After three action-packed days of competition, the Vans Pipe Masters came to a dramatic close Tuesday, Dec. 12, with the North Shore’s own John Florence and Moana Jones-Wong crowned the Vans Pipe Masters champions on the final day at Pipeline.
The women’s final kicked off in the afternoon, featuring a stacked field of Moana Jones-Wong, Molly Picklum, Carissa Moore, and Erin Brooks. The first three finalists are the past three Vans Pipe Masters champions. This year, it didn’t take long for Jones-Wong to establish herself as the clear favorite in the final. Picklum pushed Jones-Wong by making several late drops on her backhand, but the Hawaiian’s superior wave selection gave her the edge. She completed several stellar lefthand tube rides, reminding everyone why she has been dubbed “The Queen of Pipeline.” “I want to thank God for keeping me safe out there and Pipeline for sending me the waves that I wanted,” Jones-Wong said in her post-win interview. “Thank you to my whole family and community. Everybody that’s down here today, thanks for cheering us on. And thanks to all my other competitors. I’m super stoked and very grateful.”
The men’s final saw a tense clash in challenging conditions between John Florence, Billy Kemper, Seth Moniz, and Makana Pang. Florence, who grew up just a few yards away from the fabled break, caught the first wave and hung on for the win. Pang, a 23-year-old local Pipeline specialist, caught multiple waves in quick session looking to catch Florence and briefly took the lead but ultimately couldn’t find a rhythm in the difficult conditions. With limited scoring opportunities, Florence showed his competitive experience by waiting patiently for his best waves. He regained priority to take a left-hand barrel and the lead. He quickly backed it up with a right on the inside, effectively sealing the deal on this competition.
With little time remaining, the ocean went quiet, and Florence once again found himself among a prestigious list of Pipe Masters winners dating back to 1971. As a two-time Pipeline Masters winner, he joins the likes of Gerry Lopez, Andy Irons, Derek Ho, Tom Carroll, and Kelly Slater. “Thank you to my family; they ‘ve supported me through everything; I wouldn’t be here without them,” Florence said in his post-win interview alongside the other finalists. “And thanks to Vans for putting on this awesome event. It’s been fun to surf this different format; it’s been awesome.”
MEN’S VANS PIPE MASTERS FINAL RESULTS
1. John Florence – $100,000
2. Makana Pang – $75,000
3. Seth Moniz – $50,000
4. Billy Kemper- $25,000
WOMEN’S VANS PIPE MASTERS FINAL RESULTS
1. Moana Jones-Wong – $100,000
2. Molly Picklum – $75,000
3. Carissa Moore – $50,000
4. Erin Brooks – $25,000
To watch this year’s highlights, visit vanspipemasters.com.