Bursting Pipe

The last event of a tumultous 2015 could not have been scripted better in terms of pure surfing theatre. Fat 10 foot bombs burst across the second-scariest left in the world, Banzai Pipeline, to whittle the WSL Title contenders down to three and Billabong Pipe Masters contenders down to nine. Even bigger surf is due to crack through for an epic finale in ZA time tonight.

Current number one Mick Fanning heard the news of his brother Peter's death before his heats but made it through to the quarters. He went on Instagram to say that it would have been what his brother wanted. It was not known how or where Peter Fanning died.

Fanning, who could count 2015 as his "annus horribilis" after the infamous brush with a shark at JBay, joins reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) and World #3 Adriano de Souza (BRA) in contention for the title. Julian Wilson (AUS) and World #2 Filipe Toledo (BRA) bowed out in Round 3.

With the top surfers in the world in the water, we were always going to get extremes. Three 10 point scores were posted, but the reef break also unleashed its wrath. Former Pipe Master Bede Durbidge (AUS) suffered a horrific wipeout. On his opening wave, he stuck a heavy drop but inside the barrel he was chucked onto the reef below, breaking his pelvis in two places that require surgery.

“The good news is he will be okay but it’s going to be a recovery process and we just send our best to him and his family,” WSL Commissioner Kieren Perrow said,

Also in Round 3, Medina took down Jordy Smith (ZAF), then charged in Round 4 over CJ Hobgood (USA) and Keanu Asing (HAW), who had moved into the round after his default victory in Durbidge's wipeout heat. That round 3 heat score was 5.00 vs 0.17.

In Round 3, Fanning faced off against 2004 Pipe Master Jamie O’Brien (HAW) in growing, growling swell at Pipeline. Finding a first ride score of 8.47, Fanning held off O’Brien, comboing him by the final horn. Fanning drew Pipeline specialists Kelly Slater (USA) and John John Florence (HAW) for “the heat of the year”. All three surfers exchanged high scores, but Fanning came out on top with a 17.30 to directly move to the quarters.

“I can’t really put it into words. It’s been a huge day. I’ve got some personal stuff going on at home. It’s so heavy to talk about right now and I’m just trying to focus on the water.”

It could get even bigger when he matches up against Slater in the quarters. If there is anyone who can stop Fanning, it's ballie man Slats.

Keeping pace with Fanning, de Souza earned a direct pass to his first Pipe Masters Quarterfinal after surviving Round 3 bout against Glenn Hall (IRL) and winning his Round 4 heat with Josh Kerr (AUS) and Adam Melling (AUS). The 10-year CT veteran is seeking a maiden WSL Title.

Mason Ho (HAW), Billabong Pipe Masters wildcard, created a massive upset when he took down World No. 2 Filipe Toledo (BRA), elimanating him from the WSL Title race.

“It didn’t go as I expected but I just figured I would get anything that came and it almost didn’t work out,” Ho said. “Filipe and all these guys on tour are just so smart with the whole game and priority I just realized you don’t really have to go get that busy.”

Ho continued in his Round 4 heat against former Pipe Masters Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Jeremy Flores (FRA) with a 10-point ride, helping the young Hawaiian directly into the Quarters.

Toledo’s WSL Title run came to an end after a phenomenal 2015 CT season, claiming three event wins at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast, Oi Rio Pro and the Moche Rip Curl Pro - earning a perfect 10 at each contest. The 20-year-old is poised for another big year next season after gaining a wealth of knowledge contending for a Title.

Wilson, one of the form surfers of the season, was also eliminated from the WSL Title race at the hands of compatriot Adam Melling, who entered the event rated 26th, and is through to the quarters and hunting a requalification bid for 2016.

When competition resumes, up first will be Josh Kerr (AUS) against Jeremy Flores (FRA) in the final heat of Round 5.

Surfline, official forecasters for the World Surf League, are calling for: Long period NW swell will be on the rise through the day on Tuesday with a peak in surf late Tuesday through the first half of Wednesday. The swellwill trend down steadily after that. 

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
QF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Kelly Slater (USA
QF 3: Mason Ho (HAW) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
QF 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBD

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.34 def. John John Florence (HAW) 9.76
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.07 def. Keanu Asing (HAW) 9.77
Heat 3: Adam Melling (AUS) 5.17 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 4.20

REMAINING BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 5 MATCH-UP:
Heat 4: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
 
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.30, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5.47, Keanu Asing (HAW) 4.27
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.30, Kelly Slater (USA) 16.47, John John Florence (HAW) 15.16
Heat 3: Mason Ho (HAW) 16.23, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.03, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.24
Heat 4: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.67, Josh Kerr (AUS) 12.13, Adam Melling (AUS) 1.43
 
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.84 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 4.50
Heat 2: Keanu Asing (HAW) 5.00 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 0.17
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 6.74 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.43 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.00
Heat 5:  Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.14 vs. Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 2.70
Heat 6: John John Florence (HAW) 19.93 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 6.67
Heat 7: Mason Ho (HAW) 6.93 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 6.67
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.86 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 5.40
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.44 def. Sebastian Zeitz (HAW) 14.23
Heat 10: Adam Melling (AUS) 15.73 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.16
Heat 11: Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.67 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 3.20
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.00 def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 4.70