Finally, Good Waves: Pipe Pro Finishes with Pumping Surf
The World Surf League can rest easy.
Following multiple controversies at the Lexus Pipe Pro, the kickoff event for the 2024 Championship Tour season – in which the reigning world champ withdrew under questionable circumstances, officials called the event off on the biggest day, and Carissa Moore retired in painfully small waves – the contest ended with a bang.
On Saturday, there were waves. Good waves. Enough for perfect 10-point rides. Two of ‘em. The women pushed the boundaries. The men put on a show.
On the men’s side, it was a locals only affair with Championship Tour rookie, Barron Mamiya, taking on two-time world champ and one of the best ever at Pipeline, John John Florence. Mamiya, a certified charger on the North Shore, dropped a perfect 10. And although John John has a supernatural relationship with Pipe, in which the best waves almost magically seem to fall right into his lap, it wasn’t enough. Mamiya took the win.
“That 10, I literally can’t believe I made it,” Mamiya said. “I was in the barrel and couldn’t believe I came out. Without John, without Jamie (O’Brien), without Uncle D (Derek Ho) I wouldn’t be who I am. I watched these guys surf my entire life, and watching John here is how I learned to get barrels at Pipeline, so I give him lots of credit for the way I surf.”
On the women’s side, it was a historic day of surfing in terms of progression. And two of the biggest chargers of the day, Molly Picklum and Caity Simmers, rightfully met in the final. Picklum, who scored a perfect 10 in her semifinal heat, dropped a 9.27 in the final. However, she couldn’t find a backup. That left the door open for Simmers, who took the win with an 8.83 and a 3.83 in her back pocket.
Related: Waves Too Big, World Surf League Calls Off Pipe Pro
“This wave is terrifying; I respect everyone who wants a part of it and everyone who doesn’t because it’s really scary out there,” Simmers said. “It starts with all the girls that battled the guys and barely got any waves, and I hope that this event showed the girls can do it. We’re getting spat out all day, and it’s pretty cool to see. I’m really happy to be a part of it.”
After the win, Simmers laid down one of the best post-heat quotes of all time:
“Pipeline is for the fucking girls!” she told Strider in the water.
Mic drop, as they say.
The 2024 Lexus Pipe Pro…what a wild ride.
Now, on to Sunset Beach.
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