I had been following tweets all day yesterday (sad I know) of the wave buoys for the north pacific which effect the north shore and the period was small and not worthy of the mighty pipeline so headed out for dinner, only to be interrupted by a txt from the Mullins informing me it was on!
Without further ado the dinner out was converted into a take away and we rushed back to watch the contest, I could not work it out in my mind: 'Why are they running it today?' Is it because the rest of the week is poor? Is it because their time slot at Pipe is running out? Or even this one > Is it because they have done a deal with the TV networks and it had to run regardless? (Perhaps I am too Cynical, surely they would not do that?)
Anyway the contest ran with good short period waves early on then it became a pile of pants and I felt sorry that they had made the two guys paddle out in that crap!
Mighty pipeline, the most famous wave in the world, the wave all others are judged by had become a beach park in Wales or the East coast of the USA.
I forced myself to watch the final and could feel Slaters mood through the web, he was surfing against an expert in small waves in small crap waves!
Mind you, whichever way you look at it Taj made it to the final through some of the real pipeline days and therefore does deserve to be the champion of Pipeline!
p.s Very glad that Parko won the triple crown!
For more pictures captions and excellent video shots click here > Surfline's account of the Pipe contest
Pic below > The real monster is waiting out there
