You Should Watch The World’s Best QS Event

When it comes to watching a webcast, qualifying events aren’t everybody’s bag. Most’d prefer to wait and watch the creme perform in dream tour-quality waves (though, given the ocean’s capricious nature, this is often better in theory than reality), or catch the highlight package.

But if you’re gonna watch one, it should be the Volcom Pipe Pro. Here’s why.

The earlier rounds are filled with surfers who’ve made careers out of being amazing at Pipe, and the talent only gets better as higher seeds hit the water. Not to mention, the forecast for the entire event looks beyond excellent.

Maybe you’re back at work wondering how to make yourself look busy. Or, you’re back at school doing the same. Perhaps you haven’t even mentally returned from your Christmas break yet. Whatever your excuse, it’s good enough to flip on the webcast while you’re up to a whole lot of nothing already.

There’s surfers like John John Florence, Kelly Slater, Mason Ho, Bruce Irons, Jamie O’Brien, Koa Smith, Conner Coffin, Josh Kerr, Mitch Coleborn, Jack Robinson, Ian Walsh and so many more hitting the lineup. And because of all the Pipe specialists, mixed with the big names, and given the event’s track record of scoring amazing conditions, in many ways it’s better viewing than the Pipe Masters (provided there’s no world title being decided, like this year).

Just look at the names who’ve won in the past: Kelly Slater (2016, 2014), John John Florence (2015, 2013, 2012, 2011), and Jamie O’Brien (2010).

And, here’s the heat draw:

Round 1

Heat 1: Nathan Florence, Mikey Bruneau, Jason Shibata, Kai Lenny
Heat 2: Wyatt McHale, Noah Beschen, Kelson Lau, Gregg Nakamura
Heat 3: Hank Gaskell, Myles Padaca, Alex Pendleton, Koa Rothman
Heat 4: Evan Valiere, Dylan Goodale, Landon McNamara, Ezra Sitt
Heat 5: Kevin Sullivan, Braiden Mother, Danny Fuller, Seth Moniz
Heat 6: Chris Foster, Turo Ariitu, Sheldon Paishon, Kekoa Bacalso
Heat 7: Shayden Pacarro, Kekoa Cazimero, Tereva David, Lance Gruver
Heat 8 Luke Shepardson, Takayuki Wakita, Ulualoha Napeahi, Logan Bediamol

Round 2

Heat 1: Eli Olson, Manuel Selman, Noa Mizuno, TBD
Heat 2: Dean Bowen, Nic von Rupp, Kai Mana Henry, TBD
Heat 3: Jack Robinson, Brian Toth, Tomas Tudela, TBD
Heat 4: Leandro Usuna, Flavio Nakagima, Kaimana Jacquias, TBD
Heat 5: Olamana Eleogram, Keoni Yan, Ian Walsh, TBD
Heat 6: O’Neill Mason, Josh Burke, Jared Hickel, TBD
Heat 7: Nomme Mignot, Miguel Blanco, Yuri Goncalves, TBD
Heat 8: Kaito Kino, Alonso Correa, Kaito Ohashi, TBD
Heat 9: Shane Holmes, Jaime O’Brien, Cody Young, TBD
Heat 10: Mason Ho, Tim Reyes, Bruce Irons, TBD
Heat 11: Shun Murakami, Makuakai Rothman, Taumata Puhetini, TBD
Heat 12: Reo Inaba, Miguel Tudela, Eala Stewart, TBD
Heat 13: Andy Criere, Makai McNamara, TBD, TBD
Heat 14: David do Carmo, Masatoshi Ohno, Elijah Gates, TBD
Heat 15: Tanner Hendrickson, Cory Arrambide, Benji Brand, TBD
Heat 16: Parker Coffin, Lucca Mesinas, Charly Quivront, TBD

Round 3

Heat 1: Josh Kerr, Kiron Jabour, TBD, TBD
Heat 2: Griffin Colapinto, Nathan Yeomans, TBD, TBD
Heat 3: Soli Bailey, Joshua Moniz, TBD, TBD
Heat 4: Conner Coffin, Billy Kemper, TBD, TBD
Heat 5: Ezekiel Lau, Tom Whitaker, TBD, TBD
Heat 6: Bino Lopes, Koa Smith, TBD, TBD
Heat 7: Mitch Coleborn, Victor Bernardo, TBD, TBD
Heat 8: John John Florence, Balaram Stack, TBD, TBD
Heat 9: Kelly Slater, Imaikalani Default, TBD, TBD
Heat 10: Maxime Huscenot, Yago Dora, TBD, TBD
Heat 11: Joan Duru, Aritz Aranburu, TBD, TBD
Heat 12: Jesse Mendes, Carlos Munoz, TBD, TBD
Heat 13: Wiggolly Dantas, Marco Giorgi, TBD, TBD
Heat 14: Torrey Meister, Lucas Silveira, TBD, TBD
Heat 15: Michael Rodrigues, Ian Crane, TBD, TBD
Heat 16: Adriano de Souza, Finn McGill, TBD, TBD