Sterling Spencer : photo Towner/ASP Covered Images

Monster Energy Pipeline Pro
Presented by Billabong

ASP 3 Star Mens Event
Pipeline, Oahu Hawaii
27 January - 6 February 2007

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

SHORT DAY, SMALL WAVES, LONG BARRELS AT PIPELINE

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 5 February, 2008 : - - Honolulu - - It might have only been head-high at Pipeline today, a venue better known for its life-threatening, monstrous tubes, but a handful of the break's most accomplished riders proved that skill still overrides luck here. Whether the tube is two feet or 20 makes no difference to dedicated tube-rider.

'Two-time and defending champion of this event, Jamie O'Brien and fellow locals Dustin Barca, Fred Patacchia, Nathan Carroll and Dustin Cuizon proved themselves in round four of the Monster Energy Pipeline Pro, presented by Billabong.

Just four heats of the fourth round (heats 9-12) were held today, leaving one full day for final action tomorrow, which will decide the winner and recipients of wildcards into December's coveted Billabong Pipeline Masters.

Today offered clean waves at Backdoor and Off-The-Wall with plenty of tube-riding potential for those willing to ride the knife-edge of the reef. Given the small height of waves, swells only broke when they hit the shallows, leaving little margin for fins or error.

Justin McBride : photo Towner/ASP Covered Images

Winning a heat today had a lot to do with knowing the reef and the sections of the wave and not being afraid to assert dominance in the four-man lineup. The highest wave score of the day went to Florida's Spencer Sterling - a 9.5 for a pristine, ultra-long peeler, but without a solid second score, Sterling was unfortunately eliminated by Nathan Carroll (HI) and Dustin Barca (HI). Barca came through in the final 20 seconds of the heat with the next highest scoring ride - an 8.35, to surge to second.

The top heat score of the day belonged to Dustin Cuizon, from Ewa: 17.85 points out of a possible 20, with top rides of 9.35 and 8.5 points.

Close behind Cuizon's top score was defending champ O'Brien, who opened up the day's events with a 20-minte tube fest that mustered 16.25 points (wave scores of 9.0 and 7.25). His best ride was a six-second barrel at Backdoor that clearly illustrated his intimate knowledge of the wave and supreme technical tube-riding skills.

"It becomes a lot more about luck when it's this small, but you can still put yourself in the right position to make the right thing happen," said O'Brien.

Jamie O'Brien : photo Towner/ASP Covered Images

"I definitely forced that wave. I made sure I stayed in there as long as possible, stuck my arm into the wave to slow down in the barrell and released it when I needed speed. I surf here every day, regardless of what size it is, so I know the reefs, know where it's shallow, know where to be. You spend enough time out here you can see a good one coming in and pick it from the bunch."

The prevalence of rights definitely favored the regular-foot surfers today, evident in the elimination of goofy-foot surfers like Mark Healey (HI), who is a feature out here when the lefts of Pipe are doing their thing. Regardless, there was plenty of opportunity for a vertical backside attack, as proven by Fred Patacchia, who advanced alongside O'Brien.

The winner and recipients of wildcards into December's coveted Billabong Pipeline Masters will be determined tomorrow following a full day of competition that will get underway at 7 a.m. and end at 4 p.m. Tomorrow is the final day of the holding period for this event, a $50,000 3-star rated Association of Surfing Professionals World Qualifying Series event.

Round of 64: (heats 9-12 only, held today)
H9: Jamie O'Brien (HI), Fred Patacchia Jr (HI), Darrell Goodrum (USA), Mark Healey (HI)
H10: Nathan Carroll (HI), Dustin Barca (HI), Ezra Sitt (HI), Spencer Sterling (USA)
H11: Dustin Cuizon (HI), Anthony Walsh (Aus), Chris Waring (USA), Ryan Campbell (Aus)
H12: Justin McBride (USA), Daniel Jones (HI), Marco Polo (Brz), Casey Brown (HI)

Check the Live Coverage

About Billabong
Billabong produces active lifestyle clothing, accessories and related products designed and distributed to a worldwide customer base of board riders. The products are developed in the authentic environment of the surf culture and sold primarily through surf and specialty retailers. Billabong-branded products are tested and improved by the best board sport performers across the globe.

Active enthusiasts in every department from marketing and sales, to design and merchandising, bring an unmatched authenticity and unique quality to both the innovative products and related events produced by the Billabong brand.

Previous reports:
# 1 : Monster Energy Pipeline Pro by Billabong begins Sunday
# 2 : Possible 8am Sunday start for Monster Energy Pipe Pro
# 3 : Bad winds hold off Monster Energy Pipeline Pro Sunday
# 4 : Monster Energy Pipe Pro off Monday - Tues. looks good
  
# 5 : New swell but no Monster Energy Pipe Pro on Tuesday
# 6 : Competition gets underway at Monster Energy Pipe Pro
# 7 : Monster Energy Pipeline Pro hits 6-8 foot faces Thursday
# 8 : No action for the Monster Energy Pipeline Pro on Friday

# 9 : Monster Energy Pipeline Pro gets a lay day on Saturday
# 10 : Surfers sleep in Sunday for Monster Energy Pipeline Pro
# 11 : Heavy storms hold off Monster Energy Pipe Pro Monday

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