he hasn’t even Fallen yet hasn’t even had to put his leg R to the test yet you know yeah and

He’s coming back I mean remember he injured himself last year in Portugal had to sit out the rest of rest of the tour got a wild card into the 2024 season that we’re starting right now so it looks like he’s all healed up he’s worked on his equipment with that uh uh

Equipment change going from sharpy to JS and he’s looking sharp he is and I mean as hard as injuries are I know how hard uh Miguel’s worked you know the sacrifice he’s got three daughters and and a wife and spending so much time away from them over the years probably

Look back and feel like you know even though the injury was a really hard moment in his career he wasn’t really guaranteed that wild card he had to sit and wait and just fingers crossed hope he got that uh that would have been so stressful for him but uh once he found

Out he got the Wild Card just to you know sort of really enjoy that family time and that will be you know memories and and moments that he can treasure and really take into this this year with yeah a lot of inspiration so under 10 minutes EO Ferrera Jacob

Willcox uh still in the battle right now for that second position and uh Laura what do you think that Jacob needs to do right now I mean he’s got priority I mean you look at all these all these men surfing right now and it feels like they all you know they all

Have the talent they all know how to B rides so well they’re whole Goofy Footers and sort of splitting hairs and it’s just been Miguel who’s really found and being in Rhythm for his best waves Jacob just needs to find a Thro a wave and just be more behind it because he

Hasn’t been deep enough on his his waves and uh yeah he’s going to have to try really come from behind on a wave and and make it count well he can do it I mean Willcox he’s got priority he’s got priority and but and there’s been a lot of

Anticipation for this young Australian because he’s been in in Surf News since a very young age a lot was expected him you talked about the number of wild cards that he’s had in previous a championship tour events you know from Western Australia moved over to the Gold

Coast to be more competitive it seems like it worked for him because he had a great year on the Challenger Series like you said Laura last year um yeah came through with a quarterfinals and Gold Coast bito aisera runner up in Sydney and your home break yeah he had an amazing final and

You know semi-final and performance at Narine Cole was in the final with him and they were just going you know back and forth with uh just some big scores but uh just you know just awesome to see some heavy footed gy Footers back on to

A I like that um just they throw a lot of spray and they just really give it their all so it would be awesome to see Jacob just find throaty sort of wave right now to try to make a biggest score happen got 8 minutes it seems like

That’s that should be a lot of time for him to hold court but we talked about it in previous Heats with Ian gentil just actually just in the last seed on you know the anchor or sometimes not the curse but the responsibility of having priority and maybe being too choosing

Yeah for sure I mean Jacob right now has his backup he’s got a five so he’ll be feeling good about that needs a 7.1 to take jump in front of Elo and Ito only needs to better a 6.1 so he’s just going to be I I think right now Jacob would

Just want to sit and and try to wait for a really really good wave and you know just sit out this heat and just Pi the right wave Kate Matson he is in the elimination round and he’s doing some prep some mental prep and this is going to be the first big

Challenge for the rookie on tour get through the elimination round I love uh how all the boys are so Zan on to her it just feels like you know remember back in the day everyone would just put on their headphones and listen to like gll rap and like Punch walls and stuff it’s

Just it’s come full circle and uh everyone’s it’s like very Jerry lopezes just on the beach meditating just finding their their calms and uh yeah it feels feels like all those guys are loving that approach now felt like Jack Robinson and Griff really sort of kicked that off and doing

You know with the meditation and stuff preheat mhm and it’s just sort of flowed down yeah it’s it’s it’s uh that quiet in of the mine right here we go big moment for Jacob Wilcox in the barrel and for that one needs a 7.1 however to

Do it in one wave your thoughts Laura it was a deeper one but he’s splashing the water I think he knows that it might not have been enough it yeah he he got that he got that length but just didn’t seem like the wave had sort of as much o as these other

Waves taking off he gets a pump there but yeah just almost maybe over pumped it looked like that wave was going to Chandelier so it was quite hard to read and yeah just unfortunately just realized he got through that Chandelier and was like damn the wave’s almost almost over so

Fortunately not super deep like not super long but he got deep on it so I think it’ll be his best score I just don’t think it’ll go the seven it will reel in EO Ferrera just a bit when the number drops here we go Ferrera however bravoo

Goes in the barrel got clipped right at the end looks like it was all good for the Brazilian Surfer but surprise surprise pipeline took him down that was an absolute bomb and a bomber that he got taken down at the end there it just looked like he had

It yeah pipeline always full of surprises hopefully he’s okay let’s check out cuz that was a heavy lip that just sort of came down and clipped him at the end so numbers have gone come through last for Wilcox a 5.5 so willox needed a six-point ride this is EO look at the

Effort taking off so far behind that just absolutely back dooring that Peak this would have been his best go easily and unfortunately just crumbled at the end there and didn’t let him out but he did everything right look that that projection from the water that just sort

Of spat out there that would have been the speed of it crumble but uh fortunately he was just underneath the water four minutes on the countdown poo having a great heat fora is looking feisty in this one and the rookie trying to avoid the elimination

Round talk to us a little bit of about the bottom out here at P this is a beautiful view of what’s underneath the surface Laura yeah I got a few um DSE my legs and feet from that roef but it’s absolutely beautiful uh and beautifully scary and yeah it’s you can see there’s

The claes there’s holes there’s uh you know if you go if you go snorkeling out here on a flat day you can literally dive into the holes and see like bits of surfboard sometimes fins and and stuff uh yeah it’s it’s pretty amazing and just the difference between this wave

And the winter and the Summertime Summertime it’s flat it just looks like a lake yeah the difference in seasons is is very very evident on the North Shore of Oahu perps have you done some snoring up P before uh summertime I’m usually um on the Southshore but I have I have swm

Around here yeah it’s it’s beautiful I mean it’s a it’s a location that all year long I mean the waves are you know the hero in the winter time but in the summertime there’s so many other things to do you know diving fishing ping all the beaches because of the lack of swell

Are huge here uh sunny day it’s long sunny days um I I don’t think there’s ever a bad time to visit Hawaii yeah I remember um one of my coaches back in the day told me that it was a good idea to go out there and go swimming with

Some goggles to get associated with the reef and I just remember it scared the absolute Bas out of me for a long time cuz I was like it’s it’s hard hard rap it’s not not cushioned it doesn’t have any padding on top of it it’s just you

Wouldn’t know it Laura you kind of charge out there at back door why I put my padding on now bounce off the ra all right well let’s see down to 2 minutes 15 seconds poopo in Rhythm on beat throughout this entire heat a lot of effort by Ito Ferrera and a a scrappy

Jacob Wilcox just coming up a little bit short and as a rookie um you know a test of not you know we’ve seen rookies come through this opening round so far in this round but it’s the rookies that have that will have to face that elimination round that’s really

Going to be the test yeah and you can tell you can tell Jacob is is going to be a threat this year he looks comfortable out here but uh unfortunately just yeah his wave selection really sort of failing him right now he’s in second priority though he’d

Need right now just a two-wave set to come through actually OB say there’s some lumps outside but what do they say Kyper minute and a half you can see these things yeah we should see them hit the reef here yeah third reef is capping right now it’ll be right down to the wire

There they are we’re down to 1 minute 10 seconds so um it’s going to be the last swing for Jacob Wilcox and we’ll see how um see what Miguel CH yeah exactly like how how ruthless will will Miguel be with that priority he knows he’s winning

Right now but he’s likely not going to give up a good wave no you go for the the tundra but yeah why not for tundra first turn of the Season here we go so with these swells coming through and the interval these are probably going to be just two more

Waves to hit the reef here and two more chances for Jacob Wilcox and it’s looking like the Western austral is destined for the elimination round one more wave behind Last Chance yeah this second wave is looking like it’s lining up really really nicely so we’ll see who’s in position and what

Happens here fortunately it’s got a bit of a wobble in it but Jacob’s going to give it a last ditch effort here’s the last effort that’s not going to be it for Jacob will Cox yeah I love that it was almost like he looked at that section was like I’m

Going to try to do a massive air right now but then you know he remembered I’ve got another heat today let’s keep those knees intact yeah likely that Jacob willox will be up in the first heat in the elimination round that we’re going to view uh when we get back into the

Water poo Ferrera on to the round of 32 Willcox we’re going to see him in the elimination round hey do yourself a favor take a bonsoy brew come back fueled we got more action here at Alexus Pipe Pro e should be the jerse Elin the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti is brought to you by 805 beer properly chill and by Apple watch official wearable technology of the world surf League thanks for being with us Miguel welcome back to the dream tour little Hiatus there as he got his body back to 100% loves pipeline 14.10 total and I think the whole story with Miguel is he always did really well this way always did really well in

Tahiti but sometimes he was just getting knocked like maybe in round three before the quarters he’s really elevated you know since his younger brothers joined him on tour I think he’s really acting like a mentor a leader the these days on the top 34 Jesse yeah and that’s exactly

What’s happening right now I saw um Sammy before his heat um with his brother and him just giving some advices and the funny thing that I just saw the opposite right now as he was ping out um semi gave him a little heads up gave him

A little bit of strategy which I’m not going to mention because it’s something kind of private for them so yeah so you see that um energy going through Between Brothers it’s it’s fun to watch I like that I’m going to try to get that strategy out of you at some point as

We’re receding the round of the elimination round let’s get caught up with the shaper Surfer relationship with Matt biis and Crosby Colapinto so this is PIP board new and approved not to be confused with a sunset board mhm and it’s kind of like a Chu board the white points a little further forward than say on a sunset board where we want to be able to hook and turn more uh a little more further

Forward kind of where your front foot drives off the Wide Point and the Tail’s pulled in really near narrow tail with the foam balls lifting and bouncing and a steep wall explosions coming up the narrow Tails keeps you control you know you’re not trying to do blow Tails or

Anything and so you know that’s the distinctive thing about boards for pipe and ch right especially right in here tails and nrow you don’t need much to stand on yeah and then the boards we pulled them in a little overall withd uh I think we

Uh we got them down to this one’s 66 so it’s 19 but your 62 and your 64 is they’re 18 and 78 okay this is 19 you know how like back in the day the guys on Old boards would always just be able to like the their bigger boards

Look so knifey you know they could like kick under the under the lip last time they were V bottoms and you know so they were huge thick boards but they were like V nose to tail and they could like go edge to edge with them roll get them

Moving like Mr and those guys I I don’t know how far back you’re yeah well I was thinking like like Ai and Bruce like you look at an AI Rara from 15 20 years ago uhhuh it’s not that different than this yeah you know you got the random guys

That are like Kelly or John who Kelly who’s had who’s been in a 100 pipe Masters and John who’s surf there a thousand million times they get a little bored with standard quo and they start really messing with their equipment yeah but I think that you work your whole

Life to get where you are and you’re going to have a shop and you want to stay kind of conservative to kind of T tried and true for sure right now is not the time to experiment yeah for sure you do it works you know yeah I’m excited to try It How cool is that just sitting in on a chat with rookie Crosby kapino and his shaper Matt bis who happens to be the Vista shaper of 2023 talking about pip boards and he’s been doing it for a long time we often tell the Strider story with biolis and

Working out equipment out here but I talked to Shane Bashan yesterday and remember B in the in the shootout he had a team called Purp hay and they won the whole thing he was on a Mayhem and during that event long time ago so it’s really cool to see how everyone’s just

