The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons opened its gates today in pristine Pipeline conditions. The third jewel of the Triple Crown of Surfing saw six-to-eight foot waves, with rounds one and two being completed. Pipeline was in full effect today, and the world’s best surfers put on a show full of unlikely upsets and amazing rides.
Gabriel Medina, the Brazilian wonder kid, opened up with a 9.67 in a heaving barrel, then backed it up with a 9 point ride, leaving Bruce Irons in the dust.
“I got a little bit lucky,” Medina said in a press release. “I got three really good barrels and did the air at the end. I was watching the guys always getting big scores at backdoor and had them in my mind. Somehow, I found those lefts and that was such a fun heat. I’ve always watched Bruce (Irons) and I really respect him. To be surfing with him is a dream come true.”
One of Hawaii’s favorite sons, Sebastian Zietz scored the first perfect 10 of the Billabong Pipe Masters with an incredible Backdoor barrel, proving again that last year’s win wasn’t chance.
Twenty-three-year old Mitch Crews pulled out all the stops against tour vet Shane Dorian in round 1, then continued on to claim the win over Matt Wilkinson in round 2. Crews faces off against Kelly Slater in heat 9, round 3.
The inherent danger that comes with high scoring waves was proven today when former Pipe Master Kieren Perrow dislocated his shoulder in a heavy Pipe barrel, forcing him out of the contest.
Check back tomorrow for a possible 8:00 am start: triplecrownofsurfing.com
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.66 def. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 12.83
Heat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.27 def. Joel Centeio (HAW) 6.66
Heat 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.00 def. Marcus Hickman (HAW) 11.67
Heat 4: Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 16.16 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.84
Heat 5: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.83 def. Kahea Hart (HAW) 11.44
Heat 6: Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.24 def. Raoni MOnteiro (BRA) 7.00
Heat 7: Dusty Payne (HAW) 13.73 def. Reef McIntosh (HAW) 12.84
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.30 def. Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 8.17
Heat 9: Mitch Crews (AUS) 9.40 def. Shane Dorian (HAW) 7.73
Heat 10: Granger Larsen (HAW) 13.50 def. Kalani Chapman (HAW) 7.66
Heat 11: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.17 def. Ricardo Dos Santos (BRA) 5.67
Heat 12: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 17.76 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.77
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 15.67 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.30
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.67 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 11.87
Heat 3: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 17.83 def. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 6.06
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 17.20 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.43
Heat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.16 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 6.30
Heat 6: Mitch Crews (AUS) 14.50 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.66
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.17 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.04
Heat 8: Dusty Payne (HAW) 9.00 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 7.24
Heat 9: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 7.34 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 4.40
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.70 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 4.27
Heat 11: Adam Melling (AUS) 14.56 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 4.07
Heat 12: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.44 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 8.93
UPCOMING BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH UPS:
Heat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 4: Nat Young (USA) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
Heat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kaimana Jaquias (HAW)
Heat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
