Stab Magazine | Today Was About As Big And Flawless As Pipeline Comes

Live Now — 1-Week Premium Peek — Episode 2 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

288 Views

Today Was About As Big And Flawless As Pipeline Comes

Leisurely rumblings from the Weedmaps Pipe House. 

news // Jan 12, 2018
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 4 minutes

The sand rumbled this morning. Each crashing wave sent vibrations up to the Weedmaps Pipe house, and every other domicile along Oahu’s North Shore. The Weedmaps house is well-positioned, both physically and culturally, because they’re footing a major part of the Backdoor Shootout bill. And due to the sheer luxury of cannabis money, their Pipe Experience has been a creature of comfort – quite different from what most competitors experienced today. 

Last night, Pipeline had its best few hours of the season. Today, she had her greatest full day. With a not-very-small swell pulsing from the west, sand was slowly stripped from Pipeline’s reef and redeposited in its rightful place at Gums. The sun shone bright, the wind turned each crashing lip into winged birds, and the culmination of all these events led to an incredible viewing experience. 

Today was about as perfect as Pipeline comes. The Weedmaps team, being Bruce Irons, Nathan Fletcher, Tyler Newton and Seth Moniz, along with anyone who spent their day glued to pixels watching the Backdoor Shootout can attest to that.

So, with no rental car, no bicycle and lazy legs, I’ve been locked in the house. Watching each heat unfold from the backyard. Listening to the hollers and roars. Writing this from a tablecloth littered with leftover buds from king-size doobies rolled, smoked, and lost. Nothing to do but converse, drink beer, tap keys and feel the power, or, umm, mana, of Pipeline.

The first heat went. There were good, even great waves ridden. The WM team occupied the second heat of the day. Nathan, Newts, and Seth Moniz were here early. You might have even called them chipper. High on caffeine, Nate relished his morning joint and coffee.

6A6A5884

Rise and grind Bruce.

And Bruce, well, Bruce was asleep.

When he finally awoke, Irons scrambled out late to his heat. “Good to see some things never change,” said a man who later explained to me how easy it was to smuggle weed on planes in the 80s. 

When the heat ended, Seth ended up clamped in a tube where his board came back and sliced his achilles. He was pulled from the beach, stitched up and returned for his round three heat. Is that mana?

The day continued in the fashion of blaze and haze; a spliff here, a joint there–more lethargic than yesterday. The skate team went on a helicopter tour. Massive tube after perilous pit never ceased to entrance us. 

Looks at this one! Whoa, this one’s gnarly! Holy shit, how about this one? Look over to Insanities! How’s the closeout at Off The Wall? Anyone got a lighter? …and exclamatory phrases of the like fell loosely off spectators’ tongues.

6A6A7011

A couple cute beachgoers were summoned to the Pipe house. They found themselves stumbling into an impromptu photo shoot with lensman Tony Brown.

A spectacle. 

By the time the buzzer sounded for the third round, Pipeline was in form. Backdoor had its moments and guys like Balaram Stack, Noa Deane, Tyler Newton, Torrey Meister, Kai “Mana” Henry, Koa Rothman and Mason Ho rode the better waves of the day. Noa’s performance, although it’s known he fairs well in heavy, hollow surf, was surprising. He took to Pipe with aplomb. A world-class talent, indeed.  

After one particularly critical barrel, Nate turned around and asked, “How come Gavin’s [Beschen] so gnarly? 

“I’m pretty sure that was Noa,” replied Newts.

From the lawn, the two were easily mistaken. Blonde hair, Volcom sticker on the nose, both natural footed. Both having a swing.

“Shit, really?” replied Nate. “Well, Noa’s gnarly.”

This back and forth shifted to a conversation about aerial surfing and the tweaked straight-airs Noa’s known for.

“Those are my favorite types of airs,” Nate said. “It shows control. My brother [Christian] was the first to do those tail high things and land them. They’re harder than just an air reverse.” 

