Yesterday, the waiting period began for one of the most eagerly awaited events in surfing. The Volcom Pipe Pro, a QS 3000, is a who’s who of the best Pipe Surfers on earth. It’s not the easiest to win, either–in fact, only three can claim that title, and all three of the creme de la creme of Pipeline surfers. Jamie O’Brien won in 2010, John John Florence in 2015, 2013, 2012, and 2011, and Kelly Slater in 2016, and 2014.
Kelly, of course, has already said that this year will be his final year. It’s his swan song, as they say. “Next year I’m gonna get my shit (and my body) together for real and see if I can make a last run at a title,” he wrote on Instagram back in October. “Then I’ll go find the best waves on earth til my last day before being freeze dried and used as plant food to make a #Koa and #Monkeypod tree on my property or take the carbon from my ashes and make a diamond from it for my family. (Don’t forget to drop some of me in the tube also!)” And if one is to judge by this wave on January 20th, he’s going to be tough(er) to beat.
Keep up to date with the Volcom Pipe Pro on WSL.com.
Round 1
Heat 1: Nathan Florence, Mikey Bruneau, Jason Shibata, Kai Lenny
Heat 2: Wyatt McHale, Noah Beschen, Kelson Lau, Gregg Nakamura
Heat 3: Hank Gaskell, Myles Padaca, Alex Pendleton, Koa Rothman
Heat 4: Evan Valiere, Dylan Goodale, Landon McNamara, Ezra Sitt
Heat 5: Kevin Sullivan, Braiden Mother, Danny Fuller, Seth Moniz
Heat 6: Chris Foster, Turo Ariitu, Sheldon Paishon, Kekoa Bacalso
Heat 7: Shayden Pacarro, Kekoa Cazimero, Tereva David, Lance Gruver
Heat 8 Luke Shepardson, Takayuki Wakita, Ulualoha Napeahi, Logan Bediamol
Round 2
Heat 1: Eli Olson, Manuel Selman, Noa Mizuno, TBD
Heat 2: Dean Bowen, Nic von Rupp, Kai Mana Henry, TBD
Heat 3: Jack Robinson, Brian Toth, Tomas Tudela, TBD
Heat 4: Leandro Usuna, Flavio Nakagima, Kaimana Jacquias, TBD
Heat 5: Olamana Eleogram, Keoni Yan, Ian Walsh, TBD
Heat 6: O’Neill Mason, Josh Burke, Jared Hickel, TBD
Heat 7: Nomme Mignot, Miguel Blanco, Yuri Goncalves, TBD
Heat 8: Kaito Kino, Alonso Correa, Kaito Ohashi, TBD
Heat 9: Shane Holmes, Jaime O’Brien, Cody Young, TBD
Heat 10: Mason Ho, Tim Reyes, Bruce Irons, TBD
Heat 11: Shun Murakami, Makuakai Rothman, Taumata Puhetini, TBD
Heat 12: Reo Inaba, Miguel Tudela, Eala Stewart, TBD
Heat 13: Andy Criere, Makai McNamara, TBD, TBD
Heat 14: David do Carmo, Masatoshi Ohno, Elijah Gates, TBD
Heat 15: Tanner Hendrickson, Cory Arrambide, Benji Brand, TBD
Heat 16: Parker Coffin, Lucca Mesinas, Charly Quivront, TBD
Round 3
Heat 1: Josh Kerr, Kiron Jabour, TBD, TBD
Heat 2: Griffin Colapinto, Nathan Yeomans, TBD, TBD
Heat 3: Soli Bailey, Joshua Moniz, TBD, TBD
Heat 4: Conner Coffin, Billy Kemper, TBD, TBD
Heat 5: Ezekiel Lau, Tom Whitaker, TBD, TBD
Heat 6: Bino Lopes, Koa Smith, TBD, TBD
Heat 7: Mitch Coleborn, Victor Bernardo, TBD, TBD
Heat 8: John John Florence, Balaram Stack, TBD, TBD
Heat 9: Kelly Slater, Imaikalani Default, TBD, TBD
Heat 10: Maxime Huscenot, Yago Dora, TBD, TBD
Heat 11: Joan Duru, Aritz Aranburu, TBD, TBD
Heat 12: Jesse Mendes, Carlos Munoz, TBD, TBD
Heat 13: Wiggolly Dantas, Marco Giorgi, TBD, TBD
Heat 14: Torrey Meister, Lucas Silveira, TBD, TBD
Heat 15: Michael Rodrigues, Ian Crane, TBD, TBD
Heat 16: Adriano de Souza, Finn McGill, TBD, TBD
