Riptide Magazine

Lay Day For Pipe Pro

Last Updated on Wednesday, 16 February 2011 11:32

The IBA have recently released this clip (below) of the T&C Promo, Pipe Winners and Legends Banquet too.

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Red Bull TV are showcasing the Pipe Pro (good work guys!) and have released this clip to kick things off.

Small conditions on day one of the waiting period at Pipeline  saw organisers  call a lay day and will reconvene tomorrow morning for a possible start to the IBA Pipeline Pro. Photo // IBA/Specker

Tuesday, February 15th (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii)
With swell from the north and heavy sand build up at Pipeline, organisers of event 1 on the IBA World Tour have opted to wait and reassess conditions tomorrow morning (Wed Feb 16) before commencing.

“Conditions are looking more favourable during coming days with a new, building north-west groundswell expected to fill in through-out Wednesday and Thursday which is a much better direction for Pipeline,” said IBA World Tour Manager, Terry McKenna.

Riders from countries as diverse as Aruba, Puerto Rico, Portugal, New Zealand and Japan will pull on competition jerseys when action gets underway in the event that is considered the Holy Grail of world professional bodyboarding.

More than 100 hopefuls turned out at Sandy Beach on Oahu’s South Shore on the weekend, attempting to qualify via the trials.

All the action from the IBA Pipeline Pro will be available via:
•    the LIVE webcast at redbull.com/tv
•    via Oceanic Cable chanel 16 (OC 16, Hawaii)
•    FUEL TV, Australia (final two days)

An official blessing by local Kahu (priest), Dennis Sallas, was performed, orchestrated to call on the safety, honour and integrity of all involved, and to ask that the Hawaiian Gods protect those involved with the event. Photo // IBA/Sascha Specker

Monday, February 14th (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii)
Bodyboarding’s past, present and future greats gathered  at the famous Banzai Pipeline for the official opening and blessing of Event 1 on the 2011 IBA  World Tour, the IBA Pipeline Pro.

Among the assembly were some of modern era’s finest competitors as well as many of the true legends of the sport. Former IBA World Champions Uri Valadao (BRA), Jeff Hubbard (Haw), Ben Player (AUS) and Damien King (AUS) linked hands in ceremony with greats such as Mike Stewart (Haw), Steve ‘Bullet’ MacKenzie (AUS), and Ben Severson (Haw).

An official blessing by local Kahu (priest) Dennis Sallas, was orchestrated to call on the safety, honour and integrity of all involved, and to ask that the Hawaiian Gods to protect those involved with the event.

A win at Pipeline is considered the Holy Grail in bodyboarding making the Pipeline Pro the most prestigious event on the IBA tour.

All the action will be available via the LIVE webcast at www.redbull.com/tv - the most ambitious ever undertaken by the IBA with multi-camera angles and replays just some of the improved features. Hawaiian Manny Vargas will anchor.

The forecast for Tuesday, February 15, Day 1 of the 11-day waiting period is for continuing north swell in the three-to-five foot range.
Just four days of competition are required to complete the event.

IBA PIPELINE PRO - TRIALS QUALIFIERS
At Sandy Beach in fun, one-metre waves yesterday, a monstrous trials field of more than 100 hopefuls was whittled down to just 27.

Following a long day of competition, the riders below successfully qualified for the main event across three division (Hawaiian, unless otherwise stated):
Men’s Grand Slam
Matt Holzman, Nick Shand, Kainoa French, Kingsley Uaiwa, Mark Klein, Keanu Cazimero, Harley Ward (AUS), Keoni Haina, Babby Quinones (PRC), Travis Smith, Brian Wise, Alex Halsey (AUS), Elliott Morales (CNY), Charles Ward (AUS), Gregory Wouters (Aruba), Scott Rigby (AUS).

Drop Knee Pro
Sascha Specker (ZAF), Ricky Alvarez, Chris Won, Landon Gaspar, Josh Trotter, Miles Kauhaahaa, Lewis Pereira (PRT), Damien King (AUS)

Women’s Grand Slam
Miya Inoue (JAP), Minami Hatekayama (JAP), Aoi Koike (JAP)

So, after reading the draws, who is your pick to win the 2011 Pipeline Pro?