Pipeline is surfing’s greatest contest. There are a lot of events that measure up, of course, but none have the gravitas or the history that Pipeline has. And the first day 0f the Billabong Pipeline Masters presented by Hydro Flask just fired the starting gun, which begins the World Surf League’s 2020-2021 season.
The very first contest held at Pipeline was a single heat in 1971. It was the brainchild of the legendary Fred Hemmings, and it wasn’t anything like what we’re used to today. It was six surfers, a single heat, and a $1,000 prize purse. Somehow, Hemmings convinced ABC’s Wide World of Sports to air the event he named the Hawaiian Masters. In front of a card table and a bunch of folding chairs in the sand, Jeff Hakman won the event. And now, 50 years later, Pipe is still running, and not even a pandemic can stop it.
Of course, this year is a little different than others — and not just because Coronavirus stamped its heavy heel on the Earth. Generally, Pipeline ends the year, but this year, it starts it. It’s all part of the World Surf League’s new grand design, in which Trestles is the final stop. Also included is a mid-season cut and a finals day that will determine the world champion, so no more world champ hoisting the trophy before the final event of the year. There are pros and cons to the new format, so we’ll just have to wait and see how it all rolls out. But while we’re waiting, Pipeline is on.
