The 2014 Billabong Pipeline Masters In Memory Of Andy Irons kicks off today (December 9, 2014) with eight heats of the invitational trials. First in the water will be Keanu Asing, Kalani David, Danny Fuller, and Shane Dorian. And things are looking good:
“We’ve got amazing waves this morning and a really good forecast coming up,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said. “We’ll have some light winds this afternoon but right now it’s firing out there. It’s triple overhead and there’s some really crazy barrels so we are on. We’re running the Men’s Pipe Invitational today and everything is on the line.”
For the official word form the ASP (WSL soon) including full Round 1 heat match-ups, follow the jump.BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Tuesday, December 9, 2014) – The final stop of the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, has been called ON today in double- to triple-overhead surf.
Competition will begin with the Men’s Pipe Masters Invitational. The 32-man event is comprised of local specialists competing for a US$100,000 prize purse as well as two positions in the Billabong Pipe Masters.
“We’ve got amazing waves this morning and a really good forecast coming up,” Kieren Perrow, ASP Commissioner, said. “We’ll have some light winds this afternoon but right now it’s firing out there. It’s triple overhead and there’s some really crazy barrels so we are on. We’re running the Men’s Pipe Invitational today and everything is on the line.”
Surfline, official forecaster for the Billabong Pipe Masters, are calling for:
Very solid, overlapping NW swells prevail Tuesday through Thursday, with Wednesday offering a peak in size and Pipe likely getting washed out. Another very solid NW swell builds in Saturday before easing Sunday. Light/variable wind prevails Tuesday, with trades rebuilding Wed/Thur. Trades may temporarily back off on Friday, before building strong NE/ENE trades kick in over the weekend.
The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons will determine this year’s world surfing champion as well as those who qualify for the elite tour in 2015. As the third and final stop on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series (an ASP Specialty Series in Hawaii), the event will also determine the winner of the revered three-event leg.
The ASP Heritage Series, which celebrates the rich culture and history of professional surfing, is poised to have its third and final competitive event of the season with a four-man heat between Gary Elkerton (AUS), Tom Carroll (AUS), Derek Ho (HAW) and Sunny Garcia (HAW).
The world’s best female surfers will also compete at Pipeline this year in the Women’s Pipe Masters Invitational with reigning six-time ASP Women’s World Champion Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), two-time ASP Women’s World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), Australian powerhouse Tyler Wright (AUS) and international icon Bethany Hamilton (HAW) battling it out at the world-famous Pipeline.
Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) has withdrawn from the Men’s Pipe Masters Invitational due to injury and has been replaced by Isiah Moniz (HAW).
Taj Burrow (AUS), Adriano de Souza (BRA) and C.J. Hobgood (USA) have all withdrawn from the Billabong Pipe Masters due to injury and have been replaced by Glenn Hall (IRL), Mitch Coleborn (AUS) and Dusty Payne (HAW) respectively.
The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons will be webcast LIVE at ASPWorldTour.com.
Men’s Pipe Masters Invitational Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Keanu Asing (HAW), Kalani David (HAW), Danny Fuller (HAW), Shane Dorian (HAW)
Heat 2: Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Alex Smith (HAW), Jamie O’Brien (HAW), Olamana Eleogram (HAW)
Heat 3: Ian Walsh (HAW), Kai Barger (HAW), Sunny Garcia (HAW), Reef McIntosh (HAW)
Heat 4: Granger Larsen (HAW), Kaimana Jaquias (HAW), Seth Moniz (HAW), Isaiah Moniz (HAW)
Heat 5: Torrey Meister (HAW), Joshua Moniz (HAW), Billy Kemper (HAW), Kalani Chapman (HAW)
Heat 6: Joel Centeio (HAW), Kiron Jabour (HAW), Kaito Kino (HAW), Makai McNamara (HAW)
Heat 7: Tanner Hendrickson (HAW), Gavin Gillette (HAW), Hank Gaskell (HAW), Nathan Florence (HAW)
Heat 8: Mason Ho (HAW), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Dylan Goodale (HAW), Jack Robinson (AUS)
Billabong Pipe Masters Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Julian Wilson (AUS), Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF), Sebastian Zietz (HAW), Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Mitch Coleborn (AUS)
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA), Adam Melling (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS), Aritz Aranburu (ESP), TBD
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Dion Atkinson (AUS), TBD
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Jadson Andre (BRA), Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 8: Kolohe Andino (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 11: Nat Young (USA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 12: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Women’s Pipe Masters Invitational Heat: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tyler Wright (AUS), Carissa Moore (HAW), Bethany Hamilton (HAW)
ASP Heritage Series Heat: Gary Elkerton (AUS), Tom Carroll (AUS), Derek Ho (HAW) and Sunny Garcia (HAW)
