We got thru R16 so now it’s Qtr Finals next! The full scoop coming. Thursday had mostly clean, glassy 3-4′ sets on the fading 14sec NW first half then some smaller windier waves 2nd half.  SNN Shocking Upsets and Stunning Barrels Start the Women’s 2023 CT Season at Billabong Pro Pipeline Stephanie Gilmore Falls to Teens Caitlin Simmers and Alyssa Spencer Hawaii’s Carissa Moore, Bettylou Sakura Johnson, and Gabriela Bryan Secure Spots in the Quarterfinals Molly Picklum Earns First Excellent Score of Women’s 2023 CT Pictured: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) surfs the first Backdoor barrel of the women’s event at the Billabong Pro Pipeline. Credit: © WSL /  Heff BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii (Thursday, February 2, 2023) – The Billabong Pro Pipeline kicked off the start of the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Women’s Championship Tour (CT) today in clean four-to-six-foot swell at Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu. Women’s Opening Round 1 witnessed the Hawaiian surfers showcase their talent at home, while several rookies excelled in their career-first CT heats. Today saw two huge upsets, including reigning eight-time World Champion, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), and reigning event winner Moana Jones Wong (HAW) being eliminated early in the competition. The full day of competition ran all the way through the Round of 16 and locked in the Quarterfinalists. The next call will be tomorrow, Friday, February 3, at 7:45 a.m. HST for a possible 8:00 AM HST start. Stephanie Gilmore Falls to Teens Caitlin Simmers and Alyssa Spencer  In the biggest upset of the day, eight-time WSL Champion Gilmore was eliminated by two of Southern California’s rising stars, injury replacement Alyssa Spencer (USA) and CT rookie Caitlin Simmers (USA). Oceanside, California’s young phenom Simmers performed brilliantly under pressure. She navigated two Backdoor barrels of consequence, scoring a commendable 7.0 and 5.67 (out of possible 10). Spencer focused on utilizing her forehand at Pipeline and found two quick, successful barrel rides to earn the scores she needed to take the lead over Gilmore. “It’s funny, I feel like I’ve gone from hero to zero,” said Gilmore. “Surfing has a way of keeping you humble, that’s for sure. Caity (Simmers) did really well, she sat and waited, and got two really good waves. But that’s the sport, that’s the way it is, and there’s no better motivation than to have a shocker and want to come back better. I’m already two heats ahead of where I was last year. We have that fresh crop of new girls on the Tour and some of the rookies that were on Tour last year who didn’t make the cut, but now they’re back with a vengeance. I think this year will be different, and I won’t be able to just scrape by.” Simmers and Spencer were later eliminated in the Round of 16, but the rookies certainly made a name for themselves at Pipeline today. In the second upset of the day, reigning event winner and Pipeline specialist Jones Wong fell to tour veteran Lakey Peterson (USA) in the Round of 16, Heat 2. Jones Wong sailed through her Opening Round matchup but struggled to find a scoring wave in her second heat. Peterson will now continue her campaign in the Quarterfinals. Courtney Conlogue (USA) suffered a similar fate, being eliminated at the hands of event wildcard Teresa Bonvalot (PRT) and Australia’s Isabella Nichols in the women’s Elimination Round, Heat 2. Hawaii’s Carissa Moore, Bettylou Sakura Johnson, and Gabriela Bryan Secure Spots in the Quarterfinals Hawaii’s five-time World Champion Carissa Moore, rising-star Bettylou Sakura Johnson, and 2022 Rookie of the Year, Gabriela Bryan demonstrated their local knowledge at Pipeline, securing their spots in the Quarterfinals. Moore got off to a dominant start, taking her Opening Round heat win. She continued her momentum into the Round of 16, eliminating an in-form Spencer. With her spot secured in the Quarterfinals, she now hopes to improve on her runner-up result from last year and add a Billabong Pro Pipeline event win to her name. “I think there’s just so much anticipation in the lead-up to that first event that carries so much weight and nerves,” said Moore. “It just felt good to rip the bandaid off, and to come away with the win is very nice. It’s a little inconsistent, but beautiful conditions, so there are some nice little barrels on offer.” Bryan kicked off her second year on Tour in fantastic form, winning her Opening Round heat over Tour veterans Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) and Peterson with two Backdoor barrels. She then took on Macy Callaghan (AUS) in the Round of 16.  