Watch Finals Day LIVE at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI

• Finals Day Started at 8:03 AM HST
• Men’s Quarters Take to the Pipeline Lineup First Today
• Watch the World’s Best Surfers Compete for the Prestigious Pipe Titles
• Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: Heavy favorite John John Florence (HAW) will surf in Quarterfinal 4 of the men’s Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI today. Credit: © WSL / Bielmann

Finals Day promises loads of excitement with matchups for the ages in pumping waves at Pipeline.

A Maui shootout will feature Ian Gentil (HAW) and Imaikalani Devault (HAW) in the third Quarterfinal, both surfers boasting extensive experience in the Pipe lineup, and finally, hometown hero John John Florence (HAW) will face last year’s runner-up at Pipeline Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA).

Two of the form surfers in the event so far, Caitlin Simmers (USA) and Molly Picklum (AUS) are now the favorites heading into the women’s Quarterfinals. Still, with waves on the bigger side today, their direct competition, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) and Johanne Defay (FRA), respectively, could reveal as both experienced surfers who excel in waves of consequence.

Youth and North Shore experience will be on Luana Silva’s (BRA) and Bettylou Sakura Johnson’s (HAW) sides. Still, once again, their paths are all but easy as they face the reigning World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) for Silva and a rejuvenated Brisa Hennessy (CRC) for Sakura Johnson.

For fans watching in the US, today’s competition will be streamed LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and ESPN+.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI Men’s Quarterfinal Matchups: 
HEAT 1: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Connor O’Leary (JPN)
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
HEAT 3: Ian Gentil (HAW) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
HEAT 4: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

EARLIER FRIDAY AM UPDATES BELOW

Women’s Elimination Round 2 and Round of 16 Called ON at Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI

SURFS COMING UP FROM THE NW WITH GOOD CONDITIONS UNDER CLOUDY SKIES…SUNSET & PIPE SEEING OCCAS 4′ SETS…. SWELL WILL HIT 3-5′ TONIGHT & 5-8′ SATURDAY WITH LIGHT-MODERATE TRADES…JUST IN TIME ON THE LAST DAY OF THE HOLDING PERIOD.  SNN

• Women’s Elimination Round Started at 12:03 PM HST (with Dual/Overlapping Heats to speed things up as Saturday is the last day of the holding period).
• Women’s Round of 16 to Follow with Overlapping Format
• Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) will have a chance to redeem herself in the Elimination Round against Lakey Peterson (USA) and India Robinson (AUS) at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI. Credit: © WSL / Heff

Competition will resume with the women’s Elimination Round at 12:03 p.m. HST, featuring local hero and five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) in the opening heat. The top two finishers in each heat will join the field in the Round of 16, scheduled to compete today using the overlapping format.

The Round of 16 will feature exciting matchups as surfers fight for a spot in the first Quarterfinals of the season with big points and opportunities on the line. The road to the WSL Finals continues today at Pipeline; watch all the action LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

The men’s event has been called OFF for the day and will culminate tomorrow on the final day of the event window. Only one former Pipeline winner, John John Florence (HAW), remains in contention out of the eight Quarterfinalists, which promises excitement and potentially new names engraved in the history books on the Hawaiian North Shore.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

EARLIER UPDATES BELOW

Contest was off Thursday as we await a new 3-5′ NW-NNW at 17 sec filling in slowly on Friday… especially the 2nd half of the day with light East trades…NW- NNW peaks Saturday at 5-7′ with light E trades. A great day to finish …on the last day of the holding period. SNN

Women kick off 2024. Next Generation Finds Success in Opening Round of Lexus Pipe Pro

• Picklum and Wright Set the Tone as Women’s Season Debuts
• CT Veterans Moore, Peterson, Weston-Webb Relegated to Elimination Round
• Former Pipe Winners Suffer Mixed Fates in Opening Round
• Next Call: Friday, February 9, at 7:45 AM HST, No Competition Tomorrow

Pictured: All smiles for Molly Picklum (AUS) as she kicks off her 2024 season with a strong Opening Round heat win at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI. Credit: © WSL / Heff

With bigger surf forecast in the coming days, the competition will be OFF tomorrow, Thursday, February 8. The next call will be on Friday, February 9, at 7:45 a.m. HST for a possible 8:03. a.m. start.