Been trusting his boards not just at the other events on tour but here in Hawaii for a long time as we’ll get things started in the lineup kicking out is real waa and now Kade Madson with a second chance today gets a nice Vision quickly there

Gunning for the exit and we’re off and running Conor oi now with priority and these two will put their head down in battle for second priority it’s going to be sent to Rio waa as Conor sits out the back so being in the elimination round means you got

Third in the opening round and sometimes it’s a good thing for people they kind of got their warm up gives them a little bit more of a razor edge Focus but then there’s always the other side where it’s really daunting last thing you want is to get knocked out in this round on

First event of the season and that’s exactly what I was going to talk about B the edit pressure on um this second round mostly only four people are going to lose it so that’s like only a very few guys that are um really not getting any points out of this event I remember

One time I had a heat with um Ryan kman and Cass at keramas and it’s so nerve-wracking that we came in and I saw Rich Dog March which is um Ryan’s coach and he was like I couldn’t recognize you guys out there that’s how nervous we looked we were just making mistakes

After mistakes and even if you know I’m talking about kuras put yourself out here that adrenaline is already rushing because the wave is so um intense it’s um it’s even a uh Next Level to it it’s pretty amazing what pressure can do to you you know sometimes lift your level

As well remember a crazy flip rotation and did at that same venue but also how you can almost feel handcuffed and you can’t even feel your legs at times uh it’ll be interesting to see how Kade handles this cuz he’s the one with the big Spotlight on him cuz everyone’s

Waiting to see what he can do uh how would your review be of what Kade did in his first heat cuz we focused on his wipe out but he also had a make before that yeah it was a great start um pipeline so it’s so brutal to you

Because um you could be so close from an eight-point ride and you still it would be such a hard um wave for you to actually get to that point I guess we’ll finish that after this wave here trying to burn off some speed is Cade he comes

Out in the prone position and gets back up so he did complete that way but judges don’t want to see you lay down controlling his sense of humor though yes and it’s even harder for you to do that but I guess yeah it’s like an incomplete um time um maneuver or

Whatever you call Barrel ride um we’ll see that once again but just that bump right there took his back foot off and is actually able to just body surf on top of the board out of it and that that’s pretty impressive I think Kelly had one of those a few years back as

Well and taking it like a champ just smiling right there he’s just like is this really happening his friends do say he’s a character always loves to laugh loves to compete happy to be sharing this with his best friends in the world kid’s younger brother rips as well and they

Push each other quite a bit in s many speaking having Brothers at RI Sammy poopo did well so did Big Brother Miguel who’s with AJ that’s right there’s something going on with the poopo brothers to start 2024 Joe Miguel your brother was up here just a few Heats ago

Now here you are how good does it feel to be back on the championship tour back on the glass of start 2024 uh it feels good when especially when he Serv before me so my heartbeat goes really up and now after I feel relaxed so it was just

Nice to have some uh Knowledge from him how was it out there so uh happy to out the waves you know just to be back here and getting barrel and and doing what I love Yeah and we know it was such a hard road coming back from that injury that

You suffered in Portugal to then getting some reps in on the Challenger Series and then getting your spot here in 2024 how have you approached this mentally to be ready um yeah it just felt um nice just to be home with the kids and and uh if you probably offered that opportunity

To anyone on tour to stay home for a year and still have your job for the next season I think anyone would take it except the part of the injury but anyways you know it’s uh just good to be home some time off and I was mentally

Really tired from the year preview so felt like the right thing to happen you know to me and uh just happy to be back I had a good preseason I sneaked a win on a Qs in Brazil which made me really happy and now I feel good

Yeah we’ll see you in the next round and then Joey before I toss it back to you I want to give you a little bit of insight I was talking with Rio waa before he paddled out for this elimination round and of course he drew a tough straw in the opening round he

Had to go against Jack Robinson and Kelly Slater and he told me that he actually was still learning about pipeline in that heat he said he went back watched the Heat recap and learned a lot about positioning from watching Jack and Kelly in that heat and so now

He actually feels more prepared for this elimination round than he did his opening round earlier today thank you AJ great inside Rio white a student of the game always learning even live in the water with two of the great and it’s really cool to honor that you know who

Did that really well was Adrian o Doza uh world champion won at pipe but even though he wanted to compete to win no matter where he was and no matter who it was against he was always so quick to acknowledge the legends of the game I

Even remember one Podium he was on in Phish Portugal pumping that event three days in a row sorry I’m getting lost in that event but uh he end a bowing down to to Kelly on stage as a thank you as a as an act of respect even though he beat

Kelly in that final he just wanted to say hey I’m studying you I’m learning from you even in the water and it’s really cool to hear that from rioa knowing that he can learn so much from the people he’s trying to beat on tour yeah take take advantage because you’re

With the best of the world and um in that he specifically probably two of the best Surfers ever out here um Kelly might be the best ever out here and um on the Jersey mostly and so if you can take advantage of that and study and apply to your surfing you know that

Would help you a lot along the way yeah it’s kind of cool you could say that s so easily right Kelly the best ever at this event uh the The Memories We have he’s still going 51 got through his heat earlier today and looked really comfortable in that heat with Jack

Robinson was the one who ended up in first to go straight to the round of 32 as we see the early numbers in this one Kade mson 2.83 1.17 Rio with the 2.17 and Conor oi had an early loss at at pipe last year and that put some

Pressure on him heading into Sunset Beach mid-season cut comes up very quickly Jesse yes it does so um you kind of have to really capitalize in every every opportunity you got because as soon as you get that low seed you start um going facing against guys that are

Way higher seeds and the guys that have the momentum at um in in the start of the year so it gets really tough towards Bell’s Beach and Margaret River so if you can capitalize in Hawaii it’s it’s going to give you a step ahead of those people that are trying to re-qualify on

The mid um the mid-season cut when you get to watch these guys that are the best Surfers in the world surfing the best waves on tour looking for the Undisputed world champion you always feel like you’re watching ing a video game cuz they can really do everything

That we dream of doing Jesse’s one of those guys he can do all these same types of Tricks but if you want to join them in live conditions and surf all the same events as the world’s best you can download true surf available in the app

Store and on Google Play and join us on tour from wherever you might be around the world locking in this one Conor oer beautiful bottom turn that will ensure the exit on the other end nice clean make crazy amount of coil up with his strength off the

Bottom nice little slingshot to the exit yeah nice adjustment as well for him I saw him coming in from his heat very frustrated and Connor is not the type of guy they to see bum so much so acknowledging that he had a few mistakes in the first round and capitalizing

Right here as you see perfect position great um wave selection just that dreamy pipeline wave from behind coming out with the spin and yeah smart surfing for him right there another great view from the sky could he have got more of the barrel was this exactly the way he

Should have written this way um there is probably a little possibility of being maybe slowing himself down just a little bit on that pump maybe not pumping too fast but we’re talking about the beginning of a heat and elimination round like you want to capitalize mostly

On the beginning like that first half so you can feel feel comfortable to improve on top of that so I think was smart surfing and he’s going to get rewarded it was still a great ride well done for Conor oi 633 as we have a great look at

CI Slater next to Glenn micro Hall that’s the Red Bull athlete Zone gosh those two remember they had a heat at Margaret River when it was pumping and that was the one Kelly got a 10 at Main briak that was micro vers Kelly at the moment you know micro standing there

Because he’s coaching Rio waa this season Rio made sure that he was at micro’s training cramp in the in the off seon getting him mentally ready micro has told me that just a treat to work with an athlete like Rio waa puts so much hard work there responds to advice

He’s trying to soak in all the knowledge and Glenn was famous for beating a lot of big names in his career he could outthink them outsmart them he had that classic heat with Medina where he went back at Snapper rocks uh beat Michelle bz after Michelle had his big win at

Margaret River knock him out in the first round of bells he can stop people’s momentum at any at any time so he became a super coach kind of overnight yeah it was um it was a perfectly a like I guess sequence of career for him as we

See nice set up there and making it out is looks like Rio waa yeah it does look like him I was kind of lost I couldn’t really see the jersey callar and yeah so Rio on to his second wave and Kelly focused on the action as well

Do you remember that heat at marar River where Kelly got that tent that was probably the best Margaret River we had in like an event that wave was incredible just so throy and Kade up and rying Cade will get the make remember the wave previous he came out prone so

This time getting a better score when you fall down on your board and keep going that’s doesn’t look good for the panel so his way before was the 1.17 remember that famous wave at lowers years ago too from Kelly where he got like the 417 where he did that big

Flyway looking thing and he fell down and got back up and there’s all this controversy about the number because it was so dramatic that he was still on the board and the wow factor was there but then if you just looked at like oh he

Did fall though so that’s why it came in at that 4.17 that shows how much of a showman he is like even when he doesn’t get a good score he’s still like you still remembered his acts as we see lock in nice control for oi straightens out throws down the pin

Drop to get out of his second wave so two great decisions already for Connor and now this one’s bottoming out hanging on to the rail and getting tangled up again and the spit will shove that guy out in the front he’s 6′ three even though he had gone down the

Power of the spit and pipeline still wanted him to make it out yeah he was just um probably sitting a little bit too to to show right there I think he was I don’t think he was Bing back out still so he wasn’t in perfect position

Seemed like from this point of view here on the camera that real actually was a little deeper I don’t know if he was too far out and he couldn’t get underneath enough but that was an amazing wave he was just kind of in the wrong spot so he

Tried to do as much as he could to really um wipe that um speed off on the bottom turn and ended up just losing that back foot and um just go carding right there the spit was so intense that was a crazy wave but definitely could have been a

Little bit Miss opportunity for re right there cuz that wave was great if you’re a little bit deeper but as I mentioned see how he’s he’s kind of in the corner right there so what do you have to do you have to put so much pressure in your

Back foot and that just leted him to slip off and sit on his board and then after that is no matter if he make it or not it’s impressive but it’s not going to be a great score some was break dancing on some of these waves here’s

Conor yeah Connor in the other hand just um way less of a critical wave nice rolling great position on the paddle and he was just able to identify that put his hands to drag and wipe off the Speed and smart surfing for him um getting a

Backup score it’s not going to be a huge score but something to put on the board and capitalize on that just a nice easy Rhythm for Connor OA to kick this one off uh as you mentioned showing some frustration that he had to go into this heat but he’s already just picking the

Gems nice clean exits hasn’t spent too much time underwater yet as we still have a rider up here Rio wild section trying to take him down he’ll sneak out in under just celebrated a birthday here on the NorthShore a couple days ago hangs out at the house just down down the way

About a two-minute walk from where we are now hangs out with pipe Legends like reath Macintosh so he’s around good company to prepare for events like this now we have an opportunity to get a nice little afternoon update with our chief of sport Jesse Miley Dy is with AJ

That’s right Joe checking in this afternoon with Jesse Miley Dyer after we wrapped up this men’s opening round we are into the men’s elimination round but a little adjustment had to be made for this heat in the water yes so we’re in heat 2 we had the withdrawal from Felipe

Due to illness and um we’ve gone straight into heat 2 we’ve now got three Heats of this elimination round so you know we we’ve made the decision to to keep going it’s obviously pumping out there and um we’re really fortunate to these conditions you know like for it to

