Mason Ho knows this wave so very well. Photo: YouTube//Screenshot
There is a lot on the line for Challenger Series surfers at this week’s Pipe Challenger. The entire men’s and women’s field is being thrust back into high-stakes competition at the sport’s proving ground after months without heat draws, scorecards, or paddling for priority at this level. The WSL announced about a week ago that a handful of Championship Tour surfers would be standing in the way of the already packed field. But on Wednesday the League added the news that a staked crew of local talent are also being tossed into the mix.
The League announced another 20 surfers would be added to the event through the local trials. Four heats with five surfers each will produce 10 local wildcards (the top two surfers of each heat advance) into the Pipe Challenger on the men’s side.
A look at that local trials draw shows a gauntlet of Pipe savants. Former CTer Zeke Lau stands out in a heavy crew of Hawaiian Pipe regulars. His heat alone also features Billy Kemper, Makai McNamara, and Legend Chandler. Shayden Pacarro, Koa Rothman, Jamie O’Brien, Mason Ho, Kala Grace, Eli Olson, Koa Smith, and Josh Moniz are just a handful of other familiar faces that are going to be standing between CS athletes and qualification at Pipe.
The men’s local trials field for the Pipe Challenger is stacked. Photo: Screenshot//WSL
“It was pretty unexpected. I know a few of us were hoping to just get a wildcard, but to get a round for us is really cool,” said Moniz. “I think this round will be harder than the first one of the actual event. These are some of the best guys out at Pipe and it’s going to be really tough. It’s so special competing at Pipe. This window you’re kind of just wanting to get into any events. Getting time out there. It’s going to be cool to be competing against some of the best guys from around the world. A lot of them don’t have too much experience out here, but the level is so high if you give them one chance to figure it out they’ll learn quickly to just put their heads down and go. I’m just really excited for the opportunity.”
The Pipe Challenger window is January 29 to February 9.