A standout on last year’s Hawaii leg, Molly Picklum (AUS) picked up right where she left off, easily finding the day’s best waves. Two great Backdoor barrels punctuated with powerful carves delivered the top scores. Opening with a 7.33 (out of a possible 10), Picklum built to an excellent 8.50 to collect a solid win. In her heat, Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) was on the hunt for big barrels but couldn’t quite find an exit, while rookie Alyssa Spencer (USA) focused on big backhand turns to take the second advancing spot into the Round of 16.

“There’s definitely been tough heats this morning and I was fortunate enough to get waves,” Picklum said. “This year I’m definitely focused on the World Title, the Gold Medal at the Olympics is in there, and just all in all having fun and showcasing my surfing.”

Two-time World Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) was comfortable getting barreled at Backdoor in the day’s opening heat as she put two good scores on the board for an easy stroll into the Round of 16. Behind her, the two North Shore locals, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) and Luana Silva (BRA), had to resort to turns. The pair fought a good battle, eventually landing in favor of the Brazilian and sending Sakura Johnson into the Elimination Round.

“I don’t know if I’ll ever feel a sense of confidence out here,” Wright said. “But I really value going out there and sitting in the ocean, looking at my markers and feeling how the ocean is moving and the energy in it. It gives you a lot of feedback and when you’re in a heat you already have an established relationship with what the lineup is doing. I’ve put a lot of energy in the pre-season and I really want to focus on doing my best.”

The reigning World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) managed to advance through a wave-starved first heat unscathed, opting to secure minimal scores with her backhand turns. A slow 30-minute heat left India Robinson (AUS) and local Pipe specialist Moana Jones Wong (HAW) scratching their heads as they looked for opportunities. Eventually, it was the Hawaiian who advanced to second position, sending Robinson into the treacherous Elimination Round.

“Wearing that yellow jersey obviously brings a lot of confidence, it’s the color everyone wants to be wearing,” Marks said. “Pipeline has many different faces and the wind plays a really big factor, plus there’s a rip going through the lineup so depending on where it is during your heat it changes things. A win’s a win and you never know the next heat could be really fun, so I’m feeling really good overall.”

The 2023 Rookie of the Year and World No. 4, Caitlin Simmers (USA), displayed impressive versatility as she went from pushing progressive backhand turns on a clean Pipe left to locking into a stylish cover up at Backdoor, taking out her first heat win of 2024 along the way. Kauai’s Gabriela Bryan (HAW) took the second advancing spot and relegated Isabella Nichols (AUS) to a potential early elimination in the season opener.

“It feels like we got all four seasons in one heat,” Simmers said. “It seems pretty normal for here and I kind of expected it this year so I was more prepared. Obviously we’re at Pipeline so I’m trying to get barreled but I saw a lot of people yesterday only getting one score and I went out in the freesurf trying backside turns making sure I had a plan for a backup.”

Appearing in her first ever CT, rookie Sawyer Lindblad (USA) was able to get her Tour career underway with a convincing win in the Opening Round. The San Clemente local found a gem at Backdoor, emerging from an extended backhand barrel to collect her best score of a 7.00. Backing it up with a couple of turns, Lindblad kicked off her debut season among the world’s best with a bang.

“That was actually the first backside barrel I’ve made out there,” Lindblad said. “I’ve gotten the lip in the head so many times practicing for this event. Before the heat I was talking to my coach Shane and he told me to just keep going, cause I tend to hop off when I think I’m too deep and on that one I saw I could just keep going and somehow I made it through.”