Be so clean and to have this SW um it’s awesome certainly wish fipe to a very quick recovery in the meantime though you mentioned the conditions it has been so fun to watch these Surfers out here at pipeline back door all day long what is the forecast not just for the rest of

The afternoon but moving into tomorrow rest of the window yeah look I think tomorrow um actually could be it it also looks really fun tomorrow as well we know that there’s going to be a new swell coming in but you know the size that’s really stayed throughout today I

Think that there’s definitely an for us to look at it tomorrow and um you know it might be a little bit smaller but you know it’s definitely probably more playful like that and and yeah it’s been a really good day so far so for us to have these wind conditions tomorrow

Which is what we’re looking at in the forecast it’s it’s definitely something that we’ll be looking to take advantage of awesome Jesse all right so Joe we’ll wrap this up and then little tease to get you ready for tomorrow exciting thank you so much AJ and chief of sport

Jesse Miley Dy so giving us a lot of info there loving our forecast and on Deck to keep this thing rolling Jesse exciting I’m super excited because the second half of the window looks great the wind starts to turn more trades and more East actually and even some morning

Southeast which is great for here um offshores and today didn’t even look like it was going to be this good and there’s firing waves are firing right now like every time I get out of the the booth I’m just looking out and I’m just like this is crazy there’s way too many

Good barrels all around pipeline in back door so excited to see the second half and what’s um it’s going to provide to US ah really cool when you wait this long to get this competition running and it’s firing 12:30 on the clock Connor o out front two great decisions this high score a

633 and still 20 12:25 on the clock to hang on to this lead this is the kind of role that he’s been on as we follow him right into Aon soy Brew brick Repr countri hour Welcome everybody to the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti how beautiful is that pipeline has been painted quite a bit drawn on our notebooks for years but hey look at what you got on your screen right now you could scan that QR code to instantly win the W store.com gift cards

And promo codes so for all the US fans out there scan and spin for a chance to instantly win free gift cards Wale store discounts and more to get stocked up for the 2024 season no purchase necessary scan to view the official rules lot of cool new jersey numbers out

There and gosh I wish we could win this work of art live here on the beach at the Bonsai pipeline that’s actually a homeboy of mine same same Hometown his name is ilon Alves oh really artist yeah he’s um lived in Hawaii for I would say probably about 15 years now I’m not

Really quite sure but yeah know him since I was a grown that’s amazing do you have any of his artwork no I actually don’t cuz he left there so long ago yeah I actually barely see him here I don’t know if he’s on the south side

Or not but I see him his drawing everywhere around town but I don’t see him so much pipeline is so captivating that you’re constantly drawing it looking at images of it it’s got to be the most photographed wave in the world more cover shots than any other venue as

Dive into a heat check you can see the top scores there Conor o the 633 executed that well that was his opener and now backing it up with a 6.0 all the waves ridden there uh everyone’s been fairly selective you can see Matson with the most tries at five waves so far o

And W trying to pick the right ones as R’s in third holding priority and now the last scores from all three of these athletes that’s the six for o just building on his top two and throw away numbers for both Kate Matson and Rio waa still calm in the water with not

Much coming through at the moment but Rio will have priority to make the set next decision you see the 301 that he needs to advance that just is enough to get into to second place so we’re only losing third from the event in this

Round yes and as far as we see this hit so so far um I think that 2.17 that he had early in the heat that had a potential for a bigger score he outrun the wave a little bit maybe the nerves or I don’t know just me sprad the wave

Sometimes it happens in mistakes but um that was a Miss opportunity right there for him that wave was pretty Hollow like he hit the reef pretty nicely he just kind of went a little bit too ahead of the wave and didn’t get rewarded because the judges really want critical steep

Takeoffs deep um deep out the barrels and yeah it’s cool to also see the International Panel and judges is seeing all their opinions that they throw down on each and every wave five judges on the high and the low are knocked out of the average average out the middle three to get those

Numbers and led by the head judge LLY Pereira a first Brazilian Surfer to be put on Quicksilver International back in the day that was a big deal still surf smooth great style great human being and doing a great job day one the head judge responsibilities as we look

At a rander setting up for the Indonesian stalling on the open face just a quick little moment in the barrel and he’s out Rio white was kind of world famous on Instagram I think there was the time before he qualified where he might have been putting up the most exciting Parts

On his home island of Bali especially when he drive over to kuras well all the waves really but I just couldn’t get enough of the clips he was posting We were just counting the days until he got himself on tour and it was a big one for the country of Indonesia for forever

It’s always been Paradise but to get someone fulltime he’s the first to do it on the dream tour what’ you see here Jesse nice kick stall right there the wave was just didn’t have a section steep section um enough in front of him for in order for him to get um deeper

Than that so nothing really he could have done it looked like a great shaped back door wave kind of had that sighing that it it makes it run down the reef pretty nicely but just it didn’t work out and that’s how surfing is you know

You got to gamble roll the dice a few times and sometimes he goes your way sometimes he doesn’t but as he was fing looked like a great wave you met Rio’s brother before yeah I’ve met him like briefly just just high like not not so deep but they look very similar super

Similar they’re at JB uh last year together I was like hi hang on a second that’s not you it they look so similar he rips as well both super kind and they said they got that a lot on that trip together Rio at the moment chasing a

3.01 kad’s holding down second at the moment with first priority so great place to be when you are hoping to pick the best wave that’s coming through interesting when we’ve seen him come out of a wave prone and also one where his feet have been off and he’s kind of been

Spinning on the deck of his board are you thinking he’s just pushing really hard hard or could there be something going on with his equipment as well um no I don’t think specifically that I think um the first wave he had a bump um and that kind of put his foot off and

The second one it was just kind of very very intense wave and the positioning that he he was in the wave forced him to take off very um vertically all the way down and he had to really make a tight turn with all that speed and all that

Drive of the board you have to put your back foot push your back foot very strongly and kind of just Lo lost it right there like doesn’t typically happen it’s not common for you to happen but yeah there are different I think there are different ways that um he ended up going on

So so 4:30 on the clock now Ian Kyo e belly and Jacob Willcox will be in the water next for the third heat of the elimination round things calming down a bit Jonathan W from Surfline said it would drop a touch still a ton of energy out there

Though said that we would feel a little bit of a decrease in the size of the sets this morning waking up to some bombs it was just non-stop action in the dark and tons of big scores including the nine-point ride from Callum Robson really early in the

Day which was very impressive so great to see is some excellent range numbers sprinkled in throughout these Heats Jesse Yeah and um as much as it dropped a bit which it’s you can visually notice that it’s still kind of nice for the athletes because you don’t really want

Those waves that come from second Reef cuz they ended up wiping and moving a lot of water and making everything kind of messy so this this hit so far there’s been plenty of good waves we have that um one wave that Cade ended up losing his foot that was an amazing wave Rio

Had a better position maybe a little bit too far out the back and then we had one or two that kind of went through and no one got it just because they’re either ping back out or out of position so as as much as it dropped it’s still the

Waves are firing out there and it’s almost nicer not to have those um big sets that you have have to dodge 3 minutes on the clock look at the quality of the day as well blue skies which you know you probably think happen all the time here in Hawaii but recently it’s

Been a lot of weather a lot of crazy wind conditions a lot of rain as well I’ve had the mow the lawn like every other day it seems cuz it’s been so well fed from from all the weather but yeah this is great just clean conditions great wind and a lot to look

Forward to throughout the waiting period with some options for the world’s best Conor oi sitting out the back but with first priority we’re going to see Kade Madson put his head down pulls in it’s get to clamp on him but he able he’s able to punch free with control well done for

Cade never know how you first day on the job’s going to go and gosh one of the worst wipeouts we’ve seen all day and to be able to keep his energy High his confidence High to really put it put together a solid battle in this one

Really proud of him yeah way to muscle through it too that wave just ended up just falling on his head after the the barrel just finished it up and he was able to muscle through it that shows all the hard work he’s putting outside of the water um very solid kid like you

Mentioned he’s 63 on the big biggest guys on tour and that was a great ride it’s definitely he it played out pretty nice for him cuz he was able to block Rio from getting a decent score and he’s going to capitalize on his 2.83 let’s have another look using

Priority wisely here yeah right there you see him taking um The Wave off of R because he had priority nice beautiful Barrel as deep as you could get right there and the wave just clamping on top of him and he was able to push through it um great effort for him made that

Look smooth I mean a lot can go wrong when the wave CL on you especially in pipeline they had such a solid stance it’s able to fly away nice and clean so scores coming in for Kade he’s going to use that one still not his best but a

387 so now Rio needs a 4.05 on this wave and he’s not able to get barreled R waa is getting close to maybe getting a 303d to kickoff the season yeah that was stuff for real um wave just stretching out a bit too much and by the looks of things it seems like

He’s not going to have a time to um to get another chance so looks like Conor and Kade might be moving through but hey Sunset is just around the corner another chance and yeah yeah tough moment for Rio waa you’ve had so much training you’ve been planning on a huge result

Here at pipeline he took your first heat as an opportunity to to learn even more with Jack Robinson and Kelly Slater but unable to get past these two for Kate Matson he’s happy to be in second you can see the next team Kelli and now Jacob will Cox congratulating Conor o on

The Heat win chip might be asking Connor a couple of questions about the conditions for a moment there and Connor’s going to be moving on to the round of 32 with Kade Manson and we will anticipate a big performance from Rio wa at Sunset Beach coming up next it’ll be Ian genel KY

Elli and Jacob Willcox back for more action right after This very Dr it’s so cool to see the kids learn what to look for and what may be hazards or who might need help and we’re on that island we need our kids to be very comfortable you know it’s good for the kids Keeps Us young Keeps Us motivated

Keeps Us grinding away so we’re still Ready set go it’s awesome to be able to give back to the the kids in our community and these kids are our future and they can help save you know visitors and the public alike so if we can just give them

A little bit of education and the skills they need then that’s all we can ask for what do you do when you’re a kid in Hawaii you go to Junior Lifeguards and thank you to the NorthShore lifeguard Association and Florence for supporting that wonderful program elimination round

Jacob Wilcox oh my goodness what a start and not in a good way for the Western Australian rookie who’s found himself in this elimination round tapping the board and looks like he may be calling for some assistance right now so Hawaiian water patol likely to zoom in there there you

See them in the Red Bull jet skis behind Willcox Willcox in a precarious position in his rookie debut here in the elimination round let’s take a look at this one more time Felicity what do you think about this wow he was just so deep here he

Took off he got into the wave right but you could just see that that inside rail the nose just digs straight the wave got so steep the nose digged in he just fell forward but looked like a really awkward Dismount and I mean obviously we see him looks like he’s changing boards right

Now yeah the beach run okay Kosta looks like he has a backup DHD for Jacob clock’s ticking however um man I got a surprise for you folks just as we were waiting for more surprises today okay we got a big one for you right now it’s our World

Champ going thank you for joining us Caroline marks thanks for having me this is fun yeah I mean how do you feel champ feel pretty good there’s been a lot of amazing action today and the boys are killing it so this is cool okay well in

The wholeness I mean how how has your offseason been since you have become the Undisputed world champion of Surfing yeah me and flick were just talking about it it’s been maybe the most fun year of my life and it was really nice with this year how we had so much time

