Cross your fingers for this. Photo: RuddyPhoto
The waiting period for the 2015 Billabong Pipe Masters begins on Tuesday, December 8th and runs through Sunday, December 20th. Stop number three of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, and event number 11 of the men’s WCT, the Billabong Pipe Masters is the prestigious closure to both of these hallmarks of professional competitive surfing.
The legendary Banzai Pipeline, epicenter of the North Shore’s Seven-Mile Miracle, will have all the surfing world’s eyes focused squarely, as many layers of storylines further develop and come to fruition during the event’s window. Included among these dramatic storylines are: six surfers vie for the 2015 world title, last chance efforts for 2016 CT qualification, a hotly contested Triple Crown race, the return of a past champion and legend, and the farewell of a former world champion and 17-year Championship Tour veteran.
Former event champion Julian Wilson will be looking to reclaim his title. Photo: WSL
Current Jeep Leaderboard top three surfers Mick Fanning, Felipe Toledo, and Adriano de Souza will have the added weight of the 2015 world title to carry each time they put on their jersey. While Gabriel Medina, Owen Wright, and Julian Wilson will each have to produce a near-perfect result at Pipe, Mick, Felipe, and Adriano each will have to falter in the earliest rounds in order for the former surfers to have a shot at a world title.
2001 Billabong Pipe Masters champion Bruce Irons has been allocated a replacement spot in this year’s event by the WSL. Wade Carmichael, current leader of the Triple Crown of Surfing, has received the other replacement spot into the main event. Two wildcard entry spots will be awarded to the winner and runner-up from the field of 32 local surfers competing at the Billabong Pipe Masters Invitational event, which runs on December 7th.
Bruce Irons parks it at Pipe. Photo: Tom Servais
2001 world champion C.J. Hobgood will perform his CT swan song at the 2015 Pipe Masters, ending an influential and stellar career on the Championship Tour, which got its start in 1999.
Strong favorites to be crowned as the 2015 Billabong Pipe Masters include: John John Florence, Owen Wright, Kelly Slater, and Gabriel Medina. Defending event and Triple Crown champion Julian Wilson will be keen to defend each of these highly coveted titles.
Surfline forecast:
“Solid WNW swell lining up for first days of waiting period, building in Tuesday the 8th and strongest on Wednesday the 9th. Good conditions expected as well. Gradual decline through second half of week. Possible smaller NW bump for around the 11th-12th.”
All the Live and On Demand action from the 2015 Billabong Pipe Masters can be viewed on the World Surf League website.
