Dave Wassel’s Pipeline Secrets Every Surf Investor Should Know

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Few have seen the good, the bad, and the ugly at Pipeline like Dave Wassel has.

Celebrated for his fearless yet calculated approach to whatever conditions the ocean throws at him, no fact about the quick-witted North Shore lifeguard and occasional live-stream commentator is more bonkers than this: he wasn’t allowed to surf without a vest until he turned 15 — a rule laid down by his old man, a once-bitten-twice-shy Pennsylvania native who traded the East Coast for the islands back in the 1950s.

Dave’s occupational, hawk-eyed demeanor has had him diligently surveying the arrangement of submerged jagged rocks for years, whether the waves breaking over them are head high or 12 feet (da island’s official maximum wave height, according to Nate Fletch). This is good enough reason to have him weigh in on his picks for the opening event of the 2025 CT season.

With variable winds and a North swell in the forecast, there are two plausible scenarios for the first few days of the waiting period: a consecutive string of lay days or an exaggeration of turns to the beach at Ehukai. Speaking of which, there’s probably going to be way more sand there than we’d ideally like. That North swell tends to drag a considerable amount of it all the way from Kahuku Point down to the competition area and creating a novelty right point.

“Not gonna say this first week is gonna be a flop, but there’s definitely gonna be a lot of turns out there on that river,” Dave told us at recording time, still assuming that John John Florence, like Gabriel Medina, would not compete. But a wildcard from the WSL Commissioner’s Office has catapulted the reigning world champ and hometown hero back into his favorite event. Do with this information what you will before you dive into his chosen ones.

As such, his Pipeline picks on the men’s side of the draw are: Jack Robinson, aka Vortex Shaman; local boy Seth Moniz; fresh-as-daisies wildcard Jackson Bunch from neighboring Maui; and a dark horse pick going by the name of Robert Kelly Slater. Al Cleland Jr gets an honorable mention, and we all know that’s not just out of sympathy.

On the female side, and to no surprise, Dave lists reigning Pipe Pro champ and overall icon Caity Simmers as his top pick, followed by Bettylou Sakura Johnson, who will be sleeping in her own bed between run days, and the youngest Pipe Master in history, Erin Brooks. “She’s really scrappy and very fearless,” Dave said. Keeping his dark horse picks consistently ridiculous, he elects Vahine Fierro to do some damage at a wave that, should it turn on, will place her under a very familiar liquid ceiling. 

“One thing’s for sure, somebody’s gonna catch it!” That’s Dave for you all.

Place your bets responsibly, and you might just come out on top.

Mikey C’s Pipe picks below:

2025 World Title winnner
$100 on Jack Robbo to win WT  at +800 to win $800
$100 on Yago Dora to win WT at +1400 to win $1400
$100 on Caity Simmers to win WT at +300 to win $300
$100 on Caroline Marks to win WT at +400 to win $400
$50 on Brisa Hennessy to win WT at +1600 to win $800

Pipe Pro event winner
$40 on Joao Chianca at +1000 to win $400
$25 on Seth Moniz at +4000 to win $1000
$30 on Italo Ferreira at +2500 to win $750
$30 on EE at +1400 to win $420
$10 on Al Cleland at +6600 to win $660
$10 on Leo F at +2500 to win $250
$5 on Eli H at +10000 to win $500Another
$40 on Molly Picklum at +750 to win $300
$30 on Bettylou Sakura Johnson ay +1000 to win $300
$30 on Erin Brooks at +1000 to win $300
$10 on Sally Fitz at +6600 to win $660

Make semis
$5 on Eli H at +2000 to win $100
$5 on Matty McG at +1600 to win $80
$5 on LOB at +1400 to win $70
$5 on Sammy P at +2000 to win $100

Men’s R1
$10 on Edgard Groggia at +650 to win $65
$10 on Matty McG at +350 to win $35
$10 on LOB at +475 to win $48
$10 on Ian Gentil at +450 to win $45
$50 on Sammy Pupo at +415 to win $208
$20 on Kanoa at +150 to win $30
$10 on DVD at +575 to win $58
$10 on Marco Mignot at +450 to win $45

Women’s R1
$10 on Sally Fitz at +325 to win $33
$20 on Issy Nichols at +800 to win $160
$10 on Lakey P at +365 to win $37
$10 on Gabriela Bryan at +375 to win $38

*odds may have changed since bets were originally placed