Brisa Hennessy (CRC) took out the second heat of the day, sending the reigning event winner, five-time World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), into the Elimination Round. While Moore was uncharacteristically quiet in the lineup, the Costa Rican found two good scores for both a tube and a combination of turns on the rights of Backdoor.

“It’s crazy in this sport how people can be in rhythm or be out of it and luckily today was my day,” Hennessy said. “I really had to dig deep and face my fears to get to where I’m at today, and work on personal growth and who I wanted to be in and out of the water. I went through a couple of health issues but I think it’s all about mindset and I refuse to be a victim of my fears and things that bring me down. So I’m coming to this year with just a new positive headspace, and I’m just honored and grateful to be on this platform and be able to surf again.”

With veterans Moore, Weston-Webb, and Lakey Peterson (USA) in the Elimination Round, tension will be at an all-time high when the event gets back underway. As conditions continue to degrade tomorrow, event officials have already called the competition OFF Thursday and the next call will be at 7:45 a.m. HST on Friday, February 9, 2024.

For highlights and updates from today’s competition at the Lexus Pipe Pro, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Women’s Opening Round Called ON at Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI

• Women’s CT Season Kicks Off at 8:33 AM HST Today
• Women’s Elimination Round on Standby, No Men’s Competition Today
• Watch LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com

Pictured: 5X World Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) will surf in Heat 2 today at Pipeline against Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Brisa Hennessy (CRC). Credit: © WSL / Bielmann

Waves in the three-to-five-foot range and clean offshore winds set a perfect canvas for the start of the 2024 women’s CT season. The women’s Elimination Round will be on standby for a possible start after the Opening Round.

The first heat of the day will see two-time WSL Champion, Tyler Wright (AUS), take on two surfers with a lot of experience on the North Shore, Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) and Luana Silva (BRA). Wright, a former winner at Pipe is no stranger to waves of consequence and will start the hunt for a third World Title.

Five-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW) will surf in the second heat and kick off her campaign toward a fourth-consecutive Final at Pipeline before she steps away from competing on the CT full-time. Reigning World Champion Caroline Marks (USA) will face a difficult matchup in Heat 3 against the 2022 winner at Pipe, Moana Jones Wong (HAW), and Aussie threat India Robinson (AUS). 

Another exciting matchup will see Molly Picklum (AUS) against Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) in Heat 5, both surfers being extremely comfortable in the more powerful and hollow surf of the Hawaiian North Shore.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Pictured front page and above: 2X WSL Champion John John Florence (HAW) accrued the event’s highest heat total, a 17.34 (out of a possible 20), in his Round of 32 dual at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI. Credit: © WSL / Bielmann

It was a day full of contrasts, showcasing exciting back-to-back action and some slower heats, major upsets from some, and total domination from others. While the lineup was a little jumbled at first, it cleaned up throughout the day and offered some magic Pipeline moments from the best male surfers in the world. Upsets were trending in the Round of 32 with early exits from event favorites and WSL Champions amid stunning showcases from emerging and proven CT talents.

Two-time World Champion John John Florence (HAW) put on another clinic today at Pipeline, proving his relationship with the lineup is truly one-of-a-kind. Growing up surfing this very wave, the 31-year old has developed a unique comfort level at one of the world’s heaviest spots. His wave selection and the way he navigated both rights and lefts, finding the deepest sections in each, remained unmatched as he posted an incredible 17.34 heat total (out of a possible 20), including a near-perfect 9.17 (out of a possible 10) in his first heat of the day.

“Those heats are the ones I’m always happy to make it through because there’s just not a lot of waves coming through and it’s hard to have that kind of battle you want to have,” said Florence. “Earlier, Callum got that 9 right after I had my heat and he’s so scary in these conditions. All I can think about was that I’m going to need a better wave. I’m pretty excited for this year. My mind feels good, my body feels really good and I guess mentally I feel better than last year.”

