{"id":44399,"date":"2013-12-08T20:52:27","date_gmt":"2013-12-09T04:52:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=44399"},"modified":"2013-12-08T21:03:07","modified_gmt":"2013-12-09T05:03:07","slug":"pipeline-delivers-on-billabong-masters-opener","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=44399","title":{"rendered":"Pipeline Delivers On Billabong Masters Opener"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Gabriel<\/a><\/p>\n

The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons<\/strong><\/a> kicked off today (December 8, 2013) in firing six to eight foot surf that faded over the course of the day, but never stopped delivering barrels. Brazilian Gabriel Medina<\/strong> put down the highest score of the day (18.67) and landed one of the biggest airs ever done at Pipeline on his way to blazing Bruce Irons<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a little bit lucky,\u201d Medina said. \u201cI 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\u2019ve always watched Bruce (Irons) and I really respect him. To be surfing with him is a dream come true.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The top seeds jump into the action tomorrow in round three. For the official word from the ASP including complete results, follow the jump.
\n<\/p>\n

Big Scores and Pumping Surf on Opening Day of Billabong Pipe Masters<\/p>\n

Pictured: Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, earned the day\u2019s high heat-total of 18.67 on opening day of the Billabong Pipe Masters.<\/p>\n

PIPELINE, Oahu\/Hawaii (Sunday, December 8, 2013) \u2013 The opening day of the Billabong Pipe Masters, in Memory of Andy Irons, commenced today in firing six-to-eight foot (2 metre) waves and the world\u2019s best surfers put on an incredible display of technical barrel riding at Pipeline and Backdoor to complete Rounds 1 and 2. The Billabong Pipe Masters is the third and final leg of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, hydrated by vitaminwater.
\nThe final stop on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Billabong Pipe Masters will decide the 2013 ASP World Title Race, the coveted Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Champion and the final qualification slots for next season\u2019s Top 34.<\/p>\n

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 19, would put together an amazing show at the iconic lefts of Pipeline to kick off the Billabong Pipe Masters, navigating through a heavy barrel on his opening score to post a near-perfect 9.67. The Brazilian Prodigy would quickly back up the ride, earning an additional 9 point score for another deep Pipe tube punctuated with a massive alley-oop, eliminating Bruce Irons (HAW), 34. Medina\u2019s unlikely aerial at Pipeline puts him in the running for a 250,000 mile prize from Hawaiian Airlines Airshow award.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got a little bit lucky,\u201d Medina said. \u201cI 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\u2019ve always watched Bruce (Irons) and I really respect him. To be surfing with him is a dream come true.\u201d<\/p>\n

Medina will face off against John John Florence (HAW), 20, in Heat 5 Round 3 of the Billabong Pipe Masters.<\/p>\n

Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, defending Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Champion, immediately found his rhythm at Pipeline, earning the first perfect 10-point ride of Billabong Pipe Masters competition for an unbelievable Backdoor barrel.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a dream start to the event,\u201d Zietz said. \u201cI got one little Pipe wave, paddled back out and it was nice having Ryan (Callinan) instead of one of the Hawaii boys. He let me pick apart the first half of that heat. He didn\u2019t try and battle me too much. Bruce (Irons) looked at that wave and I don\u2019t know what he was thinking. He probably should have gone because he probably could have got a 10 easily on it. I just dropped in and the foam-ball hit me and I was on one foot for a second. I put my foot down and was going the perfect speed to get barreled all the way through. That was just a perfect wave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Zietz will take on Brazilian Adriano de Souza (BRA), 26, in Heat 8 of Round 3.<\/p>\n

Mitch Crews (AUS), 23, qualifier for the 2014 ASP WCT, was responsible for one of the day\u2019s biggest upsets, eliminating big wave charger and former WCT veteran Shane Dorian (HAW), 41, in Round 1. Crews would continue his successful Billabong Pipe Masters campaign in Round 2, topping fellow countryman Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 25, to claim his second heat win of the day.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis Hawaii season\u2019s one of the best I\u2019ve ever had,\u201d Crews said. \u201cThis has been an incredible run and that heat was a great time. I saw the heat draw and knew I\u2019d draw someone from Hawaii who was incredible. Shane Dorian, he\u2019s the guy. I saw him the other day and was star struck. I decided I was going to try and just get a few waves at backdoor. I never usually even get waves out here, so I\u2019m really happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Crews will face off against 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 41, in Heat 9 of Round 3.<\/p>\n