Off so I really got to like enjoy and have a lot of family time and hang out with my friends and um then also had time to like rest and then you know get some training and again and surf a lot so it’s been it’s been awesome been

Enjoying it yeah and uh what are you looking forward to going into this season we at the start yeah I know it’s starting again um it’s exciting it’s nerve-wracking um I guess we start off with really good waves so that’s like really fun and just I don’t know

Hopefully do it all over again we’ll see your thoughts now I mean you’ve you’ve been on tour this is your sixth season on tour so I look at you like gosh you’ve been around forever but you’re only 21 you’re only 21 and there’s this whole new we’re going to get to that

Well someone pulled in the barrel but there’s this whole new generation right now coming up yourself Molly picklum Katie simmers uh we got some rookies on on tour with Alyssa Spencer and saw Lim blad your thought is it a Changing of the Guard right now is my question I

Guess yeah I mean there’s definitely a lot of um young talent coming up and um I feel like these girls especially the ones from you know the US I’ve seen and we’ve all served a lot of Heats together and stuff so it’s really cool to see now

Sawyer and Al Liss on tour and um yeah I mean I think too especially with the timing of things you know Carissa’s you know with her retirement and Steph taking the year off I think it’s yeah it’s definitely maybe a bit of The Changing of the Guard but um yeah we’ll

See it’s definitely going to be a lot of a lot of battling with those girls with the next 10 years so it’s exciting and it’s just really cool to see where the sports gone and it’s just really fun to be a part of you know I feel like we’re

All just pushing each other and um it’s yeah it’s awesome it’s a fun part it’s a fun time for for women’s professional surfing with inclusion here at pipeline uh you know we have equal pay we have equal we have a equal tour and that means everyone starts off here at the

World’s most dangerous wave your thoughts on this place pipeline yeah pipeline I mean it’s such an amazing wave it’s also really scary and intimidating I think you know you’ve seen there’s been a lot of injuries within the last you know few months and with really good Surfers so it’s

Definitely pretty scary but um you know you can also the the fact that you can paddle out your heat and maybe get the way of your life is what’s so exciting about pipelines so um such an iconic wave that I definitely want to get more experienc at and get better at it’s cool

We have the opportunity with only a couple girls out you must be feeling pretty confident uh obviously finishing the year at Tahiti and that’s a wave of consequ consequence coming here now so yeah talk talk to me about that and um feelings about these sort of waves you

Know that are behind us that have that consequence to them yeah Tahiti is really fun I I think I’ve spent a little bit more time at Chu I’ve actually gone there to practice for pipe you know just to get a um you know more reps and stuff

And um you know tahi is now an Olympic venue so it’s a really good wave that you want to be good at um and uh yeah winning TOA gave me a lot of confidence for sure I think I went in that event and any events with waves um you know

With a lot of consequence I kind of just want to like learn a lot while I’m out there and really um just kind of take in that wow there’s only a couple of us out here like really really kind of soaked that in and so I feel like even going in

This event you know I just really want to like learn while I’m out there and really be like okay that was a good wave you know that wasn’t cuz there’s so many different faces of Pipeline and Chu that you really there’s never a time where

You just have it figured out so I just really want to learn and hopefully I can put it together in my heat it’ll be fun well it must give you confidence winning out there and it being an Olympic year I mean someone’s going to walk away with a

Gold medal there here we go Ian gentil and just up and out so back to that conversation um winning in Tahiti the possibility of a how often does the pop is is a gold medal thought in your mind right now even at the beginning of the

Season for sure I mean I think it’s pretty hard not to think about it um you know the Olympics is every four years and it’s such a such a big thing you know and the fact that I get to represent my country and have the opportunity to win a gold medal and a

Wave like Cho is just so I mean that’s just incredible so um yeah it’s pretty hard not to think about it I’m obviously trying to you know think about the event I’m doing right now and um the events before that but the Olympics is a big

One for me this year I would love to to do that and um so hopefully I can pull it off we’ll see it’s going to make for an exciting Year we’re starting an exciting year right here uh an excitable Conor o ly he’s against the glass with

AJ mcord cuz he just won his elimination round heat yes he did Kyo Conor oi making it through the first elimination round of 2024 I know it’s not where you want to start surfing but how did you switch gears after the opening round be ready for that elimination round yeah I

Mean it always sucks to be in that elimination round um I’ve been in it a few times and yeah to start the season straight in there was kind of a bit of a shock to me just cuz um yeah I just feel like I felt good and things didn’t go my

Way in that first seat but it was actually really nice that I kind of got that second opportunity really fun waves and to kind of just reset and improve on what I didn’t do in the first seat so kind of puts me in a good Ste in the

Rest of the event hopefully there you go and I think coming into this first heat of 2024 everyone comes in with the plan and what they’ve worked on in the offseason what did you focus on this offseason for 2024 um I think pretty similar to like

Last season just just trying to get find ways to get better um and you know work work more on my strengths as well as trying to get better you know um I feel like a lot of people have known me for my back end so just kind of keeping that

Uh as The New Normal um and yeah just leveling up and like I said yeah just keeping it The New Normal and that’s that’s good for me I think so take how do you take this elimination round you took it as a second opportunity to get to surf now what are you carrying

Forward into the next round yeah I mean it was just really good to go out again and just uh re kind of configure my lineups and I feel like uh this morning I was I was a little bit I a little bit deep and and in and deep and in too far

In um so I was just trying to put be a bit more conservative and kind of sit further out and kind of get that chip into to one and managed to get one and then got it back to him which was pretty uh pretty rare for me so yeah we’ll take

It we’ll take it you anything you want to say to friends and family back home to start 2024 yeah I mean uh rough start but um we got through it and uh yeah for all my Japanese fans congratulations Conor we’ll see you in the next one coming out of that interview straight to

Jacob Wilcox barrel and a big slash combination ficity for the fellow Western Australian that was a good moment for him yeah that was really really good I think uh there was probably a little frustration from his opening round heed and already uh he had

To he uh we could see when he came in before um that they had that big crease through his board so he’s done a board change looks great on that board Barrel straight into that big carving maneuver we have a look here straight up underneath the lip a bit of tube time

There but I just love that he just knew this wave wasn’t done and he just really finished every last bit of this wave because I mean there’s been a couple of Heats here you can see that turn on a bigger board too that’s that’s not an

Easy thing to do and not everyone can do that super technical um if you actually go to Jacob’s Instagram he posted a wave really similar it was a wave back home in West in Australia he comes out of this tube and then just just a massive hack so no stranger to that combination

KY belly sliding down slowing down behind the curtain gets pinched on the end as so unfortunate for the veteran out of this these three Surfers Kye belly we’ll be waiting for two scores for Kye belly score actually just dropped in for Jacob Wilcox a 5.33 the barrel turn combo when you get

In a heat Caroline the barrel turn combo is that something you’re looking for yeah for sure think Shane was talking about earlier when he was here um he was saying that like even if you even when it’s big out here and you you know you have a really um you know big section

After getting like a crazy Barrel it always looks so good when you just you know do a big carve or something that turn from Jacob was very impressive cuz like fissy said he’s on a pretty big board and so um he fully kicked the tail that was nice I mean it yeah definitely

I think would Elevate the score for sure so yeah kind of like a claim not it’s a cool claim yeah and and it I feel like it leaves a good taste in the judge’s mouths right it’s just like you’re showing complete control and variety of course pipeline you know on the top of

The criteria is just big barrels you know and spending as much two time critical drops but uh nice job by Jacob Wix that was enough to get him out into the lead right here at 16 minutes 50 seconds Ian genil yet to break the onepoint range right now sitting with priority

All right well you know what we’re going to step away right now take a break but we’re going to continue on with this heat number three of the elimination round we’re going to continue on with Caroline marks conversation we’re going to go away but stick around we’ll be right Back e need the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti is brought to you by Lexus experience Amazing by Eventbrite on or off your board you’ve got plans with Eventbrite and by chedo official sunscreen partner of the world Surfly we are at the Lexus pip Pro presented by Yeti Yeti coming through strong this event gave me a a nice reusable bottle with my name on it Lexus has not given me a new car yet I’m not sure what’s going on but the waves have

Been epic all afternoon let me tell you this has been fun fun to watch incredibly glassy perfect barrels guys are getting barreled lefts rights it’s just like a skate park out there with consequence cuz when you fall it is cement underneath you let me tell you I’ve been watching some heavy waves go

Down we’re going to throw it back to the booth right now thank you Strider and uh yeah we got Jacob Wilcox with a big test for the championship tour rookie in this heat he’s a in the challenge of an elimination round here K girl along with palman here and World Champ Caroline

Marks Caroline you remember your rookie year you were only 15 I do it was a great year a lot of fun um I think we started yeah we started at snaap that was always really fun and finished um honol Bay in Hawaii so great year this is what happened during the

Break talking about rookies nice back door barrel for Jacob Wilcox for they see yeah that was beautiful I love the way that he changed his technique throughout that Barrel he sort of started as you see here grabbing that rail he set the rail here and then

He sort of pumps and then lets go a little bit as you can just see it there pumps through the barrel grabs the rail again gets really nice and compressed and yeah was just super technical I love that he was really deep and yeah comes flying out that wave really got a lot

Smaller inside as he surf that one just like really tape it off but yeah nice nice little backup there for Jacob 483 Kye belly delayed off the bottom goes for the old school layback oh Simon Anderson influence there and rooftop float to skip that section 10 points for

Style oh man so Kye belly he’s currently in second place he’s trailing a Jacob Wilcox with a big lead right now you can see that on the numbers Jacob with 10 points a two-wave total the other kywi belly andan gento still working for working to their first meaningful score I like the

Layback when was the last time you did a layback Caroline you really put me on the spot here I feel like in Hawaii you go right a lot more than left so yeah maybe it’s been a minute um but it’s definitely very cool maneuver Kyo surf that way very cool you

Know it’s going to be interesting right where the judges go and you know what they weren’t buying into the style and all that stuff cuz of 2.17 for K I thought it was cool too flick yeah I did think it was cool but in terms of today’s judging criteria

Probably not so much however visually it’s great to watch it was entertaining all right we’re 11 minutes 25 seconds and Ian gentil with priority right now um and you know does not want to start off the year with that 33rd Place that’s a that’s a throwaway um I’m

Going to go to Caroline for this I mean starting off the year at pipeline you got to get going because you got five swings at it you get one time one throwaway before the mid-season cut yeah the dreaded mid-season cut no one loves it um but it’s uh you know it does make

Things really exciting and obviously you have to kind of put your all on the first five events and definitely adds you know that pressure and so um yeah you definitely don’t want to start off you know with a bad result but you do get one throw away so you know it it

Does happen at some point and you know the first event everyone wants to come out swing in so it’s not the way you want to start but I I wouldn’t say it’s the end of the world but yeah you definitely want to get a good start get

That good seed and kind of just it also gives you a lot of confidence you know um yeah so hopefully Ian pulls it together he’s a really good Surfer really nice person so I hope he uh he gets a few few nice ones it seems like

Jacob’s kind of been the only one to find some ways in this heat so far so here we go I think split Peak yeah and we’re going to stick with Ka belly on the left look like Ian Gentile took off and is in a barrel on the back door

