Pipeline: Day One action wrap-up

Billabong Pipe Masters

ASP Men's World Tour Event
Banzai Pipeline, North Shore Oahu
8 - 20 December 2012

Live Coverage | Results/Photos/Videos etc

Day One action wrap-up in photos and video

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 9 December, 2012 : - - Honolulu - The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons kicked off Round 1 of competition Saturday in pumping six-to-eight foot waves at Pipeline, hosting the ASP Top 34 as they battled the notorious local wildcards in an attempt to requalify for the 2013 ASP Top 34. The 2012 Billabong Pipe Masters, the final stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), could crown the 2012 ASP World Champion as early as Sunday, and will also crown the 30th anniversary VANS Triple Crown of Surfing champion.

With the top seeds expected to hit the water Sunday, all eyes will be on the three surfers in mathematical contention for the 2012 ASP Men's World Title. Current world rated number 1, Joel Parkinson is in the box seat, with just 3000 points separating him from Kelly Slater. Should Slater be eliminated prior to the quarter-finals, Parkinson will claim his first world title.

Former two-time world champion, Mick Fanning also has a mathematical chance, but must win the event and pray both Parkinson and Slater are eliminated in their first heat (Round 3).

Kieren Perrow the defending Billabong Pipe Masters Champion, got the best of a hard-fought heat against dangerous Pipeline specialist Evan Valiereon the opening heat of the day, keeping his hopes of a repeat victory alive.

Perrow got off to a tough start to his campaign, only finding a series of small scores and a broken board early on. The veteran rebounded however, finding tubes at both Pipeline and Backdoor in the back half of the heat to secure the win.

Yadin Nicol kept his hopes of requalifying for the 2013 ASP WCT alive, besting North Shore local Flynn Novak compliments of an impressive backdoor barrel to move to Round 2. Wildcard Kalani Chapman capitalized on his veteran experience, posting two standout performances in the building swell.

Chapman advanced over two impressive hurdles, besting Tiago Pires and Adrian Buchan to advance to Round 3. Chapman opted for a slightly larger board than most of his competitors and feels his more buoyant equipment helps not only with paddling, but navigating through foamy barrels.

Shane Dorian was deadly in his Round 1 bout, notching the day's highest single-wave score of 9.17 out of 10 for a deep backdoor barrel.

Sebastian Zietz current frontrunner for the VANS Triple Crown of Surfing series title, presented by vitaminwater, and qualifier for the 2013 ASP Top 34, moved one step closer to securing the coveted ASP Specialty Event, taking a Round 1 win over fellow wildcard Glenn Hall.

Check the Live Coverage

Previous reports:
# 1 : What's the forecast? All eyes on Pipe
# 2 : We love a title race: Pipe cranks up the drama
# 3 : Coming Soon
# 4 : Coming Soon

www.billabongpro.com
www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com

Source: Vans/ASP

Author: The Editors

Tags: Billabong Pipe Masters, Vans Triple Crown, World Titles

WT: Surfersvillage