Callaghan started strong, but Bryan once again found waves with opportunity, showing her ability to throw powerful turns and take the heat win. This is also the second year on the CT for Sakura Johnson. She got off to a quick start in the Opening Round, finding the first Backdoor barrel of the women’s event and earning a 6.50. Sakura Johnson then secured the last spot in the Quarterfinals after a nail-biting battle with Caroline Marks (USA) in the last heat of the day. Molly Picklum Earns First Excellent Score of Women’s 2023 CT  In the final heat of the women’s Opening Round, Molly Picklum (AUS) claimed the first excellent score of the women’s event, an 8.0 on a Backdoor cave. Picklum flew through the long hallway, finishing the wave off with a big maneuver on the end section. Picklum then took the win over Nichols in the Round of 16, securing her spot in the Quarterfinals. “I feel like it is tough out there, and there’s a lot of current moving,” said Picklum. “But I feel comfortable on the reef and with my lineups out there. I just knew I needed to finish that last good score, and it was going to be a good one, so I’m happy to get a seven for it and onto the next.” Pictured: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) has secured her spot in Quarterfinal, Heat 2, of the Billabong Pro Pipeline. Credit: © WSL /  Heff Billabong Pro Pipeline Quarterfinalists Confirmed  Two-time WSL Champion Tyler Wright (AUS) and Final 5 competitors Brisa Hennessy (CRC) and Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) also found their way into the Quarterfinals alongside Moore, Peterson, Picklum, Sakura Johnson and Bryan. They will all continue the battle towards winning the prestigious Billabong Pro Pipeline when the competition commences. For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com. Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Opening Round Results:  HEAT 1: Caroline Marks (USA) 6.36 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 4.84, Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 2.04 HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 10.43 DEF. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 9.23, Alyssa Spencer (USA) 4.44 HEAT 3: Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 9.00 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 5.13, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 2.80 HEAT 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 7.67 DEF. Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 3.87, Isabella Nichols (AUS) 1.87 HEAT 5: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 10.66 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 9.67, Caitlin Simmers (USA) 3.44 HEAT 6: Molly Picklum (AUS) 11.67 DEF. Tyler Wright (AUS) 7.63, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 5.40 Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Elimination Round Results:  HEAT 1: Caitlin Simmers (USA) 12.67 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 6.63, Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 6.43 HEAT 2: Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 6.34 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 4.73, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 4.60 Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Round of 16 Results:  HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) 7.40 DEF. Caitlin Simmers (USA) 4.93 HEAT 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 12.34 DEF. Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 7.16 HEAT 3: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 9.10 DEF. Teresa Bonvalot (POR) 5.00 HEAT 4: Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.24 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 7.27 HEAT 5: Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.93 DEF. Alyssa Spencer (USA) 4.47 HEAT 6: Molly Picklum (AUS) 12.17 DEF. Isabella Nichols (AUS) 3.26 HEAT 7: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) 11.17 DEF. Macy Callaghan (AUS) 7.96 HEAT 8: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) 9.03 DEF. Caroline Marks (USA) 8.30 Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Quarterfinal Matchups:  HEAT 1: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA) HEAT 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Molly Picklum (AUS) HEAT 4: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Round of 32 Matchups:  HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW) HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Nat Young (USA) HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) HEAT 4: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS) HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS) HEAT 6: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW) HEAT 7: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW) HEAT 8: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS) HEAT 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Carlos Munoz (CRC) HEAT 10: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA) HEAT 11: Connor O’Leary (AUS) vs. Rio Waida (INA) HEAT 12: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA) HEAT 13: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) HEAT 14: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) HEAT 15: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA) HEAT 16: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) Watch LIVE The Billabong Pro Pipeline will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the WSL’s YouTube channel, and the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners. For fans watching in Brazil, coverage of the competition’s Quarterfinals and beyond will continue exclusively on WorldSurfLeague.com and SporTV. EARLIER UPDATES Women’s Opening Round Started at 8:03 AM HST Weston-Webb, Bonvalot, and Marks in First Women’s Heat of the Season Women’s Elimination Round To Follow, Women’s Round of 16 on Standby