Tyler shaded himself impressed. Then noted, “I don’t do airs that often. I’m more of a grab the rail and get barreled surfer. I’m gonna stick to that.” 

A respectable endeavor. 

By the final buzzer of the event – a quarter before four – the wind swung west. The pristine conditions of the day went pear. Tomorrow, however, is forecasted to be quality. As the ocean’s mood changes at a moment’s notice on this lava-formed isle, that remains to be seen.

By the weekend, the North Shore is forecast to receive a good ole beating. A swell that prompted the owner of the Weedmaps Pipe House to call and request we put sandbags outside the living room and kitchen of the home is on the horizon. “It has washed out before,” they said. With the surf expected to go upwards of 30ft (not Hawaiian) by Sunday, it’s a legitimate concern.

This weekend some of the crew are Jaws bound, some are waiting for Waimea, and the skate and moto team are reveling in astonishment of the untamed and very certain power, no, mana, of the North Shore.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

German Surfers: AN INVESTIGATION

Truth is the light by which the world can see. 

Jun 24, 2025

“I Lost Everything I’ve Ever Owned, But This Board Came Back”

One month after the LA wildfires, a surfboard washed ashore.

Jun 24, 2025

Shock Therapy: World 1 & 2 Eliminated Early In Saquarema

Gabriela Bryan and Caity Simmers fall victim on Day 1 of the Vivo Rio Pro.

Jun 22, 2025

German University Surf Contest Derails After Local Pushes Competitor Off Wave

The story behind the shove, and why wave-rental politics turned physical in Seignosse.

Jun 22, 2025

An Accidental 90-Minute Chat With Caity Simmers

A Stab Interview on life, individuality, and chimpanzee research initiatives.

Jun 21, 2025

No Tears In Saquarema

Can anyone other than Italo, Filipe or Yago win the Vivo Rio Pro?

Jun 20, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 2

Our seven surviving surfers confront an oddly large California beach break.

Jun 19, 2025

Why Is One Of The World’s Longest Lefts Being Bulldozed?

Pavones residents displaced as excavators move in.

Jun 19, 2025

The Seven Surfing Conspiracies

Inside surfing’s shadow government: what they don’t want you to know.

Jun 18, 2025

Mongrels Flood The Mondrian, Doped Youth Resurfaces in Versace

An autopsy of the Solento Surf Film Festival — and a breakdown of the biggest…

Jun 18, 2025

The Billion Dollar Hole Behind Lakey Peak: Should Surfers Be Worried?

A massive gold mine is being excavated behind the Indonesian surf village, fueled by foreign…

Jun 17, 2025

Record-Smashing Surf Coach Eyes Off His Next Victim: Sydney Olympic Park

Blakey Johnson’s July plans: survive 108+ hours in the cool, recirculated waters of URBNSURF. 

Jun 17, 2025

Watch: Milk & Honey, Presented By YETI & Sun Bum

A surf film starring Stephanie Gilmore, Caity Simmers, Coco Ho, and Frankie Harrer.

Jun 17, 2025

Stab Interview: WSL Tour President Graham Stapelberg On The Changes And Challenge(r)s Of The Post-Cut Era

Maxing Pipe, Triple Crown realities, Jordy Smith, sponsors up the yin-yang, and more.

Jun 16, 2025

Was That The Best Day Of Performance Surfing In 2025?

Kerrupt flips, double airs, and a cornucopia of 9 point waves.

Jun 15, 2025

Watch: Albee Layer Drops His Second Stab Edit Of The Year In 4 Months

And we dare say "Less Than Easy" is even better than the former.

Jun 13, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 1

Our first loser goes home in this "king of the hill" showdown.

Jun 12, 2025

How To Convince A Bunch Of Small Town Floridians That They Need A Wavepool

Warren Smith is creatively diversifying the tourism portfolio of his hometown.

Jun 12, 2025
Advertisement