There we’re going to catch up with that disappearing act for the Maui boy and you can tell by the reaction on the beach it was a good one yeah that was super nice to watch I always just love watching a split Peak just the waves not

Going to waste you know both waves being surfed both Surfers flying out of that barrel and I guess now we’re going to really have a heat on our hands because Jacob’s sort of running away a little bit with this heat sort of just under 10 minutes left everyone’s going to have a

Score on the board now and things are going to start to get pretty tight and this Heat’s been relatively slow so here we go this is look at Ian snaps up into the barrel here sort of drives through this section it gets really small and he comes shooting out so

Really well to maneuver through that Barrel just as it got smaller and smaller I love this sort of kick stall here up underneath the lip sort of looked like he was going to be too wide and then all of a sudden it just stretched out in front of him can really

See him just pumping down the line couple of adjustments in that barrel and yeah never so Slinky just coming out of that one and Kyo on the left here flick yeah kyo’s was just a little bit shorter it the left the pipe wave just sort of

Bit more of an A-frame to it a little bit less of a taper so yeah just a quick in and out yeah all Surfers now have a score of sub substance yeah so a four-point ride for Kyle eelli still waiting for the number for that back door barrel for Ian

Gentil and how that affects the situation out in the water Gentile a 5.3 will take him to second place and first and second out of this round we’ll go into the round of 32 will reced it’s just that third place finisher gets that dreaded 33rd here we go with Willcox oh

Disappears oh nearly comes out W that just seemed like he had it in the bag just sign seal delivered he was easily going to come out of that one like kind of he just got taken out by an invisible Ninja yeah just with that taper right I

Mean talk to us about being in the bar out here Caroline I mean and and the challenges right they’re running into the sandar yeah I mean there’s so many different W type of waves out at pipeline I feel like um but what I was going to say you know with Ian just

Getting that way vano like you can have be having such a shocker out here and then have like a three-minute heat and you all of a sudden get like two perfect you know excellent scores so um I think we saw Griffin colapinto did earlier he’s kind of having like a tough heat

And then all of a sudden he gets like one of the highest scores of the day and you know advances through so um I think Jackson Bunch did the same thing last four seconds um so that’s what’s really cool about Pipeline and today with that shorter period there’s so many waves

Coming through that um you really do it’s not it’s not over till it’s over so it’s it’s exciting great point I mean we can reference 2008 with a final with Kelly Slater and Chris Ward Chris Ward had Kelly slate of combo at like two minute Mark wow and Kelly went back to

Back and took the final off them wow so to your point it it happens and it can happen here and maybe that’s why it’s so excited and and for a competitor I would imagine Caroline it always gives you the hope to like never give up because you

Can turn the heat at any time for sure yeah I think they’re playing uh heat with Kelly and Andy too earlier right when Shan was sitting in here that um Kelly got like two crazy ones and Andy got like a 10 in the end or something he

Won That’s so exciting um that was such a sick heat to watch but um yeah it’s not over till it’s over for sure so never want to count yourself out yeah we we have those features the the new W cell vault is a new thing that we’re

Doing looking back at some of the history and stuff you enjoying that yeah I love it because some of it I wasn’t even born yeah fair fair enough fair enough right so it’s kind of cool to have that throwback right there and appreciate some of the the moments from the past

And seeing everyone riding boards that were like at least a foot longer and some of these I mean we’ve gone through so much changes in in contest format there were years where it was best three waves there were years that it was best four waves there a lot

Of waves that you got to catch there were there were years that um that you had wave Max so you only could catch 10 waves and um there’s a final with Jake Jake Patterson and Bruce Sirens Bruce is on the beach Jake caught his 10th wave

He had to go to the beach and he watched Jake take win wow crazy all right so we did get the score in for Ian genen for the back door Barrel that’s a 4.93 he remains in third place but his requirement is a tiny one just a

1.24 eelli needs to get rid of that 2.1 oh my goodness Ian gen Tippy Toe dropped into a nice back door wedge and that’s going to do the trick Ian gen may go into first with that one flick yeah possibly it’s going to be interesting it was a really short

Barrel but the drop was really really intense so just going to be whether or not the judg is going to pay a lot of score for that and it’ be nice to see how deep he really got like but it was a it was a bigger TP I’ll definitely give

It that for sure definitely had some sides to it as we have a look here and super late drop underneath the lip puts his arm in the face of the wave and comes flying out but also it’s really hard to tell from that angle just how

Deep he was get another look here from the Drone and well he well truly got covered sort of got a little bit of a shampoo on the way out just so late that is so critical beautiful drop there you can just see how thick that lip was and stalling there just to maximize

That Barrel time so yeah it was a short it was a short shot Barrel but a nice drop yeah you were right on the um just a short time behind the curtain a 3.93 so not enough to take the lead but enough to move into second place putting

The pressure now on Kyle eelli sitting with priority and needs a 4.87 to advance is he interesting I feel like I watched kyo’s heat earlier today and he had one really good score he just couldn’t find a backup and he actually had a moment where he pulled into one on

His back pipe and he made it drove through this first section it was a bigger wave and then all of a sudden it looked like he was going to come out and it gave him another section right and he didn’t make it out and obvious he was

Just splitting hairs whether or not he got through this heat I feel like he looks like he’s in form he looks like he’s connected every time I’ve seen him take off his techniques looking really good it’s just unfortunate that things sort of aren’t going his way or maybe

It’s a wave selection thing I’m not really quite sure but no I don’t think it’s a wave selection thing actually I just think just the the cards aren’t really falling the way K you can say it sometimes it’s luck I mean we’re dealing with the with the ocean you know mean h

I i cuz I just see he be just unlucky yeah he looks on to me today so to see him in this position it yeah it’s difficult and he’s going back toback semi-finals out here the last two two two events here at pipeline he’s made it to to the semi-finals so he’s already

Proven that like he’s a guy to watch here at pipeline um but to to your point in all the variables I’m going to ask you Caroline like how much luck comes into I mean sometimes luck comes into play absolutely I think I actually recently just did this podcast thre red

Bulletin and I was just saying like so much has to come together for it all to you know all the stars really have to align for you to to win towards the end of the year and so um yeah for sure you have to you know be surfing your best

And be mentally at your sharpest and also you do have to have a bit of luck on your side you know we’re dealing with Mother Nature and um you just really have to make the right decision at the right time and hopefully the ocean provides so um yeah I mean Kyo

Technically needs a five so he does need a pretty decent wave um but he’s you know very capable I think all these guys that’s the thing is they’re so capable and so good that comes down to whoever gets the best wave so um that’s what makes this event so exciting cuz

Everyone’s so good so um hopefully there’s a flurry at the end of this heat and we’ll see what happens well twomin drill right now for Kyle eelli and he’s in a position with priority so now it’s all about pipeline flick it’s all about is there going to

Be a swell that hits the reef that’s going to give him the opportunity for that mid-range score well if that wave comes through I like kyo’s chances because I think he is on I think his techniques looked amazing today he’s just had a couple of moments that just

Haven’t gone his way he did have the that one really good score in his opening round so yeah I’d like to say he’s going to get it if he gets that opportunity it’s just whether or not the ocean’s going to cooperate here um and whether or not

Ian’s going to put his salesman hat on and you know maybe even play a little bit pressure like right now we can see that kind of got a little bit of distance between them like you know Ian’s actually giving Kyo a little bit more distance he’s being quite a

Gentleman um some other Surfers might not be so gentleman like and you know give a bit more pressure and you know any any bit of pressure is you know maybe a win for them as well but yeah right now bit of space minute on the clock see what

Happens well all you can do right now and you’ve been in this situation Caroline is just hope for the best for sure and Ian’s in a tough position cuz he’s you know he’s got third priority and I think kyo’s would be super aware of when a good wave comes through so

Ian’s kind of just got to hope the ocean goes flat and kyo’s hoping that he gets a chance so right now Ian feels like time’s going really slow and Kyo feels like it’s going way too fast so I know the feeling um it looks like maybe a

Wave’s coming um we we’ll see what happens this is exciting yeah with 30 seconds on the clock I think that’s time enough for maybe two waves to hit the reef right now and unfortunately uh nothing really coming into play down to 10 and you can see the splash of the water

From Kye belly now he knows nothing he can do no opportunity had the priority and right there a little bit of frustration uh we’re going to see Kye belly bow out of competition here and Jacob Wilcox as well as Ian gen will move on into the round of 32 there’s the

Numbers right there Thank You Caroline marks for joining us you stick around flick we got more coming your way take a bonsoy brew break right now get Frost out come back to pipeline the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti ch AV was it literally the like the exact same scenario with when I joined food Fighters it was athletic you’re jumping around you’re sweating and it’s a little pack thing and you’re playing and I used to play really aggressive and it takes you to new levels when I got on the tour

All of a sudden you’re with the best of the best of the best and you’re serving with them every day and then you have to serve a Heat against them so you’re just constantly trying to get better keep up or level yourself up it’s the cold beer Surf Club it’s the 805 cold beer Surf Club took a look at Chris chifflet the lead singer uh lead guitar I’m sorry for the foood fighters Dave gr’s League singer talks about the Thrills the tolls life on the road with Dave Gro turning passion into profession guitar talk surfing with Tom Kern Bobby Martinez

That’s all in the talk with Conor coffin at the COO Surf Club catch it now episode one is up available wherever you get your podcast thank you for joining us here final heat of the day day number one of the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti elimination round out in the water

Third place eliminated from competition Jordy Smith Liam O’Brien and the big rookie Cole hman out in this final heat Kyper girl joined by Felicity palmenter and Laura en on the set right now as we take a look Jordy Smith goes right stalls left gets in the barrel little fade into that so nice

Start for the Big South African yeah I like that I liked his start you know he’s been watching the last couple of Heats I mean they’ve been a little bit slow little bit sleepy and you know Jacob getting through in that last Heat with like a four and a five

Ian as well so off to a quick start which is uh yeah I’m liking that strategy from Jordy yeah 14th event he served 14 events so far uh here at pipeline his 17th year on the championship tour Jordy Smith 35 years old representing South Africa got a third here in 2018

Had a decent had a decent go last year as well uh quarterfinal finish for Jordy Smith number 23 5.17 kicks in Laura for Jordi Smith yeah Jordy to toall hate is C tall heat yeah you got Jordi Smith about 6’2 um Liam O’Brien maybe 5’11 on Liam but Cole hman

63 210 lbs of pure surfing muscle with this this rookie Cole hman unfortunately like uh this is going to be his test I mean we saw Jacob Wilcox in the the LA the previous heat that was his test as a rookie to get through this elimination

Round Laura same’s going to be for Cole hman right now see what he’s made of cuz this is this is probably the hardest heat on in the championship tour yeah this is and I mean to come into your first year on tour and you know Cole was

Looking sharp in his first round he’s got delegated to the second round and he has an absolutely stacked heat Jordy Smith Liam O’Brien Liam absolutely charges Jordy surprised he hasn’t made a final here um I’d love to see him make a final here at piping his yeah in his

Time on tour and um but he’s had huge results in waves of consequence and he’s just an all around chance camp but uh yeah for Cole this would be you know a real sort of moment for him to come into his own and and really try to play this ha out

