The 2012 Billabong Pipe Masters – day one

The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons steamed through round one (and some of round two) today. Ask anyone on the top 34 and they’ll tell you the earlier rounds are often the hardest at Pipe. Why? The Wildcards. Pipe specialists like Kalani Chapman, who beat Tiago Pires and Ace Buchan, or Billy Kemper, who beat Taylor Knox and Michel Bourez.

“I just paddled out and knew since the first heat had priority that I wanted to move around and get as many waves as possible,” said Kalani. “That was my game-plan and it started out really well. I was stoked to get a really good start and I hope it happens every time.” His local knowledge also meant what was perhaps a more informed equipment choice – bigger, and thicker. “Riding a big board isn’t always about catching the wave,” said the Hawaiian. “Sometimes when you’re in the barrel the foam-ball will explode out in front of you and a big board will help you ride out over it. It’s working. I’m just stoked to be surfing in the contest. It’s a dream and I’m psyching no matter what.”

Shane Dorian, who was still in the commentary both eight minutes before he was due to paddle out, clocked the day’s highest wave score of 9.17 outta 10, for a deep backdoor barrel. “I always start off with a plan, but sometimes it doesn’t materialise,” said the 40-year-old Waterman Of The Year. “I try my best and hopefully get a few nuggets. The conditions were tricky with lots of bumps. I was happy to get that 9 and after that I was just playing defence. I broke my old faithful, I was bummed about that, but I just got spanked out there. It’s all good though, that’s what they’re for.”

Yadin Nicol kept his re-qualification hopes alive after beating Hawaiian Flynn Novak. “That was fun,” said Yadin. “To be honest, it’s a little weird with the overlapping heats (dual heat format was run today). It turned on out there and a few bombs came through. I got smoked a couple of times, we had everything. That view never gets old. I was pretty scared at the time and trying to not thing about that lip coming down on my head. I’m stoked to get through that heat.”

With the world title to be decided over the coming days, the Pipe Masters has never been better. Don’t miss a single frame.

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 15.00 def. Evan Valiere (HAW) 9.50
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA) 6.50 def. Tyler Newton (HAW) 6.26
Heat 3: Kalani Chapman (HAW) 15.83 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 5.70
Heat 4: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 15.33 def. Flynn Novak (HAW) 9.76
Heat 5: Fred Patacchia (HAW) 8.43 def. Tanner Hendrickson (HAW) 5.93
Heat 6: Billy Kemper (HAW) 11.00 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 10.17
Heat 7: Adam Melling (AUS) 11.66 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 7.73
Heat 8: Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 16.34 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.94
Heat 9: Shane Dorian (HAW) 14.50 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 9.83
Heat 10: Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 14.73 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 7.84
Heat 11: Dane Reynolds (USA) 11.34 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 3.10
Heat 12: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 14.27 def. Glenn Hall (IRL) 10.77

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Kalani Chapman (HAW) 13.84 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.60
Heat 2: Billy Kemper (HAW) 9.33 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 5.04
Heat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.17 def. Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 13.57

REMAINING BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 2 MATCH UPS:
Heat 4: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Shane Dorian (HAW)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 6: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 7: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Dane Reynolds (USA)
Heat 8: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Fred Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 10: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Yadin Nicol (AUS)
Heat 11: Brett Simpson (USA) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: John John Florence (HAW) vs. TBD
Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. TBD
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBD
Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. TBD
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBD
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBD
Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. TBD
Heat 8: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. TBD
Heat 9: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBD
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBD
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. TBD
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBD