Australian young buck Billy Kean steals one from the pack and lights up the reef Sawtell-style. Pic: natesmithphoto.comFinding pro surfers isn’t that hard in Hawaii. By nine am most of them are hovering in the queue at Starbucks, sweating on a caffeine fix before they head down to Off The Wall to chase barrels for the day. This morning was no different and on the eve of the Pipe masters it was hard not to ask them the question that everyone else in the surfing world is thinking about. “ Who’s going to win the world title?”
Yadin Nicol, resplendent in a colourful, Hurley Hawaiian tee, felt that he was speaking for many of the surfers.
“I think, like most people, I really want to see Joel win.”
Kieren Perrow had the perfect finish sketched out in his mind. “ I’d like to win the final and see Joel come second,” he chuckled. A scenario which would of course result in back-to-back Pipe Masters for KP and a maiden world title for Joel.
Down at Off The Wall and Pipe the waves were still playful – 3 foot, clean and performance skewed.
“Is that him?” “Who?” “Julian Parkinson…” “Don’t be stupid – that’s Kelly Fanning.” Pic: HoffmanTom Curren was a standout, riding one of Dan Thomson’s modern planing hulls, which basically looks like a short, fibreglass shelf. Curren looked to have claimed back five years of his surfing life on the radically designed rectangle.
Joel Parkinson made a couple of cameos at Off the Wall, paddling out with Luke Egan for an after lunch session that caused surprisingly little fanfare, given his role at the centre of the drama that will unfold over the next couple of days. Everyone senses that Parko needs his space.
Adriano De Souza swaps the Hawaiian shakka for the classic thumbs up. Pic: ZenlaAdriano De Souza had his own views on victory. “ I’d probably prefer Mick, but I think too many things have to go his way for it to happen. So, I think probably Kelly.” Mick can still win the world title if he wins the event [see the scenarios courtesy of ASP below]
Down the beach Damo’ Hobgood was kicking back on a towel and enjoying the action, after a couple of sessions at OTW. Although Damo shares Floridian status with Kelly, his heart seemed to lie elsewhere. “ I’d love to see Joel do it but if I were a betting man, I’d have to say Kelly,” he uttered in his classic southern drawl.
Happy-go-lucky charger and ASP World Championship Tour veteran Damien Hobgood loving life in Hawai’i. Pic: ZenlaOut at Pipe, Dusty Payne was playing around on a giant foamie and Ace Buchan was warming up with fellow central coaster, Glenn “Micro” Hall who just qualified for the tour and also has a wildcard into the Pipe Masters. After a decade of WQS toiling, to say Micro is excited is an understatement. Meanwhile Ace was unequivocal in his response to the golden question – “Joel for sure. He’s surfing really well too.”
You couldn’t script a better forecast for the PIpe Masters – no wonder Brett Simpson is grinning from ear-to-ear. PIc: ZenlaThe word on the street amongst the surfers and the locals is that the swell forecasted for the next couple of days will result in perfect Pipe/Backdoor conditions. Round one is likely to get underway tomorrow. The contenders for the title won’t make an appearance until round three, but it’s going to be interesting to see who Kelly, Mick and Joel are drawn against. Shane Dorian, Bruce Irons and Jamie O’brien – three wild cards capable of upsetting anyone’s world title party – will be in the water for round one. Stay tuned to whichever technological device you are planning to view the contest with, this is a slice of surfing history you won’t want to miss.
Just in case you haven’t looked at these yet.
Remember 13th is equivalent to a 3rd round finish, 9th is 4th round, 5th is quarters and 3rd is the semis.
If Parkinson finishes 13th, 9th or 5th at the Billabong Pipe Masters: - Slater needs a 5th or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title. - Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.* *Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.
If Parkinson finishes Equal 3rd at the Billabong Pipe Masters: - Slater needs a 3rd or higher to take the 2012 ASP World Title. - Fanning needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title.* *Contingent upon Slater finishing 5th or Lower at Pipeline.
If Parkinson finishes 2nd at the Billabong Pipe Masters: - Slater needs to win at Pipeline to take the 2012 ASP World Title. - Fanning cannot win the 2012 ASP World Title.
If Parkinson wins the Billabong Pipe Masters, he will take the 2012 ASP World Title.
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