Story Archive
The big Pipeline swell that rolled through on Friday Feb. 8, was some fo the best waves Pipe has seen so far this winter. Starting out at first reef, and finishing the day with scary third reef bombs, the Banzai turned on for some of the most epic surf there yet. The boys were all out and just scoring nuggets all day. There was some carnage, after all this is still Pipe, but in between the jaw breaking rides, there was still plenty of jaw dropping rides as well.
It was a magical day at Sunset Beach today, with a picture perfect Hawaiian day accompanied by giant but managable surf in the 12ft+ range (20ft plus faces). The perfect setting saw some spectacular action that took us all the way through the trials and through 6 heats of the 1st round in the Main Event. With mindblowing conditions and action to match, Sunset Beach once again legitimized itself as the ultimate opener for the Stand Up World Tour.
In 1976, the year of the nation’s bicentennial celebration and the height of a hawaiian renaissance, Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Hokulea’s set sail on its maiden voyage of cultural rediscovery to Tahiti. Buffalo Keaulana was the double-hulled canoe’s steersman.
After enduring 35 days beating in rough seas, drifting in doldrums, and dealing with others’ experimental ideas, Buffalo, 41 at the time emerged tested and toughened in his own sense of self worth and Hawaiian culture.
On return to Makaha, Buffalo got a chance to steer his path in what originally was the pastime of Hawaii ali’i, Larry “The Weatherman’s” suggested that Buffalo start a big board surfing classic at Makaha. The idea struck home.
The classic became a collective expression of giving back to surfing and for 37 years has flourished under Buffalo’s sense of what’s right.
From small rippable Val's, to heaving Mexican barrels. Feast your eyes on some tasty surf vids. Have a fun (safe) weekend with the 15' NW!
Photo: Hallman: Jamie Sterling sets his line en route to a win at Nelscott Reef off the Oregon coast.
While much of the attention of the surfing world was focused on the North Shore for the Volcom Pipe Pro, more than 2,000 miles away off the coast of Oregon the Nelscott Reef Big Wave Classic was quietly coming to life. One of five events on schedule for the Big Wave World Tour (BWWT), the last time the Nelscott Reef event, which is now a paddle-only comp, ran was in 2010. Amid solid 20-foot sets breaking nearly a half-mile out to sea, Hawaiian Jamie Sterling edged out the likes of Greg Long, Gabrial Villaran, Aaron Ungerleider, Jao De Macedo, and Ben Wilkinson in the Final to take the win.
Join Kelly Slater weaving his way through urban chaos and remote jungle in search of perfection on Bali and its neighboring islands.
Save The Waves Coalition is excited to announce that it has hired a new Executive Director, Nik Strong-Cvetich, to join the Save The Waves team beginning in February 2013. Nik has extensive experience in leading, designing, developing and growing environmental programs for small non-profits. “We are extremely happy to have Nik on board. His passion for the mission and background with environmental program leadership will help grow the impact of Save The Waves,” says current Executive Director Dean LaTourrette.
The first analysis of the wave ridden by Garrett McNamara was made by researchers at the Faculty of Human Kinetics of the Technical University of Lisbon.
The initial measurement is believed to set the wave at 34 meters (111.5 feet), which would definitely improve the record set in November 2011.
John John Florence today claimed his third consecutive Volcom Pipe Pro title at the Banzai Pipeline, eliminating Chris Ward (San Clemente, Ca., USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), and Olamana Eleogram (Maui) in the final. Perhaps the truest testament to the uncanny surfing talent of this 20-year-old is the reliability with which he can produce world class performances, given all the unpredictability of the ocean and competitive heats. With two mind-blowing days of barrels and an extra $20,000 in his pocket, Florence now departs his modest beachfront home on the shores of Pipeline in pursuit of the 2013 ASP World Title. The Volcom Pipe Pro is a 5-star rated ASP event, but does not count towards the world title rankings.
Page 11 of 78