EARLIER UPDATES BELOW

Day one: Billabong Pro Pipeline

João Chianca Earns First Excellent Score of the 2023 WSL CT Season

World Champs Debut in Remarkable Form, While Elimination Round Narrows the Field

Hawaiians Ezekiel Lau, Seth Moniz, and Barron Mamiya Straight to the Round of 32

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii (Wednesday, February 1, 2023) –The Billabong Pro Pipeline kicked off the start of the World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Men’s Championship Tour (CT) today in clean four-to-six-foot swell at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline. Men’s Opening Round witnessed standout performances from João Chianca (BRA), Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Jordy Smith (RSA), and Gabriel Medina (BRA) and more.

The highest-scoring wave of the event so far, an 8.50 (out of possible 10), went to second-year competitor Chianca during the men’s Opening Round, Heat 2. The Opening Round also saw former World Champions find success while rookies struggled under pressure. The full day of competition finished with the men’s Elimination Round narrowing the field to 32 surfers.

The next call will be tomorrow, Thursday, February 2, at 7:45 a.m. HST for a possible 8:00 a.m. start.

Chianca started his 2023 season in fantastic form, earning the first excellent score of the event and season, a 8.50. Chianca earned a notable 9th-place finish at last year’s Billabong Pro Pipeline before falling off the Tour following the Mid-season Cut. Chianca successfully fought his way back to the CT through the Challenger Series and is now looking for redemption in his second season.

“I’m in a pretty good headspace,” said Chianca. “It was a super important and emotional year last year for me realizing this is where I want to be for the rest of my career. That wave gave me déjà vu from last season because my first wave from last year was an 8.43 and this was even better. I was pretty excited to surf Backdoor, and Pipeline is just my happy place, so I’m stoked.”

Reigning World Champion Filipe Toledo (BRA), started his season in solid form, winning his opening match against Australia’s Jackson Baker and Hawaii’s Joshua Moniz. Toledo moves straight in the Round of 32, while Moniz fell to elimination in Heat 1 of Elimination Round 2.

Defending event winner and 11-time World Champion, Kelly Slater (USA) advanced to the Round of 16 in second place after a close battle for first with Caio Ibelli (BRA). Ibelli ultimately took the win with a 5.77. Slater won this event last year, days before his 50th birthday, and hopes to win again this year now at age 50. He will surf again against Yago Dora (BRA) when the men’s Round of 32 commences.

“This week I’ve been in a funk and haven’t really felt too in-sync with any of my surfs, so I’m just trying to shake that a little bit,” said Slater. “That heat I didn’t feel here or there, I actually had priority when Caio got his good one and I let him go thinking the next one would be better and it just didn’t come together as I thought.”

The highly anticipated showdown of former event winners and World Champions John John Florence (HAW) and Medina went down in the last heat of the men’s Opening Round. Medina missed this event last year but has found himself in the Finals multiple times in past years. For Florence, Pipeline is in his backyard and is one of the waves he is most comfortable in.

Florence got off to a quick start, notching a 3.67 on a quick backside barrel. Medina opened with a disappearing act on a Backdoor barrel, earning a near-excellent 7.67. Florence answered back with a Backdoor barrel of his own, finishing the wave off with two solid maneuvers to pocket a 6.33. Florence controlled a majority of the heat, but it was Medina who ultimately took the win in the final minutes. They will both surf again in the Round of 32.

“It’s amazing to be back in Hawaii, this is a really special place for me,” said Medina. “It’s given me so many good memories and hopefully the waves get a little better for the next round, but I’m happy with the win. That [Backdoor] wave was a long one, I saw it going all the way to the Off the Wall channel so I gave it a go.”

