Pipeline surfers have been feasting this winter so far. It’s been good, to say the least, with powerful swells making their way to that fabled shore over and over and over again. It hasn’t been a safe winter, though, and there has been no shortage of injuries. Koa Rothman, for one. Eimeo Czermak, for two. Kai Lenny, for three. But you have to pay to play, and Pipe surfers, for the most part, know what they’re signing up for and when the waves are there, they’re going to surf them.
On Tuesday, January 23, yet another solid WNW swell rolled into Pipe. Waves were in the 10-15 foot range, while the period sat around 13 seconds. It was, by many accounts, one of the better days of the winter at one of the best waves on Earth. So, as you’d imagine, the Pipeline crew was out in force.
Many of them likely had the upcoming Lexus Pipe Pro on their brains. It was a star-studded lineup, including Italo Ferreira, Mason Ho, Billy Kemper, Mikey Bruneau, Eli Hanneman, Makana Pang, Sheldon Paishon, Kala Grace, Eli Olson, Billy Kemper, and many more.
There were wipeouts. There was spitting barrels. There were barrels that won’t be forgotten by those who surfed them. There were party waves, close calls, and all that other great stuff that comes from a really, really good session at Pipeline. All in a day’s work.