In a relatively slow first heat of the day, World No. 2 Ethan Ewing (AUS) jumped a massive hurdle in trying to keep his 2023 momentum going into the season opener. The Australian eliminated 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) with a couple of great tubes at Backdoor, while Slater had a few close calls but couldn’t find exits in the bumpy lineup.

“It’s always nerve-wracking but also exciting coming up against Kelly,” Ewing said. “He’s always been one of my favorite surfers and probably the greatest surfer to surf this wave. I just tried to get as much time out here as possible. This wave is so challenging and has so many different faces, I’m just trying to learn as much as I can.”

Ewing went on to eliminate Liam O’Brien (AUS) in the Round of 16 with another solid two-wave combination to reach the Quarters for the first time in his career at Pipe.

Boukhiam and Smith met in the Round of 16 and Smith wasn’t leaving anything to chance again, this time garnering an excellent 16.50 heat total and surging into the Quarterfinals.

“I lucked into a 4.50 and I just started building my rhythm, and I’m a really rhythmic confident surfer so once I get those things going it starts going my way,” said Smith. “My first 8 was a great feeling. There’s been a lot of heats with guys losing with 8’s and don’t have a backup so that went to the forefront of my mind. The first heat this morning is when you’re feeling how it’s going to react and this one I wanted to push on my board and feel how far I could go.”

Rookie Crosby Colapinto (USA) delivered another massive upset by eliminating three-time World Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) in a set-starved heat, but was eliminated by an in-form Imaikalani deVault (HAW) in the Round of 16.

Despite early success from the Hawaiian wildcards, Jackson Bunch (HAW) and Shion Crawford (HAW), both were eliminated in the Round of 32 by respective CT standouts Griffin Colapinto (USA) and Connor O’Leary (JPN). Rookie phenom Eli Hanneman (HAW) also fell in the Round of 32, but a surge of Hawaiian contenders held firm to join Florence in the Quarterfinals.

Representing Maui, deVault and 2023 Rookie of the Year Ian Gentil (HAW) overcame brothers, Griffin and Crosby Colapinto (USA), respectively, in the Round of 16 and will face off in the Quarterfinals. This marks deVault’s first CT Quarterfinal appearance after having to charge past CT veteran Miguel Pupo (BRA) in the Round of 32 before eliminating Crosby Colapinto in their Round of 16 bout.

“That thought was in my mind, I’ve been in that round before and never made it out,” said deVault. “I just wanted to make smart decisions. I knew against Crosby, he got a really score and took out Medina in the heat before, so he was looking really good. I knew it would be about wave selection and got lucky that my really good wave was under priority and he didn’t go so I’m super stoked.”

The North Shore’s own Barron Mamiya (HAW) adds his name to the Quarterfinal draw after a remarkable day of competition. Mamiya first eliminated CT threat Frederico Morais (POR) before taking on perennial standout Yago Dora (BRA) in the Round of 16.

For highlights and more information about today’s competition at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI Called OFF for the Day, Likely Restart Monday

The next call will be tomorrow, Monday, February 5, at 7:45 a.m. HST for a possible 8:03 a.m. start.

• New Swell Shows First Signs, Conditions Expected to Improve Tomorrow
• Next Call: Tomorrow, Monday, February 4, 2024 at 7:45 AM HST
• Select Your Lexus Pipe Pro Picks Now for WSL CT Fantasy

Pictured: Caity Simmers (USA) will face Gabriela Bryan (HAW) and Isabella Nichols (AUS) in Heat 4 of the Opening Round when the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI continues. Credit: © WSL / Bielmann

But the wait is almost over as a clear improvement is underway in the ocean. The first signs of the new push in swell from the NW are showing at Pipeline this afternoon and the winds are forecast to ease and turn more Easterly tomorrow for a probable restart of the competition.

