When Pipeline’s Firing, Who Paddles Out First?

Yesterday at Pipe, Mark Healey caught the wave of the evening on his red-rocket of a surfboard.

Chipping in from somewhere near Laniakea, Healey pumped across the entire stretch of Pipeline’s reef before backdooring the end bowl. All nine feet of his fluorescent stick were cloaked by Pipe’s eternal blue, disappearing the big wave maverick for several seconds before ejecting him with the spit.

The beach went wild and, shortly after, a dozen-plus pros paddled out to acquire an epic wave of their own.  

Few did.

With the swell dropping overnight, it was expected that a number of Pipeline-hopefuls would rise at dawn to catch a career-defining wave before the daily crowd. We sent Gossip Girl to document today’s early birds, which included a host of notable names and faces.  

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

Photography

Sam Moody

For good measure, here’s Healy’s committed approach from yesterday (shot by Jake Paterson):

And the ride that halted scroll this morning by Cam Richards (shot by Matt Heirakuji):