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BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Friday, December 16, 2016) – The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, the final stop on the 2016 Samsung Galaxy World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour (CT), has been called OFF for the day due to strong onshore winds and poor conditions on offer. “We will not see Round 2 out there today,” said WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow. “The ocean is super junky. We have probably got three swells in the mix with a longer period and good direction without that Kona low that has come over the top of us and really destroyed the ocean. Positive side of things is that this wind will gradually improve through today and tomorrow. On Sunday we will see the wind come around to the south, even southeast with really good potential for surf. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday look like we are going to have a great finish to the Pipe Masters.” Event organizers will reconvene at 7:30 a.m. (local time) tomorrow to reassess conditions and make the next call. Special guest Max Holloway, UFC Interim Featherweight Champion from Waianae, Oahu, joined Peter Mel and Keanu Asing (HAW) on Dawn Patrol Show for a unique talk story session about the fighter’s recent accomplishment, the importance of bringing home the title to Hawaii, and how surfers like John John Florence (HAW) and Asing inspire him. “It’s great bringing back pride to Waiane, to the Hawaiian Islands, to be respected like that, it’s cool you know, I loved every second of it,” said Holloway in regards to his welcome home celebration after winning the UFC championship title.
Following Dawn Patrol, Holloway and Asing went Live on Facebook with Peter King and chatted about the future winner of the Billabong Pipe Masters, parallels between surfing and UFC fighting, and Asing’s finance Kailin Curran, a strawweight UFC fighter from Ewa Beach, Oahu. When competition resumes, Round 2 will see all surfers battle to avoid an early elimination from the event, including individuals on the bubble whose last opportunity for requalification depends on their performance at Pipe. Asing is right on the cut line for requalification for the 2017 CT. He will face rookie Kanoa Igarashi (USA) in Heat 12. The young Hawaiian will need to pull out all the stops in order to keep competing on the elite tour next season. The competition will also see exciting head-to-head match-ups, including defending Pipe Master Adriano de Souza (BRA) against former Pipe Master Bruce Irons (HAW) in Heat 2. Frederico Morais (PRT), current leader of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and qualifier for the 2017 CT, will face Sebastian Zietz (HAW) in Heat 4. Up first will be Kolohe Andino (USA) against wildcard Gavin Beschen (HAW) in the opening heat of Round 2 when competition gets back underway.
The Billabong Pipe Masters will be webcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com Oceanic Time Warner Cable 250 & 1250 Billabong Pipe Masters Round 2 Match-Ups: Heat 1: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Gavin Beschen (HAW) |
