The 11th and last event on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour will lock into its waiting period tomorrow and will endeavour to get underway in the best conditions possible.
(Despite the fact that there is nearly two weeks for the event to run it only takes a maximum of five days to complete.)
Swell forecasts for the kickoff look positive with the only fear being that it could get too big to start.
“There’s a west swell on the way and it’s due to build tomorrow,” said ASP International President Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew, who has had his ear on the ground in anticipation of a new swell arriving. “But the question is whether it will build in the morning or the afternoon. It is the perfect swell direction for Pipe. Under a normal swell-plotting scenario it would be scheduled to arrive after lunch but because it’s predicted to be west in direction it may be here earlier. The west swells sometimes ‘cut a corner’ and get here earlier… And it could be massive.”
Beginning the Rip Curl Pro Masters Pipeline Masters will be the Rip Curl Code STL Trials, which will feature a host of local Pipeline “shredders”. They will be looking to finish in the top four so they can qualify to compete in the main event.
Names in the 40 man trials field include Pipeline hotshots Liam McNamara, Tamayo Perry, Miles Padaca and Makua Rothman, to name but a few.
The Rip Curl Pipeline Masters is one of, if not the most, prestigious event on the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour and a win here demands serious credibility.
“As with all Hawaiian surfing, performing at Pipeline brings credibility,” said Rip Curl International Marketing Director Neil Ridgway. “And having a Rip Curl Pipe trophy in the bag cements a surfer as truly great. Rip Curl believes in real surfing and the fit for us is at Pipe is perfect.”
Event organizers will assess conditions at first light tomorrow morning (Thursday, 8 December) and will hopefully send trialists out into the lineup.
Stay tuned to www.ripcurl.com or www.aspworldtour.com for all the updates and live action.
Last evening played host to the event’s 35th Anniversary Dinner. All the winners, (see full list below) with the exception of Gerry Lopez, were on hand to wine and dine with each other and many incredible surfing tales were told.
Tomorrow evening the official launch party will be held with all benefits going to the North Shore Lifeguards Association, who each year patrol the treacherous waters and save many lives.
