Amazing Surfing Stories by Alex Wade

Author:Alex Wade
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781118340202
Publisher: Fernhurst Books Limited
Published: 2012-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

PART FIVE

Contests and Communities

HIGHER THAN A HIGH FIVE

At the Pipeline Masters in 1995, two surfers transcended their sport – and surfing transcended itself.

Ever since it was first held in 1971, the Pipeline Masters – which takes place each December at the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu – has been surfing's premier event. Surfers covet victory in the contest, crowds pack the beach from dawn to dusk, and wannabes and hangers-on are as legion as gurus and surfing savants. Their view of the action is the best in professional surfing, with Pipeline's reef set-ups just yards away. Add the winter timing of the contest, when Hawaii is buffeted by massive swells which originate thousands of miles away off the coast of Alaska, and it's no surprise that even the mainstream media, often indifferent when it comes to professional surfing, usually finds space for coverage.

Back in 1971, the winner of the inaugural Pipeline Masters was Jeff Hakman, a man who went on to seek highs from drugs as much as he did from waves. After a career as a pro surfer (at a time when the notion of ‘professional surfing’ was barely credible), Hakman launched Quiksilver in the United States. Later, he took the brand to Europe. Pretty much all the while, Hakman indulged in various illicit substances, especially heroin. He was in such thrall that he sold his stake in Quiksilver America to fund his habit. Finally, in the late 80s, his friends got him to rehab and he now lives peaceably on the island of Kauai.

In his heyday, Hakman was known as ‘Mr Sunset’, in acknowledgement of his prowess at the North Shore break, just a couple of miles along the coast from Pipeline. Another surfer of his era was christened ‘Mr Pipeline’. Step forward, Gerry Lopez, the winner in 1972 and 1973 of what would become unquestionably surfing's most iconic competition.

Lopez redefined surfing with an exquisitely smooth, effortless style and an immaculate understanding of tube riding. He was so natural and so graceful, that it seemed as if he had been born for nothing else. The roll-call of subsequent Pipe Masters' winners rings loud with other surfers whose talent seemed similarly God-given, including four-time world champion Mark Richards, fellow Australian power surfers Mark Occhilupo and Gary Elkerton; Hawaiian legend Derek Ho, South Africa's Shaun Tomson and the Irons brothers, Andy and Bruce.

Moreover, the Pipe Masters rarely lacks drama. There are innumerable tales of awesome barrels and near-fatal wipe-outs, and as recently as 2011, some of most epic conditions seen in years transpired, with 20-25 ft waves capturing the imagination of the surfing world. After a few days of intense and blistering competition, yet another Australian, Kieren Perrow, took the spoils in a triumph as popular as it was unexpected. But if the likeable Perrow – who doubles as the surfers' representative on the world tour – would have been elated by his win, the chances are that he would point to 1995 as the year in which the Pipeline Masters reached its zenith.

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