This Is Why Barron Mamiya Was On Your Fantasy Surfing Team

Pipeline wildcards are special. 

There is no other event on tour, save maybe Teahupo’o, where it seems like a local wildcard has a legitimate chance to take down the top dogs. They don’t often go deep in the event, and rarely do they win. (And when they do, it’s remarkable. Shoutout Moana Jones Wong.) And yet, despite the odds, it’s so hard to discount local knowledge and talent at one of the most challenging waves on the planet. It took signature Slater wizardry with three seconds left to knock Barron out of the draw in the round of 16. 

Barron is fully committed to the modern Pipeline approach, comfortably hucking himself toward the reef on a trusty 6’2. (What would you ride at Pipeline, if you dare?) His January highlight reel shown above is clear evidence why the 22-year-old Hawaiian was a heavy favorite over the rest of the men’s top 32. Until the buzzer sounded and Kelly came out claiming, Barron looked like he had a legitimate shot to win at his home break. 

The edit above is the kind of performance we’ve grown accustomed to seeing from Barron. Sure, not every day was life-threatening, but if he wasn’t lounging in the shade at Pipeline/Backdoor, he was launching full rotations into the flats. Don’t miss the cameo of another wildcard standout, Tahiti’s own Matahi Drollet.

I hope those Sharp Eyes can keep up.