Photos by Freesurf Staff Photographers Tony Heff and Keoki Saguibo
Slater beats Jamie O’Brien, Bruce Irons and Makai McNamara
Kelly Slater solidified his first win in two years at the Volcom Pipe Pro today after a full day of standing ovation performances that many are calling the absolute best of the winter season.
Slater surfed against three of the top Pipe mavericks in the world – Jamie O’Brien (HAW), Bruce Irons (HAW) and Makai McNamara (HAW) in a nerve shattering Final that saw barrels fire off like cannons and detonate on the notoriously shallow reef.
The 30-minute Final got started with two low scoring albeit immense waves from O’Brien and Irons, respectively, then saw McNamara answer back with the second highest wave of the heat, an 8.67. The 20-year old took an early lead on his opening wave, with Slater taking a quick second on his first ride, a 7.83.
Kelly Slater © WSL/Heff
Halfway through the Final, the 11-time World Champ secured the win with a backup score of an 8.73, while the other competitors fought hard for runner up position.
“I’m stoked, it’s been a while… Between drinks as they say in Australia,” laughed Slater. “Two years since I won an event, and it was this one. I feel good, it’s obviously a great way to start the year off, it just flowed … Got big waves, got some nice barrels, had some high scores … But what a day! Perfect southeast trades and big bombing surf.”
Runner Up O’Brien scored a 4.27 for a long left, finally finding a barrel in the second section of the wave, and backed up the mediocre score with a 5.67 for an inside Backdoor tube. The combined heat total of 9.94 secured a second place finish for the Pipeline Master.
The first perfect ten of the day – and the third of the event – O’Brien routed an ultra deep backside barrel to claim the Electric 10-point ride award for $1,000. Calm and cool, O’Brien was in complete control while navigating a high line, eventually bursting out of the tube after the spit.
“I had about 11 minutes to go,” started O’Brien. “I saw the wave, I had the priority, I tried to set myself up in the best spot I could. Generally in heats you don’t like to be too deep, but that was my predicament in that one … I still didn’t think I was going to make it and I just kind of held on and it just started spitting, spit me out like a cannon. I was just stoked, I just claimed it so hard, but it’s just a good feeling you know. I heard the beach roar, then I heard them start dropping tens and thought, ‘that was a good one to claim.’”
Jamie O’Brien © WSL/Heff
McNamara also secured a ten-point ride and $1,000 from Electric for one of the biggest, most perfect Pipeline waves of the event. The young charger was an absolute standout throughout the competition and was nipping on the heels of his competitors during the Final.
“It was the best day of my life for sure,” said the North Shore native. “I can’t even explain it I’m so tired right now and just so worn out from today. So many memories went down I can’t even remember all that happened… a few wipeouts and a few really memorable waves and I’m just so happy to finish on the podium for the first time and I hope it happens again.”
Irons was presented with the Todd Chesser Hard Charger Award for demonstrating sheer determination throughout the Volcom Pipe Pro. Jeannie Chesser, Todd’s mom, handed out the award and the two embraced in a moment of gratitude.
“I was not expecting that,” said Irons. “It means a lot you know just because I grew up looking up to Todd Chesser. I knew Todd, I was young but he was always Todd Chesser, he’s always the guy. I’d sit on the beach watching and Todd would be going on the biggest rights. Every time I’m out there I’m always thinking about the Todd Chesser waves. And I love Jeannie, it’s a real honor to have this award. It’s right up there, it’s nice, I’m happy.”
Makai McNamara © WSL/Heff
Volcom Pipe Pro Official Results: Shown in order of 1st through 4th. Surfers from Hawaii unless otherwise noted.