Smart yeah Jordy Smith um with this 5.17 and and like you said a veteran move and just getting a number on the board right away uh he’s he’s putting his I think the thing with Jordi is he’s putting his time out here at Pipeline and back door but kind of like under the

Radar he he owns the house here in uh on the NorthShore he spent a good amount of the of the co years when we were locked down right here on the NorthShore surfing and and tuning his skills especially to come up to this challenge yeah and I feel like every event

Especially here he’s in the Highlight package he’ll he’ll get you know excellent scores but uh just yeah can’t seem to crack that final and uh I feel like it’s in him it’s it’s it’s uh this obviously is not the way he probably wanted to start being in the uh

Elimination round but love the way that he’s trying to get a fiery start against young crew here he is smart again Smith pulls in pulls up and not going to come out of that one yeah really I’m I’m loving this strategy I’m loving it I I see like he’s

Just so hungry and I think just going to Echo what I said before I think he’s taking notes that that last hit was really sleepy and guys are getting through on fives and sixes you know Jak would got through that last Heat on a 10.16 total you know that’s not

Necessarily A total so yeah taking notes and getting an early start speaking of Jacob Willcox this here from Jacob he won on the last seat he’s with AJ yeah he did kypo Jacob I know coming into your first CT event at pipe surfing in the elimination round on day one

Probably not on the goals but how did you reset from that opening round get here on the glass to win the elimination round yeah it definitely wasn’t the goal but um I was actually pretty excited to go out there it was like just another 30 minutes to Surf p with only two other

People out so I think there was a lot of positives in it but yeah I work out I was pretty Prett nervous this morning being one of the last Heats of the day it’s like you got to watch everyone got to be around it all and um yeah I was

Trying just trying to manage that and I was so excited and almost a little bit emotional for that first heat um thinking about how hard I’ve worked to get to this point and um yeah it was just it was pretty special and I haven’t really got any waves that I’m super

Proud of yet but uh hopefully as the event goes on I can find a couple I want to talk a little bit more about those emotions that you had this morning you had so many close calls with qualifying for the CT and this is the year you

Finally got it done what did it take to get over the hump um I don’t know yeah there was a lot of close years but I don’t know every time I didn’t qualified I just reminded myself that I just got to improve myself in some way that I’m

Not good enough yet and um feel like each year I’ve kind of gotten a little bit better and I think just the biggest thing has been my mindset towards it all has probably changed the most and yeah I’m just really enjoying it and it’s um yeah like if the hardest thing that’s

Going to happen to me today is being the elimination round it’s a it’s a pretty awesome day absolutely even more awesome because you’re on to the next Heat what did you learn about surfing at pipe you’re going to carry forward oh it’s pretty fun wave such a good wave um it

Kind of reminds me of a few slabs that I have in wa lots of similarities but yeah it’s a lot different when there’s not 100 people out there you can see a lot more of the reef see how the waves move and yeah I was I’m just so happy I got

To Sur out there twice and of course I’m happy to get through the heat as well you’ll have at least one more congratulations Jacob perfect thank you pass the rookie test right there Jacob Wilcox looking calm collected no surprise to me um flick in that you know like like Jacob said

Growing up in Western Australia he’s no stranger to Gnarly waves uh Western the Western Australian coastline is Giant and from right at the top to right down south I mean we’ve got the whole coastline is dotted with exceptional waves and a lot of waves of consequence

And Jacob sort of honed his skills down there and I feel like I mean so many people have been saying it but he his surfing suits are tour you know he sures amazing in powerful waves he’s got his turns down I think he he was suited to

The tour it just took him a while to get through the Challenger Series because the Challenger Series and prior to that the qualifying series you know we’ve got good waves on there but not necessarily these big powerful waves and so now that Jacob’s on tour I’m so excited to see

What he’s going to do I feel like he’s going to be the biggest threat uh he sort of look my pig like this whole Rookie of the Year thing I mean it’s it’s going to be so hotly contested but I think for me it’s between Cole this

Man right here speaking of the rookies Cole hman pulls in the barrel pulls High tight you can see the foam ball getting ahead of his board and that was unfortunate for Cole hman looking for a hot start here but he’s not going to get it Laura yeah you can just see the

Energy there though I love uh the intent the hairstyle you know it’s it’s quite lovable 10 points you know you really love it love it you hate it but I think it’s I think it’s absolutely Fab um but yeah excited to see Cole this year like I said before

Yeah you were saying fck before Cole caught that wave that your pick for the Rookie of the Year would be Cole or Jacob 100% I think yeah between Cole or Jacob I mean there could be I’m seeing Crosby maybe as well I mean he could just get on a streak and obviously he’s

Got his brother and the whole you know San Clemy crew but I just see I mean Cole’s a Powerhouse he’s now got Luke Eagan coaching him Luke just coached you know Caroline last year to a well TI all like so much experience behind him but yeah I just feel that Jacob surfing

Really suits the tour and this isn’t his first rodeo either I mean I think he’s had 13 Championship tour appearances before this event at pipe um he’s had wild cards into Portugal he’s had wild cards to Bells numerous wild cards to Margaret River so he’s no stranger to

Being in the CT and having that sort of pressure and competing against the best in the world you know yeah I feel like Jacob has like gotten taller and um stronger as well so I mean I feel like they had this heat at Nar being the Challenger Series last last year and the

Final well sorry it wasn’t wasn’t a heat it was the final and they were both just dropping absolute hammers they they looked like CT surface and I remember me Ronnie and Richie were uh on on the comms just saying they look like they will just fit this tour very well yeah they definitely

Belong well 18 minutes in a pretty slow heat right now uh and then Jordy Smith with a valuable 5.17 that he got and remember um our new Global partner in women surfing inite inent brigh has curated a collection of WSL inspired Surf and ocean Centric experiences happening in and around

Cities all across the USA enjoy surf lessons Beach yoga and more amongst this epic list of activities find out more on the events happening in your area check out eventbrite.com and thank you for the support event right so Liam O’Brien now sitting with priority hasn’t got away we had the cooh

Housman conversation the uh Jacob wilock conversation one thing I want to add about kman is his rise to the championship tour has been an Inc is a incredible um illustration of the three- tiered system of marching last year he was a qer won his first Qs in at

Cabarita got on to the SE to the Challenger Series made quick work of that first place in Sydney in Narine first place in Bedo by the time he rolled around into event number four on the Challenger Series the US Open of Surfing that young man right there had already qualified

For the championship tour and that just illustrates how you can go from a region to the Challenger to the CT all in one year flip yeah for sure I uh just recently uh uh the lineup with Dave pron dropped a new podcast and it it’s featuring Cole and I

Was like you know what I’m going to listen to this I want to get get to know Cole a little bit more and in there he speaks about his whole journey and you really get to know him it’s it’s really good but he said that he hadn’t won an

Event in about 7 years and the moment the time that it all switched was kind of koh’s doing right he sort of took that whole San Clen crew under his wing and sort of had that Mentor mentorship role and you know just was sort of

Showing the the boys the way of the tour we’re not telling them but just showing them with his actions and pulling them all together and sort of creating that really good environment for competition and traveling together and supporting each other and so when they decided to

Do that is when it all clicked and he finally won that Qs event and as we see yeah 3:30 itis that’s that’s in a way that’s one of Chloe’s kids right there you know I mean Griffin kapino was kind of the first project that Koh Andino really

Took under his wing and Griffin we know what he’s done so far Griffin in turn has been a mentor and a guidance to this new crew that’s come out of San Clem Cade Matson um a Cole hman as well as his younger brother Crosby kapino to your point it all happened uh really

With Koh lighting the fire Jordy Smith casual looking to improve upon a one-point ride we’re halfway through the Heat 15 minutes right now and it’s been uh Jordy who’s been the busiest and the busyness has been paying off so far for the South African Surfer it’s unbelievable it’s pretty

Crazy right now you know we’re sitting here only 15 minutes left of this heat and uh Liam’s yet to catch a wave you got to be thinking that maybe the ocean’s going to be starting to switch on maybe it’s got a few of those rhythms

You know the ocean does tend to do that you know it pulses yeah I mean it’s the Tide’s coming up I think there like a seven p.m. high tide this afternoon and yeah it feels like the last two Heats have just gone a bit sleepy but uh it’s

Still glassy and I feel like you know there’s got to be a poll soon so we do know the SW is dropping we’re going to see it drop off tomorrow and and sort of tend to that more Northerly swell so excited to see what what could be here tomorrow left over

Well maybe maybe some cheeky little waves at the back door I reckon be all right some 3 to four fo back door little cheeky wedges yeah yeah we’ll find out in the morning and see see where we going I feel that we’ve had a successful day here day number one

Here at the Lexus Pipe Pro stop number one of the W Championship tour I got through the men’s opening round we got we’re getting through this is the last Heat of the men’s elimination round so we are getting the getting the show on the road getting the engine started

Laura for sure and I know uh everyone back home in Australia will be tuning in to watch Li O’Brian right now Gold Coast ble boy he uh had some Su success here last year fifth place which was so incredible to see after that injury that injury

That you know took him off his Rocky year um fought his way back last year no sorry in 2022 on the Challenge Series and then uh yeah obviously so good to see him break through get into the semi-finals at El Salvador last year and just really show the world what Li

O’Brien as he takes off is made of there he is and in and out O’Brien waited for about 17 minutes for that wave and the patience will pay off for the guy from Burly heads and uh you know what talk about like keeping your cards close to your

Chest keeping the heart rate down waiting it out showing the poker face not moving but Liam o’briant when he’s activated flick just made some stuff happen wow he went 30 minutes then or it was 30 minutes left in the heat he called that way right like that his

Nerves of Steel 20 20 minutes he waited takes off here drives down the line you can just see that technique he had to weave so many times in that Barrel there was really really technical yeah talk about nerves of Steel look how glassy and beautiful this pipeline Barrel is

And just love the way he’s pumping he’s on the foam ball there was so deep that is going to feel absolutely amazing nothing can feel better than waiting for so long with priority and then turning this in uh one of the best waves in the last you know couple of hits that we’ve

Seen so just picture perfect pig dog style here he’s he’s so stylish oh so stylish and really here you can really see that technique and that’s not an easy thing to do grabbing your Rail and then also being a to pump down through the tube like really technical comes

Flying out beautiful style like Wow way to start you hate yeah that was awesome and he’s backing it up quickly quicking quickly backing up with a back door Barrel Liam o’ban so we’re waiting for two scores for O’Brien the one thing that was impressive is that it’s really

Inconsistent and Liam had to make that count when he used that priority right there oh my goodness wow look at Cole hman where did he come from howman now with on a mission so we’re going to see the complexity or the ction of this heat change when these next scores drop it

Was all Jordy Smith for the first 17 minutes of this heat and now we’re down to 11 minutes and things are getting shooken up yeah Co just came straight from inside that barrel and straight to the exit so I’m looking forward to seeing the beginning of that

One and here we go digging deep gets an early entry up under the lip double arm drag for a little bit there it’s not over yet KNE carving maneuver and get straight back back out the back really opening up that account Laura I love this in water view yeah such a such a

Great shot I mean nothing deep for coal you know it would just feel good to get something off the board wipe off that 1.2 and uh just really get back in this because 10 minutes to go he just needed to get something in that you know medium

