History Made on the North Shore

TWO TIME: With two two-time world champs and a first time winner. Photo WSL

John John took out the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask at his home break in the esteemed competition's 50th edition, defeating fellow two-time WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) by a narrow 0.67 point margin.

Two-time WSL Champion Wright made history today alongside four-time WSL Champion Carissa Moore (HAW), Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), and Sage Erickson (USA) after competing in the first-ever women’s CT Finals Day at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline.

“I feel incredibly lucky to be here,” said Wright. “I think we wouldn’t be here without the women that came before us to pave the way, and today we are really standing on the shoulders of giants, I feel incredibly privileged to be here in the position that I am in.”

Wright secured her 14th CT win today after defeating Moore in the Finals and Fitzgibbons in the Semifinals. The 26-year old showcased committed surfing in the Final, defeating Moore by only 1.11 points. At the beginning of the competition, Wright paddled out for her opening heat wearing an updated jersey showcasing the Progress Pride flag and wore it proudly through her final heat win today. Wright will continue to wear the updated jersey throughout the 2021 CT season.

PROGRESS PROUD: Aussie Tyler Wright made all kinds of history. Photo WSL / Keoki

“As a proud bisexual woman of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as an Australian, I'm delighted to be able to represent both this year on my competition jersey,” said Wright. “The Progress Pride flag represents a love that opened my eyes more to who I really am.”

In the men’s Final, John John went head-to-head with Medina: “I feel really good, especially just after the last couple of years and everything I’ve gone through with injuries and everything,” said Florence. “To be here at the first event of the year, winning in my home break, I can’t picture it going any better. It’s an amazing way to end 2020 and start the new year as well.”

Florence’s victory marks his first win at the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask. He was the runner-up in 2017 and 2013, and did not compete in 2018 due to an injury that kept him out for much of the CT: "The Pipe Masters for me is the biggest event on the Tour,” said Florence. “I've grown up watching my heroes surf this event and win the world titles out there. Everyone who surfs Pipe has their own little relationship with that wave, and so to be able to win a competition out there is a big feat. For me, it's one of my biggest goals."

HISTORIC LINEUP: This was a big deal in the history of surfing. Photo WSL

The day began with Heat 4 in the Round of 16 for the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask, 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) earned a combined 13.67, the high score in the Round of 16 against Jack Robinson (AUS), advancing to the Quarterfinals despite suffering an injury. "I hurt myself mountain biking last week, then I did something to my heel three nights ago at Pipeline,” said Slater, after Heat 4 in the Round of 16, “I’m having a little trouble walking, but I can surf okay, I didn’t notice it too much when I surfed.”

After a promising start, Jordy Smith came unstuck against Kelly Slater in the Quarter-finals, but will bank the points after a credible equal 5th result.

The Road to The WSL Finals has officially started in Hawaii. For the first time, the men's and women's World Titles will be decided in a single-day event, ‘The WSL Finals'. The top five women and top five men following the CT season will battle for their respective titles in a new surf-off format at one of the world's best waves. The WSL Finals will take place at Lower Trestles, California from September 8 - 17, 2021.

The opening leg of the WSL Championship Tour will resume in January at the Sunset Open, with the event window taking place between 19 January and 28 January 2021.

COMMITTED: Tatiana Weston-Webb was going for broke with abandon. Photo WSL

Maui Pro presented by ROXY Final Results
1 - Tyler Wright (AUS) 8.34
2 - Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.23

Semifinal Results
SF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 10.50 DEF. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 2.87
SF 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 16.60 DEF. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 2.47

Quarterfinal Results
QF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) 18.33 DEF. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 12.40
QF 2: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 14.37 DEF. Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.30
QF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) 15.04 DEF. Malia Manuel (HAW) 11.27
QF 4: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) 8.60 DEF. Sage Erickson (USA) 6.30

Final Results
1 - John John Florence (HAW) 11.77
2 - Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.10

Semifinal Results
SF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 18.16 DEF. Kelly Slater (USA) INT
SF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.60 DEF. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 8.57

Quarterfinal Results
QF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 17.67 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.17
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 6.23 DEF. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 1.90
QF 3: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 13.34 DEF. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.53
QF 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 9.13 vs. Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) 7.06