1st – Kelly Slater (USA) $16,000 and 3000 pts
2nd – Jamie O’Brien (HAW) $10,000 and 2250 pts
3rd – Makai McNamara (HAW) $4,750 and 1680 pts
4th – Bruce Irons (HAW) $4,250 and 1580 pts
Todd Chesser Hard Charger Award – Bruce Irons
Semifinal – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=5th place, 4th=7th place
SF1: Kelly Slater (USA), Bruce Irons, Marco Giorgi (URY), Joan Duru (FRA)
SF2: Jamie O’Brien, Makai McNamara, Tom Whitaker (AUS), Dusty Payne
Quarterfinals – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=9th place, 4th=13th place
QF1: Bruce Irons, Marco Giorgi (URY), Jack Robinson (AUS), Dimitri Ouvre
QF2: Kelly Slater (USA), Joan Duru (FRA), Chris Ward (USA), Torrey Meister
QF3: Makai McNamara, Dusty Payne, John John Florence, Eala Stewart
QF4: Jamie O’Brien, Tom Whitaker (AUS), Mason Ho, Soli Bailey (AUS)
Round of 32 – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=17th place, 4th=25th place
H1: Marco Giorgi (URY), Joan Duru (FRA) Koa Smith, Griffin Colapinto (USA)
H2: Bruce irons, Torrey Meister, Brent Dorrington (AUS), Kiron Jabour
H3: Kelly Slater (USA), Jack Robinson (AUS), Ezekiel Lau, Takayuki Wakita
H4: Chris Ward (USA), Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Sebastian Zietz, Nathan Yeomans (USA)
H5: John John Florence, Soli Bailey (AUS), Ian Gouveia (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
H6: Eala Stewart, Tom Whitaker (AUS), Nic Von Rupp (PRT), Shun Murakami (JPN)
H7: Jamie O’Brien, Dusty Payne, Mitch Coleborn (AUS), Tanner Hendrickson
H8: Mason Ho, Makai McNamara, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Billy Kemper
Round of 64 – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=33rd place, 4th=49th place
H1: Marco Giorgi (URY), Kiron Jabour, Keanu Asing, Joel Centeio
H2: Koa Smith, Brent Dorrington (AUS), Derek Peters (USA), Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
H3: Bruce Irons, Joan Duru (FRA), Mikey Bruneau, Billy Stairmand (NZL)
H4: Torrey Meister, Griffin Colapinto (USA), Conner Coffin (USA), Granger Larsen
H5: Ezekiel Lau, Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Gavin Gillette, Ian Walsh
H6: Jack Robinson (AUS), Nathan Yeomans (USA), Hank Gaskell, Jean Da Silva (BRA)
H7: Sebastian Zietz, Takayuki Wakita, Carlos Munoz (CRI), Brian Toth
H8: Chris Ward (USA), Kelly Slater, Gavin Beschen, Yago Dora (BRA)
H9: John John Florence, Eala Stewart, Balaram Stack (USA), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
H10: Ian Gouveia (BRA), Hiroto Ohhara (JPN), Hizunome Bettero (BRA), Victor Bernardo (BRA)
H11: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Soli Bailey (AUS), Yujiro Tsuji (JPN), Leandro Usuna (ARG)
H12: Nic Von Rupp (PRT), Aritz Aranburu (ESP), Kai Mana Henry, Ricardo Christie (NZL)
H13: Dusty Payne, Makai McNamara, Miguel Tudela (PER), Kevin Sullivan
H14: Mitch Coleborn (AUS), Billy Kemper, Olamana Eleogram, Bino Lopes (BRA)
H15: Mason Ho, Tanner Hendrickson, Noe Mar McGonagle (CRI), Cory Arrambide (USA)
H16: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA), Jamie O’Brien, Keoni Yan, Lucas Silveira
Round of 96 – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=65th place, 4th=81st place
H1: Marco Giorgi (URY), Derek Peters (USA), Cahill Bell-Warren (AUS), Kai Barger
H2: Koa Smith, Kiron Jabour, Noa Mizuno, Kaito Ohashi (JPN)
H3: Mikey Bruneau, Griffin Colapinto (USA), Mitchell Parkinson (AUS), Parker Coffin
H4: Torrey Meister, Bruce Irons, Makuakai Rothman, Seth Moniz
H5: Gavin Gillette, Jean Da Silva, (BRA), Chris Foster, Ohno Masatoshi (JPN)
H6: Hank Gaskell, Dimitri Ouvre (BLM), Tim Reyes, Ian Gentil
H7: Brian Toth, Chris Ward (USA), Luel Felipe (BRA), Gavin Sutherland
H8: Yago Dora (BRA), Takayuki Wakita, Kaito Kino, Takumi Nakamura (JPN)
H9: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Victor Bernardo (BRA), Benji Brand, Kona Oliveira
H10: Ian Gouveia (BRA), Eala Stewart, Dylan Lightfoot (ZAF), Takumi Yasui (JPN)
H11: Leandro Usuna (ARG), Kai Mana Henry, Joshua Moniz, Kaimana Jaquias
H12: Nic Von Rupp (PRT), Yujiro Tsuji (JPN), Imaikalani deVault, Adrien Toyon
H13: Makai McNamara, Billy Kemper, Kalani David, Koa Rothman
H14: Olamana Eleogram, Kevin Sullivan, Kalani Chapman, Alex Smith
H15: Mason Ho, Keoni Yan, Sunny Garcia, Myles Padaca
H16: Lucas Silveira (BRA), Cory Arrambide (USA0, Kekoa Cazimero, Allen Schuyler
Volcom Qualifier Wildcard – Koa Rothman
Round of 112 – 1st and 2nd advance, 3rd=9th place, 4th=105th place
H1: Kai Barger, Noa Mizuno, Gregg Nakamura, Joao Marco Maffini
H2: Mikey Bruneau, Bruce Irons, Shayden Pacarro, Kamalei Alexander
H3: Chris Foster, Ian Gentil, Ulualoha Napeahi, Landon McNamara
H4: Gavin Sutherland, Takayuki Wakita, Dylan Goodale, Elijah Gates
H5: Kona Oliveira, Eala Stewart, Sheldon Paishon, Derek Wong
H6: Kai Mana Henry, Imaikalani deVault, Evan Valiere, Dylan Kowalski (USA)
H7: Makai McNamara, Kalani Chapman, Luke Shepardson, Jason Shibata
H8: Myles Padaca, Allen Schuyler, Travis Beckmann, Ezra Sitt
Day 2
Day 1