Range and he’s done that here Lov that just swooping in beautiful takeoff Stands Tall tries to wipe off as much speed just so we can maximize that tube time and uh yeah also so stylish way he approaches this all and yeah we’ve got some scores coming through it’s going to make things

Interesting waiting for the score for Cole hman the scores did come through for Liam O’Brien a big 8.5 backed up with a 3.83 O’Brien’s in the lead and he’s back for more can’t really stall on that one but Liam O’Brien went from third to First with that 8.5 and that’s really

What’s going to make the difference in that he the excellent score they pretty much deserved a 4minute he you know if those are his two his two scores by the end of the heat he did that all in four minutes and you know throughout today I’ve I’ve you know I’ve

Been in the booth for a lot of Heats that someone that’s holding priority just hasn’t been able to turn in a score after all that time and you know that was yeah a bit of a rarity to see him you know be able to capitalize and and

Find that wave so hats off to Li him I think the other thing is is that uh Caroline was just in the booth previously and we were also talking about this that at waves like line or you know Chu they you have the ability to turn a three a 3 minute heat in

Because it’s a quick paddle back out sometimes and if you can get back out the back all it takes is one wave and you know the the score out here is the barrel so if you’re getting one big barrel and you need a big score it’s so

Doable so you can exactly exactly that is what just happened I mean Liam just did that in 4 minutes it’s pretty incredible so it’s not over it’s never over no it’s never over and we’ve seen buzzer beaters we’ve been highlighting that when we’ve been featuring some of

The W Vault moments were a number of times there was these epic historic finals out here at Pipeline and you ever think everything thing’s going one way and all it takes is one wave two waves to turn the whole thing around 8 minutes and 25 seconds Liam O’Brien in the lead

With an excellent score time to take a bronzo brew break I’m going to make it a double shot we’ll be back with more action here from pipeline know fin I we got more action for you coming up after this last Heat of the day the 805 post show today’s best action we’re

Going to have board talk with Matt Mayhem biolis and we’ll check in with our friends over at Surfline and ask them what’s going to happen with the swell what should we expect oh maybe some white PS too we could highlight Kate Matson start a day off that way

That’s the 805 post show following this final Heat of the day where Liam O’Brien’s in the lead a patient Surfer the Australian waited till 17 minutes into the Heat and then utiliz his prior he got an excellent wave of 8.5 I’m K girl along with Felicity palmantier and Laura

En action’s not over Laura it’s not I was just uh saying to Fleek um you know this elimination round on the first day of competition it no one wants to be in it been there too many times I think I’ve got a bit of PTSD heart rate’s up

For these boys don’t no one wants to go home on the First first day although they’re not going home they’re going to go back to their accommodation and just down the road to sunet wait for Sunset obviously but uh yeah it’s uh you know you you have such a long offseason

Getting ready for this moment and it all comes down to his last five and a half minutes yeah it sure does uh we saw Cole howman waiting for a score for Cole he got a 4.5 on that pipeline Barrel but he’s in third right now and he needs a

3.18 and to make it a little even more difficult flick for Cole hawman is the guy who’s scking in that second and advancing position Jordy Smith has priority JY knows how to close a heat yeah ABC always be closing always be closing now look uh it’s definitely a

Bit of a pickle right now for Cole there’s no doubt about it um he’s either going to try and get some distance or if a set comes through he’s going to probably try and force Jordy into a wave um to see nice to see where they are in

The lineup and and see if they’re sitting close to each other um but yeah right now it’s it’s but you know what he only needs a small score and we saw Liam sit there for 17 minutes to open up his account and he got it 85 so it’s we’ve

Already said it a million times but it’s really not over just yet could be another flurry of waves it could be a three-wave set come through so it’s definitely not over and Cole I feel like you know I’ve been watching a lot of stuff that he’s been P putting out on

Social media and you know waves at Sunset and here at pipe and he’s been surfing out here since he’s been really little so if he it’s in his willhouse if he gets the opportunity you know Laura I feel like he’s so prepared for what flick was saying he’s so prepared coming into this

And but that preparation sometimes doesn’t work out and unexpected things happen I mean have you ever had had that feeling in your professional career like you’re so prepared you’re so ready for it like 90% of the time but then then this is s cuz this is actually surprising me coming into this

EV I I was like call hman watch what he’s going to do yeah this is going to be a classic veteran verse rookie moment you can see Liam almost just paddling away cuz look jordy’s got priority there’s three and a half minutes to go ball is in jordy’s court and Li’s like

This not my fight yeah and you know this is this is out of Jordi and Cole now to be like okay Jordy the next decision he makes is going to be so important because if he takes off in a wave and the next wave is better and Cole gets it

He only needs a 3.1 so I feel like the nerves and the heart rate I said this earlier but I I wish we got to see their heart rates right now cuz they’d probably just going through the roof and uh yeah little heart rate monitor on each Surfer I think mine is are

[Laughter] maybe down to under three minutes and number 23 wants to put a slam dunk on this one much Motion in the ocean here we go having a look oh just went for a dive for a lobster down there wow that was Radical all right waves out the back though let’s see what

Happens right here there’s two Lums coming right now 2 and 1 half minutes to go and Cole Cole needs a 3.1 so achievable so achievable Jordy just needs to go and absolute Warrior hold off defense mode also make the right decision you know it’s it’s a hard thing when you

Don’t have a crystal ball right and sometimes you can’t really see the waves behind the one that’s coming so you know how do you know that this wave that you’re going the first wave of the set is the one to hold Cole off you know this is that hard thing when you’re

Playing with Mother Nature you know just like am I making the right decision please knows well there we go the positioning between the two Surfers and Cole hoping for something to happen Jordy Smith happy to hold down the court at the moment we did see Liam O’Brien go over

The falls although it’s you know no harm no fall for O’Brien he’s way out in the lead right now he may have gone in or at least taking the long road back out just going need to get a little massage Chiropractic adjustment eyes on the horizon for these

Two Surfers and there’s Liam took the long way back out but he can hold his head up because it looks like he’s most certain to move into the round the 32 the tail is really going to be between Jordy Smith the veteran and the rookie on tour Cole

Hman and what a um what a comparison between the these two 17 years on tour for Jordy Smith the rookie Cole there he goes he sold it but is it a sale yeah you know what Jordy Smith’s going to pay the price right there because he’ll

Happily purchase that item if that was a sale looks like he’s going to improve upon his score line with a back door Barrel Laura yeah I mean he only had to improve on a 2.5 so even if he gets a 354 that’s going to push Cole’s requirement up into the three or four

Sorry four or five range but uh 20 seconds to go and Cole’s standing on his board and I feel like if anyone could see a wave it’ be him cuz he’s palm tree tall here we go and unfortunately I see some lines out there but I don’t think it’s there’s enough time for

Those lines to hit the reef as the countdowns to the final 5 seconds and Cole hman the rookie on tour is going to walk away from his first event with the equal 33rd meanwhile Jordy Smith is going to play on and Liam O’Brien 8.5 glaring at us with an

Excellent wave score there for O’Brien unfortunate for Cole hman and that is the results of a final final heat of the day here wow uh to be honest there wasn’t that many opportunities that came through in this heat and Liam just had absolute nerves of Steal waiting so long

For that wave and you know did a really good job because that was a really long stretched out barrel and to make that and to convert that 85 I mean that was really the turning point for him and backed it up straight away with a 383

You can tell the comps over look at all the free Surfers coming in through play coold taking off right now we’ll be back with more action here you’re going to want to stick around 8 post show coming up with Joe Laura Jesse right after this for [Applause] W [Applause] It’s time for the 805 post show after a big start to the 2024 Championship tour back door and pipeline certainly delivered to set up some Heats in the round of 32 so finishing the opening round got through that elimination round handed out for 33r that’s always tough but they can

Just go down the Street start practicing for Sunset and maybe get a jump start and everyone still focused here at pip thanks for being with us Joe Trel Laura ener Jesse Mendes what a great day starting with you Laura I mean what’s your favorite part about kicking off the

Season I I think just like coming down here this morning we knew today was going to be you know amazing on the forecast and then just when you see you know the lineup at dark and it’s kind of like you don’t really know what’s going

On yet and then all of a sudden like justce the sun started coming over the sky was like getting Pinky and then there was just like spitting barrels everywhere and that was pretty awesome that was really awesome like it’s on Jesse for you uh any surprises for

People in form or was it kind of your usual suspects that came came together on game day I don’t know if I call a surprise but Callum definitely um was a standout today um beating Gabe and at getting that nine-point ride he’s so good at identifying um just the most

Critical waves he had the 10-point ride in Portugal last year and yeah just applying the pressure that Gabe again this time and yeah I was impressive to watch him yeah tough to send certain guys home like Rio WEA or just down the street he’ll be preparing for Sunset and

Also Cole hman just more recently in that last Heat that was uh pretty tough to to see him go down after so much hype having so much great confidence and energy maybe more so than any other rookie yeah and then just now going down

In the last te of the day to Jordy Smith and Liam O’Brien Liam winning with a 12.33 combined total and Jordy looks solid on the wave SE shows but how about Lobby Laura yeah he waited for about 20 minutes of priority and in the elimination round on the first day of

Competition you have to hold some serious nerves to be able to find a wave like this and he just surfed it to Perfection you know high high eight was it 85 and uh just then backed it up he basically served a 4minute heat he literally got that wave that wave and

Then was in the heat in the lead and yeah left the other guys just sort of chasing and Cole scratched back into it with this wave was a 4 five but unfortunately the last you know 7 Minutes of the heat Jordy held priority and just there wasn’t any other

Opportunity for the boys to really give it a crack oh pretty special to see Liam in this kind of form when you’re getting barrels like that everyone wants to get a bit of that energy and give you a solid high five Jesse if you’re passing on some advice to Cole hman how would

You recommend him kind of digesting this loss um heads up he’s such an amazing talented Surfer um his surfing will fit this wave very well but also will fit Sunset even better in my opinion so he control buckets such a powerful wave he’s the biggest guy on tour so yeah

Just I guess the negative side is losing the positive side like you mentioned he’s just going to go down the road and practice before everyone so he has a little Edge on top of that dangerous words of wisdom right there let’s catch up with the winner of that heat with

That 85 Liam O’Brien with AJ we’re going to get to that 85 in just a minute Joey but first Liam I want to talk about just coming into this 2024 season what did you really in on this off seon that you wanted to put into practice here at

Pipeline um to be honest it was just working on some things I learned last year um a lot of decision- making I mean you get more time in the water with less people on tour so um that kind of gives you more freedom to get more waves and

Make better wave selection decisions so I’m trying to work on that a bit um and yeah that heat was kind of a nice like reward for for working on that I suppose cuz yeah I um had to sit there for a long time was pretty nerve

I know I wanted to talk about that’s perfect that you worked on just how you compose yourself with within the heat mentally because you waited a long time for that 8.5 ride to pop up what did you see on that wave and how did you keep yourself calm while you were waiting for

It um yeah well Jacob actually gave me a bit of a tip before he paddled in and just said wait for the ones that have a bit more energy in him so um I was just waiting around I was like I hope one of these waves comes through cuz it’s not

Looking too promising but um yeah I was just sitting there trying to focus on my brein and I don’t know I’m usually pretty bad at wave selection so which you I showed in the end of the heat but um I uh yeah I was just like I’m just