With three possible full days of competition ahead, all athletes anxiously await the green light, especially the Top 17 who haven’t yet started their 2024 CT campaigns. With arguably two of the world’s best surfers of all time, Carissa Moore (HAW) and Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), opting not to compete this season, the Olympics this summer, a return to Fiji, and an exciting next generation of surfers, there will be no shortage of excitement this season.

All eyes will be on surfing’s next generation as they take the main stage at Pipeline to kick off the year.  2024 CT rookies Alyssa Spencer (USA) and Sawyer Lindblad (USA) will compete in Heats 5 and 6, respectively, once the competition begins. The young Californians will join forces with last year’s rookie class as the new guard to challenge the CT veterans this season.

WSL CT Fantasy is open for the 2024 Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI and will lock after Elimination Round 2. Sign up, create your team, and start playing now.

Players can register now at ctfantasy.worldsurfleague.com and on the free WSL app.

EARLIER UPDATES BELOW

Off for the day Saturday…The NNE is still strong 5-7′ on the NS but with terrible shape and side-onshore chop. SNN

Unfavorable Swell Direction and Winds at Pipeline Prompt Competition Hold

WSL Rising Tides Presented by Pura Vida Meets Hawaii’s Next Generation of Surfers

Results and story from Opening Day below as well…

Pictured: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) will face Molly Picklum (AUS) and Alyssa Spencer (USA) when competition resumes at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI. Credit: © WSL / Bielmann

“After an exciting first day of competition yesterday, the hopes were that the swell would hang around and allow a second day of action today,” said Jessi Miley-Dyer, WSL Chief of Sport. “Unfortunately, the dissipating energy and bad direction have prompted us to be off today and tomorrow. We still have a promising forecast for early next week, and we’ll share an update on what we’re seeing in the coming days.”

When the next pulse hits the Hawaiian shores, the women are ready to get their 2024 season going, and the Opening Round matchups are stacked with talent. Epic matchups feature past and current World Champions, former winners at Pipe, and a couple of newcomers everyone is anxious to see compete at the highest level.

Pictured: Carissa Moore (HAW) helps a young surfer paddle out at the WSL Rising Tides Pres. by Pura Vida event last Saturday, January 28. Credit: © WSL / Heff

On Saturday, January 27, WSL Rising Tides Presented by Pura Vida hosted its first event of the 2024 season at Turtle Bay ahead of the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI. WSL Rising Tides is a cornerstone of the WSL’s values, providing young surfers access to the world’s best surfers and a platform to explore and learn from their heroes about pursuing their dreams in and out of the water.

Pictured: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) surfs with some of Hawaii’s best up-and-comers at WSL Rising Tides Pres. by Pura Vida event last Saturday, January 28. Credit: © WSL / Bielmann

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.

• Wednesday Day ONE: Pipeline Turns On For Opening Day at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI
• Men’s Opening Round and First Eliminations Start 2024 CT Season
• Florence Kicks Off 100th CT Appearance In Incredible Fashion
• Current World No. 1 Toledo Withdraws Due to Illness
• Next Call: Tomorrow, Thursday, February 1, at 7:45AM HST

Pictured front page: Current World No. 3 Griffin Colapinto (USA) delivered an excellent 8.50 (out of a possible 10) when it mattered most in his opening heat to bypass the Elimination Round at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI. Credit: © WSL / Bielmann

It wasn’t long before excellent scores emerged and the three-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) was the first surfer to break into the excellent range with a foamy left at Pipe and a super deep barrel for an 8.33 (out of a possible 10). With a decent backup, the Brazilian seemed in control, but Callum Robson (AUS) launched himself even deeper on a pristine Pipeline gem on his backhand and rode it on the foam ball for a 9-point ride to regain control of the heat.

“When I got out there, it felt like the energy was shifting towards Pipe, so I tried to establish the inside for the lefts,” Robson said. “I didn’t want to sit and wait for too long, and that first wave made me realize I needed some waves with more draw to them, then I got that 9, which I was stoked on.”