Hawaiians Ezekiel Lau, Seth Moniz, and Barron Mamiya Straight to the Round of 32

Ezekiel Lau (HAW) got things started for the Hawaiian contingent in Heat 4. With just less than two minutes left, he found a Backdoor cavern, earning a 7.17 and the heat win. 2022 Billabong Pro Pipeline runner-up Seth Moniz (HAW) found early success here again, winning his Opening Round matchup against former World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA) and event wildcard Imaikalani deVault (HAW). Event wildcard Barron Mamiya (HAW) also made it through his opening round, advancing straight to the Round of 32.

“My strategy was to go right, but then I ended up getting that left right off the start so that’s how it goes sometimes,” said Moniz. “You just have to adapt to the conditions. I’m pretty confident out here, but to come up against Italo [Ferriera] and Imai [deVault] in the first round is pretty nuts.”

Also skipping the Elimination Round are former Final 5 competitors Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Robinson. They are joined by Griffin Colapinto (USA), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jordy Smith (RSA), and CT rookie Rio Waida (INA), who all move directly on to the Round of 32.

Elimination Round Narrows the Field

Former Final 5 competitor Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) found redemption in the first heat of the Elimination Round after failing to find a score of substance in the Opening Round. He advanced to the Round of 32 alongside Michael Rodrigues (BRA), eliminating event wildcard Joshua Moniz (HAW).

Fellow event wildcard deVault suffered a similar fate in Elimination Round, Heat 1. In one of the upsets of the day, tour veteran Jadson Andre (BRA) was eliminated by rookie Ian Gentil (HAW) and Kolohe Andino (USA). Andre was sent to the Elimination Round after suffering an interference on Jack Robinson (AUS) in his Opening Round.

More available at WorldSurfLeague.com.

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Opening Round Results: 
HEAT 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 12.50 DEF. Nat Young (USA) 10.17, Ian Gentil (HAW) 6.94
HEAT 2: Joao Chianca (BRA) 12.83 DEF. Jake Marshall (USA) 10.70, Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 1.00
HEAT 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) 6.20 DEF. Liam O’Brien (AUS) 6.06, Kolohe Andino (USA) 4.30
HEAT 4: Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 8.54 DEF. Jack Robinson (AUS) 8.50, Jadson Andre (BRA) 0.23
HEAT 5: Seth Moniz (HAW) 8.50 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 5.20, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 2.04
HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 6.00 DEF. Jackson Baker (AUS) 5.93, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 1.50
HEAT 7: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 9.84 DEF. Barron Mamiya (HAW) 9.33, Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.10
HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 10.44 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) 8.60, Carlos Munoz (CRC) 0.50
HEAT 9: Jordy Smith (RSA) 10.66 DEF. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 9.27, Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 1.96
HEAT 10: Rio Waida (INA) 9.16 DEF. Samuel Pupo (BRA) 6.50, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 6.46
HEAT 11: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 9.57 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 7.90, Yago Dora (BRA) 2.13
HEAT 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 10.84 DEF. John John Florence (HAW) 10.00, Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 1.60

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Elimination Round Results:
HEAT 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 11.03 DEF. Michael Rodrigues (BRA) 9.03, Joshua Moniz (HAW) 8.87
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) 13.43 DEF. Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 8.27, Imaikalani deVault (HAW) 4.33
HEAT 3: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 7.60 DEF. Carlos Munoz (CRC) 7.14, Matthew McGillivray (RSA) 6.93
HEAT 4: Kolohe Andino (USA) 9.43 DEF. Ian Gentil (HAW) 8.13, Jadson Andre (BRA) 4.87

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Round of 32 Matchups:
HEAT 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)
HEAT 2: Jordy Smith (RSA) vs. Nat Young (USA)
HEAT 3: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 4: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS)
HEAT 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Liam O’Brien (AUS)
HEAT 6: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
HEAT 7: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
HEAT 8: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)
HEAT 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Carlos Munoz (CRC)
HEAT 10: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA)
HEAT 11: Connor O’Leary (AUS) vs. Rio Waida (INA)
HEAT 12: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)
HEAT 13: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)
HEAT 14: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Jake Marshall (USA)
HEAT 15: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
HEAT 16: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)

Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Opening Round Matchups:
HEAT 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (POR)
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)
HEAT 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Moana Jones Wong (HAW)
HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRC) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
HEAT 5: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA)
HEAT 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Molly Picklum (AUS)