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 25, 2010 Billabong Pipe Masters Champion, was electric in the offshore barrels in his afternoon heat. Flores would drive through Pipeline and Backdoor barrels to earn one of the day\u2019s high heat-totals, topping dangerous wildcard Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 25, while advancing to Round 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe waves started to get better and I saw the wind switching and saw those perfect A frames,\u201d Flores said. \u201cI was pretty stressed because I was frothing so hard and thought I might take off on too many waves. I think it\u2019s only going to get better from now on, hollow barrels, and it\u2019s good for everyone. It\u2019s Pipe. It\u2019s a dream.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flores will surf against Michel Bourez (PYF), 27, in Heat 11 Round 3.<\/p>\n

While the Billabong Pipe Masters delivered some incredible highlights, a reminder of the danger that comes with surfing Pipeline became apparent when former Billabong Pipe Master Kieren Perrow (AUS), 36, was forced to shore early with a dislocated shoulder following a heavy wipeout. This was not the way Perrow anticipated retiring from competition. The Billabong Pipe Masters was his swansong.<\/p>\n

Vans Triple Crown leader Ezekiel Lau (HAW), 20, also made an early exit from the Billabong Pipe Masters, falling in Round 1 to Patrick Gudauskas. Lau\u2019s elimination opened up the doors for fellow frontrunners Michel Bourez, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 31, and Jeremy Flores for the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Title.<\/p>\n

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am local time for a possible 8am start.<\/p>\n

The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons holds a waiting period from December 8 \u2013 20, 2013 and is webcast LIVE via triplecrownofsurfing.com<\/p>\n

Surfline, official forecasters for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, are calling for:
\nOverlapping NNW swells prevail Sunday through Tuesday with good size surf at Pipe. Wind is light Sunday and Monday, with trades rebuilding by Tuesday.<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 1 RESULTS:
\nHeat 1: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.66 def. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 12.83
\nHeat 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 11.27 def. Joel Centeio (HAW) 6.66
\nHeat 3: Alejo Muniz (BRA) 16.00 def. Marcus Hickman (HAW) 11.67
\nHeat 4: Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 16.16 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.84
\nHeat 5: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.83 def. Kahea Hart (HAW) 11.44
\nHeat 6: Bruce Irons (HAW) 9.24 def. Raoni MOnteiro (BRA) 7.00
\nHeat 7: Dusty Payne (HAW) 13.73 def. Reef McIntosh (HAW) 12.84
\nHeat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.30 def. Olamana Eleogram (HAW) 8.17
\nHeat 9: Mitch Crews (AUS) 9.40 def. Shane Dorian (HAW) 7.73
\nHeat 10: Granger Larsen (HAW) 13.50 def. Kalani Chapman (HAW) 7.66
\nHeat 11: Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 12.17 def. Ricardo Dos Santos (BRA) 5.67
\nHeat 12: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 17.76 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.77<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 2 RESULTS:
\nHeat 1: Kaimana Jaquias (HAW) 15.67 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 11.30
\nHeat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 18.67 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 11.87
\nHeat 3: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 17.83 def. Ryan Callinan (AUS) 6.06
\nHeat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 17.20 def. Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 13.43
\nHeat 5: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 13.16 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 6.30
\nHeat 6: Mitch Crews (AUS) 14.50 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 10.66
\nHeat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.17 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.04
\nHeat 8: Dusty Payne (HAW) 9.00 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 7.24
\nHeat 9: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 7.34 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 4.40
\nHeat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 9.70 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 4.27
\nHeat 11: Adam Melling (AUS) 14.56 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 4.07
\nHeat 12: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.44 def. Kolohe Andino (USA) 8.93<\/p>\n

UPCOMING BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH UPS:
\nHeat 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
\nHeat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
\nHeat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
\nHeat 4: Nat Young (USA) vs. Bede Durbidge (AUS)
\nHeat 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA)
\nHeat 6: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kaimana Jaquias (HAW)
\nHeat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
\nHeat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
\nHeat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Mitch Crews (AUS)
\nHeat 10: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
\nHeat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
\nHeat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons kicked off today (December 8, 2013) in firing six to eight foot surf that faded over the course of the day, but never stopped delivering barrels. Brazilian Gabriel Medina put down the highest score of the day (18.67) and landed one of the biggest airs ever […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44399"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=44399"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44399\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44403,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44399\/revisions\/44403"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=44399"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=44399"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=44399"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}