In the following heat, 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and 2023 Pipe Pro winner Jack Robinson (AUS) went head to head with Backdoor and Pipe waves. Slater posted the highest single score, but Robinson took the heat win with a higher backup to send Rio Waida (INA) into the Elimination Round.

World No.3 Griffin Colapinto (USA) had a slow start in his 2024 debut for the first 25 minutes but turned it all around with a bomb left for an excellent 8.50 (out of a possible 10) in the last moments of his heat. He backed it up on the buzzer and somehow made the heat in first, sending good friend and former Pipe finalist Seth Moniz (HAW) into the Elimination Round. Although not technically a rookie on Tour, Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR) made it through this heat with Colapinto and will surf again in the Round of 32. After missing the 2024 season, Boukhiam hopes to make the most of his time as the injury replacement on the Hawaii leg.

The day’s highest combined heat total was claimed by John John Florence (HAW) with a 15.20 (out of a possible 20) in Heat 7 against Jake Marshall (USA) and Caio Ibelli (BRA). Marshall and Ibelli had a good fight for second place, but the Pipeline local was once again untouchable in his backyard. Florence’s wave selection was on point and he made every drop and barrel ride look really easy.

“That is a lot of events, a lot of heats, and a lot of surfing,” Florence said. “It got me really excited and gave me a lot of confidence actually, thinking, wow I spent a lot of time surfing heats now. Sometimes, at the beginning of the year you’re nervous and feel almost like a rookie, that everything’s starting again for the first time. But no, I’ve been here for a while, and maybe I don’t think about it as much.”

Wildcard Jackson Bunch (HAW) put on a clinic in familiar waters and posted an upset win in the Opening Round of competition. Bunch was sitting dead last in the last few seconds of his heat against World No.2 Ethan Ewing (AUS) and CT Rookie Cole Houshmand (USA) when he dropped behind the peak on a big and fast Pipe left, which he rode to excellence, earning an 8.77 (out of a possible 10) for his effort and the win.

“I’m just here to have fun, and to get to surf Pipe with three guys out is a blast,” Bunch admitted. “I surfed a pretty bad heat, and the waves were not going my way. I knew there were 30 seconds left when Ethan went on his wave, and the next wave I was going no matter what, I just had to give it a try. Coming from Hawaii, surfing in this event is every little surfer’s dream.”

A tough day for the 2024 CT rookie class did not phase Maui’s Eli Hanneman (HAW), who put on a clutch performance to pick up another win for the Hawaiian islands in the Opening Round. Fellow rookie Crosby Colapinto (USA) faced another in-form Hawaiian in Barron Mamiya (HAW) but did enough to advance behind in the second position to avoid the treacherous Elimination Round.

After falling to 2019 World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Miguel Pupo (BRA) in the Opening Round, Jacob Willcox (AUS) redeemed himself in the Elimination Round with a win over CT sophomore Ian Gentil (HAW) and veteran Caio Ibelli (BRA). Willcox will await his next matchup against perennial CT threat Yago Dora (BRA), while Ibelli is eliminated in equal 33rd place.

Shion Crawford (HAW), event wildcard, earned an excellent 8.00 (out of a possible 10), with a long and wide open Backdoor pit after he suffered a couple of heavy wipeouts that helped settle the nerves in his first-ever CT heat. Troubled to find a decent second score, Crawford settled for second place, but he sent the reigning World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA) into the Elimination Round.

Current World No. 1 Filipe Toledo Withdraws Due to Illness

Despite struggling with food poisoning, Toledo paddled out for his Opening Round heat. Toledo was then relegated to Elimination Round 2 against Crawford and Samuel Pupo, but was forced to withdraw from the competition due to illness. His opponents in the Elimination Round, Deivid Silva (BRA) and Seth Moniz (HAW), will advance to Round 32 with Toledo’s absence.

For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.