Going to sit here and wait for one that actually looks like a really good wave and if it doesn’t come it doesn’t come but um yeah fortunately for me it came through how much confidence does that give you moving on here at pipeline that you can trust your instincts that a wave

Will show up and you know what you’re looking for yeah it’s definitely a big um a big confidence booster as you know it’s so crowded out there in the free surf so it’s sort of hard to actually with all the people around it’s hard to like get a good idea of what you’re

Looking for um but yeah to have a heat so special to have a heat with no one out there it’s it’s a dream really so when lose our draw it’s a it’s a really good time but um yeah stok to get through and stok to know that um can

Kind of apply that way of knowledge in the next eight Win Lose or Draw but today it was a win congratulations Liam yeah thanks very much back to you guys well done thank you AJ just great when you see certain Surfers who have been through a lot at the start of the season

In the past where he’s been injured here before but totally different story this year looking really comfortable and being patient certainly paid off 8.5 that’s one of the best waves of opening day as he moves on into the round of 32 for for Liam it’s hard not to think of

Mark Richards when he talks you know of the four-time World Champ their demeanor their personality how polite they are there’s so many similarities there yeah Liam’s just so cool K and collected it does feel like he’s been plucked out of the 70s or the 80s and he just needs the

Short shorts or something but uh he is uh such a chiller and yeah but then also just does lets his surf into the talking and obviously seeing him get that injury a couple of years ago was so heartbreaking right here and then you know he’s always been so underground

Just getting bombs like down the beach and off the wall and just putting in so much time so yeah I feel like he’ll he’ll be he’ll be a big threat this contest sometimes those mysterious ones are the hardest to compete against you never know when they’re going to drop

Bombs like he did in that last teed always good to focus on the goat Kelly Slater eight time pipe Champion but on a show today with Jack Robinson Rio wio went this one said he learned a lot from these two Jack reading the barrel of

Back door so L Jesse Yeah like um the first Morning Show we had the waves were so hard um so messy all around and he found two good waves and here is just much easier than that day so Jack’s just one of the Specialists out here and he

One of the best sub Riders of all time and he’s just showing that on that wave defending pipe champion Jack won this event over Leo fante in last year’s final here was C under the hood 717 so stylish that entry into the W was my favorite part of the whole ride yeah

And his boards look amazing he looks so connected he uh he had a moment where he got washed down the beach so far pretty much down to you know Pub gas Chambers had to do the whole paddle back around and you know he’s showing that he’s

Still fit as a fiddle to take that on he really is still a favorite to win Kelly in second remember top two we’re moving on to the round of 32 and Kelly spent a lot of time with Jack over the last few winners on the NorthShore he’ll even try

To hit him up for for surf sessions he really enjoys being around that kind of talent and and really right tries to will those Heats to come to him at this stage in his career uh when you look at Kelly in this kind of form it’s hard to

Not to dream of his 22 uh 2022 win where you know we’re expecting him to maybe do that again Jesse Yeah it was emotional to watch that and he’s always a Trad out here the best average of the event um most um days of competition served in

This wave so he’s definitely a tread and yeah looking forward to watch him getting barreled jeez the Heats are already stacking up little tip everyone playing fantasy Surfer you can look at the draw right now and make sure you don’t have any friendly fire with your guys surfing against each other here’s

One you’re going to want to watch Ethan Ying taking on Kelly Slater what’s going to happen there Laura that is that’s going to be one of the most stylish stylish hats of the of the round and it’s kicking off first thing tomorrow I know Kelly does not like early mornings

It’s not on tomorrow but it’s you know when it is on he might be first ha so he’s going to have to go to bed early that’s a good point doesn’t like being a morning person typically but Kell’s going to show up for that one taking on

Number two seed in the contest Griffin vers Wild Card Shion Crawford Jesse Yeah that’s going to be fireworks I feel like those true Surfers are very unpredictable like one of them we don’t know as much obviously Griffin has been on tour for a few years but he’s always

So hard to predict you never know he’s going to troll so yeah it’s going to be exciting one to watch for sure yeah really fun one there Shion went down swinging a couple times and kept working his way into Rhythm I think he was really proud to kind of go back to back

With you know Jackson Bunch representing the Hawaii wild cards and for Griffin he’s kind of got something to prove too he sometimes he’s turning in the free surfs of the NorthShore a back door and pipe and then he almost can’t win this event fast enough he think he won

Semi-final but he should have a lot more consistency that’s going to be a great one to watch at think think we have just made it to our cup noodles wave of the day congratulations a 9-point ride calex packing this one kicking off the season Laura yes it did have shades of that way

That he got last year over in Portugal but it was so deep it was just such a double up on the inside just went so Hollow and throaty and uh yeah he absolutely santed almost let go with the rail there and then just grabbed it and

Was like I’m going to need to hold on cuz this is going to be wild Rod how cool is that Jesse I mean the way he got the 92 and how important it was for him to get the lead back off of Medina totally and he kind of seems like to

Feed off pretty well against Medina so that was incredible what he did like um Laura mentioned he almost lost a ray on that bottom turn and he was just able to Snick himself under the ledge and um just get absolutely blown out really cool when you have those Heats where

That top favorite Surfer gets pushed by an underdog and Cal kind of loves that role you know that dark horse that is going to surprise you at any time he’s often running into the round of 32 this event it’s always fun to talk about boards especially with visla having that

Whole shaping Zone where people can watch people shape live also we’ve had the luxury of having the visista shaper of the Year here on the NorthShore to talk shop with us we have to listen in to Matt biolis talking to Crosby Cola Pinto about Equipment So this is P Board new and approved not to be confused with a sunset board mhm and it’s kind of like a chopu board the white points a little further forward than say on a sunset board where we want to be able to hook and turn more

Uh a little further forward kind of where your front foot drives off the Wide Point and the Tail’s pulled in really narrow narrow tail with you have foam balls bouncing and a steep wall explosions coming up the narrow Tails keeps you control you know you’re not

Trying to do blow Tails or anything and so you know that’s the distinctive thing about boards for pipe and Sh right espcially right in here the Tails and narrow you don’t need much to stand on yeah and then the boards we pulled them in a little over all WID uh I think we

Uh we got them down to this one’s 66 so it’s 19 but your 6 two and your 64s they’re 18 and 78 okay this is 19 you know how like back in the day the guys on Old boards would always just be able to like the their bigger boards

Look so knifey you know they could like kick under the under the lip last time they were V bottoms and you know so they were huge thick boards but they were like V nose to tail and they could like go edge to edge with them roll get them

Moving like Mr in those guys yeah Ian I don’t know how far back you’re yeah well I was thinking like like AI Bruce like you look at an AI Rara from 15 20 years ago uhuh it’s not that different than this yeah you know you got the random

Guys that are like Kelly or John who Kelly who’s had who’s been in 100 pipe Masters and John who’s surfed there a thousand million times they get a little bored with standard quo and they start really messing with their equipment yeah but I think that you’ve worked your

Whole life to get where you are and you’re going to have a shot and you want to stay kind of conservative kind of tried and true for sure right now is not the time to experiment yeah yeah for sure you do it works you know yeah yeah I’m excited to try It I think Crosby was trying to order something that Andy wrote didn’t it sound like well I think uh Matt thought he wanted to order a like a A Single Fin Mark Richards oh no not that old just like you know Andy Bruce old old for me for

Me exactly oh you got to love that the surfer shape or relationship is really unique and I think there’s some people like Matt that sometimes know you’re surfing or what you might need more than you do you know and obviously making a ton of boards for pipeline over the

Years you definitely had something really thoughtful setup for Crosby and it worked out today yeah it did and I love the way that he was saying you know you don’t need to be you know just experimenting right now you want something conservative just to get you absolutely pitted something that’s going

To be stable when there’s there’s lumps and bumps and everything that you can expect from pipe coming at you and yeah obviously work today let’s see solid see that’s right well we’ve got a long time in the waiting period you know we’ve got tons of chances to score let’s bring up

Surf line to see when we might be getting underway again the official forecaster it’s been great having Jonathan Warren on hand to ask him a million questions too Jesse what are we seeing yeah I did um really broke it down for us a little bit looks like

Tomorrow we’re going to have um good wins again maybe a little bit smaller and then the second half of the wind though looks very promising for the win he did mention a little bit that there’s going to be a secondary swell coming from the Northeast which is not ideal

But sometimes it breaks it up to swell and makes it very good um rights so back door could be firing and with the offshore winds could be very nice so let’s see let’s wake up and see that’s the best way Laura thoughts on tomorrow morning potenti there I mean I feel like

Kyo was a bit skeptical but I feel like there could be something left over and if there’s something left over and you know it’s peaky I think it could be a great a great day to get the women’s kicked off and and uh yeah if there’s

Any more barrels left over a lot of great choices too in the back end so we’re in a great spot so far completing a big day of action and creating a big top five for the 805 post show let’s start off at number five on the charts

Making a big statement uh well from freef falling High out the top of a crazy one that back door rookie overboard oh my goodness this gets more painful every time we watch it Jesse that was so painful and the worst part about this is just the body positioning

He landed sideways just takes all your air out of it and that was horrible looking glad he’s right that might have been his first wave of the tour number four on the top five Eli hanaman first CT ha win and he did it in such a solid

Way Laura oh yeah he just surfed that wave so so well and uh just showing that y he’s here to give it a crack I loved uh you know he he’s uh posted interview talking about his road to recovery back here after his massive wipe out and yeah

He’s he’s doing amazing number three on the top five Callum Robson is kind of gunning for another Yeti Tundra because he had the 10 last year kind of got close today Jesse that was crazy yeah smart play there for Gabe on the first wave just protecting um

I guess I’m using the priority he’s using the rules but Callum didn’t got faded on that and got the best way of the heat taking the win how about this one John John Florence number two on the daily top five put together this master class oh yeah first wave of John season

Absolutely beautiful you know he’s just looking so comfortable out there as per usual and uh yeah so good to just watch him out there every single wave uh loves loves speaking to you know car Molly all of the ladies just saying they just love watching all of his hat and

Just studying what he does cuz it’s just always so inspiring and you can learn something PL Flawless performance from the local boy and then the wild card at the buzzer Jackson Bunch got this Gem of a wave eight s seven to turn the heat that was a classic pipeline good fot

Wave um he was just so deep so behind and just able to do that long drawn out bottom turn and getting very deep on the on the barrel and coming out and I stuck for him a ground that is just so comfortable out there and two seconds

There was 2 seconds left on the clock I don’t think you can ever have a better feeling than a buzzer Baer when there you know he was staring down the barrel of heading to the elimin elimination round and just flipped the heat in two seconds that’s so crazy Jackson Bunch

Into the round of 32 and looking to make more of a statement as this event continues we’ll say bye for now but join us tomorrow morning at 7:45 in the morning local time for the call we’ll see you then Let’s go let’s get it we’re about to get it get It R nobody a job like the king so that quick Rush running through your ve the how I keep it going we maintain top level th Rebels we will not settle go love level make your pop like it’s incredible R like a nursery RH that’s why we going to do it perfect

This time learn what you like and show I with I want to see you get J like the K that quick Rush running through your ve the keep it going we maintain that I to tell him get ready for the AR weapons like set up to Target them and

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