Full Spectrum Talent Includes Slater & Florence, as Well as Top Teens

Banzai Pipeline, North Shore, Oahu, HAWAII – (January 20, 2016) — The Volcom Pipe Pro attracts elite surfers from around the world with its unique combination of rewards: A $100,000 prize purse, up to 3,000 regional points to profit, an occasion to surf Pipe with only a few others out, and perhaps best of all, the opportunity to gain entry into the Pipe Invitational for a wildcard spot in the Billabong Pipe Masters – the year-ending cap of the Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT). A solid result in the Volcom Pipe Pro means a guaranteed start in December’s Pipe Invitational.

WorldSurfLeague.com to go live and learn more.

With a holding period ofJanuary 28 to February 7, competition will take place on the biggest and best three days of surf. The Volcom Pipe Pro’s track record of epic, barreling surf draws major talent year after year, making it a true mix of aspiring professionals and the sport’s greatest names. This year, 11x WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and Hawaii’s own John John Florence are among the top seeds.

Three additional WSL CT surfers – Keanu Asing (HAW), Conner Coffin (USA) and Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) will also compete. 

Regional Hawaii surfers comprise nearly half of the 112-man competition field, yet the international mix is strong, with 20 different countries being represented including France, Italy, Uruguay, Japan, South Africa, Costa Rica, Peru, New Zealand and more.

The event is also an opportunity for aspiring young locals to test their skills against the world’s best. Two of yesterday’s Sunset Pro Junior teen finalists are among the youngest contenders confirmed for the Volcom Pipe Pro, demonstrating the opportunities the event offers to youth:Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Noa Mizuno (HAW) – both 17 years of age.

Up against proven Pipe Masters like Slater and Bruce Irons, Mizuno of Honolulu prepares for the QS3,000 by keeping his mind focused on catching the best two waves he can find.

“I believe that competing with anyone out there is the same, although John John and Kelly Slater are complete freaks of nature,” said Mizuno. “But I feel that as long as I position myself in the right spot every time, I will have the chance to get those waves they find… I look up to Kelly, he’s one of the best out there.”

The teens represent the next generation of surfers that WSL Hawaii is enthusiastically looking to career-prepare.

About the World Surf League
The World Surf League (WSL) organizes the annual tour of professional surf competitions and broadcasts each event live at WorldSurfLeague.com where you can experience the athleticism, drama and adventure of competitive surfing — anywhere and anytime it’s on. The WSL sanctions and operates the following tours: the Junior Tour, Longboard Tour, the Qualifying Series (QS), the Big Wave Tour and the crown jewel of the sport, the WSL Championship Tour (CT) which determines the sport’s undisputed world champions. The organization is headquartered in Santa Monica, California with Commercial Offices in New York. The offices are supported by regional centers in Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America and South America.