Noah Beschen has been surfing Pipe for a long time now. He grew up at Rockies, so he surfed there more, but as he’s grown older and more confident, he’s just as in love with Pipeline as anyone else. And, as is (hopefully) the case with anyone growing up, he’s learning more every time he surfs there.
“I kind of feel like I’m growing up to it and almost with it,” he says. “I feel like now I can go on sets out there. This last winter, I felt the best I’ve ever felt surfing there… you kind of figure it out. I always rode such small boards out there, but now I’m running a little bigger board.”
Beschen secured an invite to the 2023 Vans Pipe Masters, which has a waiting period that runs from December 8-20. He’s part of a select few invitees to one of the most prestigious surfing events in the world, and despite the fact that he grew up with it on his doorstep, he’s pretty aware of just how scary the wave can be. But it’s not just the wave.
“Obviously the wave by itself is super gnarly,” he says. “And then there’s everyone out there. Everyone out there are like, some of the best surfers in the world. The best surfers at surfing that wave in the world. It’s nuts, but if you get a crazy wave out there, it’s the best.”
He’s a humble guy, Noah, although he could be excused if he had an air of arrogance around himself. His father is the legendary Shane Beschen, and Noah is part of a relatively tiny group of people who can claim real local status on the North Shore. But he knows he’s got to earn his keep. “There’s everyone,” he says, talking about people like Jamie O’Brien and Michael Ho. “And I’m like 22 years old. You know, I’m what I’m supposed to be.”
A set wave at Pipeline is a priceless thing. Most of us will never get one, but the ones who do certainly treasure each one. For Noah, there isn’t a whole lot he’d trade. “Waves are worth a lot out there,” he laughs. “The best wave of your life is priceless. Can you put a price tag on that? Six mil. You know, that’s like a house on the North Shore.”
