Pipeline Opens For Bizness

All photos by Laserwolf and Brian Bielmann

The North Shore loves a comeback, and since Freddy P’s house fucked it, this year was all about Pipeline. Yesterday, surfing’s Madison Square Gardens lit up with what Jamie O’Brien calls the best conditions he’s ever seen there in October. Swell size, and this again comes from Jamie cause Stab ain’t given to calling such things, was pushing 10 feet. Which is especially exciting considering that it was a projected six foot push.

“Yesterday was all time,” says Jamie. “In the morning there were really nice waves, and there was a little bit of backwash but really clean with some nice rights. Then it kinda shifted gears and went all lefts, and got a little bigger. I surfed for three hours, went in and went back out at around noon. It was eight foot every set with some almost 10 feet first reef. I’ve never experienced anything like that. I was pretty baffled. As long as I’ve been surfing out here, that was the best surf I’ve ever surfed in October out at Pipeline. And the crowd was minimal, ’cause a lot of the guys were down practicing for the Sunset event. There was only a handful of guys out. It was really unpredictable but so perfect. I was paddling out looking at these waves, and I couldn’t believe my eyes, how good it was and how the crowd was so minimal.”

The day’s two biggest standouts were Jamie O’Brien and John John Florence. John snapped at JOB’s heels for a long time but things are different now. Brian Bielmann, whose been shooting Pipe since long before John John even started surfing it, has watched the changing status quo. “The thing with John John and Jamie now is, they’re good friends, and Jamie realises John John’s the man,” says Brian. “You can’t take anything away from Jamie because we know how great he is, but he also knows enough to figure out why John John’s so good and what he’s doing. The first thing Jamie’s done is he’s gone and lost a whole bunch of weight. He’s looking at John John in a very productive, positive way. He’s not like, getting pissed ’cause John John’s the man now. I think he’s just realising he wants to better himself. So, the two of them are always the show out at Pipeline. It’s always the John John and Jamie show out there. They are without a doubt the two best guys at Pipeline and Backdoor these days. John John, the whole swell, just back and forth, left and right, just killing it the whole time.”

Other standouts? John’s bros, Nathan and Ivan, were in the mix and where the Florence boys are, Eli Olson is too. Koa Rothman, the young man who brought you the biggest-ever-wave from Chopes this year, was on point. Tamayo Perry scooped a wave-of-the-winter-quality ride. Tom Dosland. JD Irons. Zeke Lau. Kai Mana Henry. Derek Ho! Like any good Pipe session, there’s too many to name… but photos don’t lie.