Nobody could have guessed how this year’s Pipe Masters was going to end. With Slater, Fanning and Medina all in with a chance of clinching the World Champion title the stage was set for one of the most dramatic season showdowns the ASP has seen in a long, long time. How things all panned out just goes to show how the unexpected can happen, with none of the title contenders taking 1st place at Pipeline. It was Australian Julian Wilson who won the event, and with it the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Wilson’s Winning Wave
Wilson was up against Gabriel Medina in the final, who had already become this year’s new World Champion since Slater and Fanning failed to make it past the Round stages. It was a toe-to-toe, punch-for-punch final, with Wilson snatching the win by just 0.43 of a point. A very close call to say the least, but the judges decision is final. Here’s the wave that gave Julian Wilson his second ever WCT win…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPmZnk3L12M
The World’s 1st Brazilian Surfing World Champion
Even though he came second at Pipe, Medina winning the world title has brought with it a swift change to the world of professional surfing. The Brazilian wonder kid has cemented the South American nation as a powerhouse in the surfing world, alongside the USA, Australia, Hawaii and South Africa. While we’re talking about Brazil, Alejo Muniz deserves a noteworthy mention, as it was him who knocked out both Fanning and Slater from the competition. After Brazil’s disappointing performance at the soccer World Cup this year, sporting fans across the country have something to celebrate!
http://youtu.be/Hi5_NWeEzYU
The Best Bits: Pipe Masters Highlights
It was an awesome event as always, with stand out riding from surfers like Kai Otton, Nat Young, Freddy Patacchia and John John Florence to name just a few. The ASP has very kindly put together their favorite bits of the event and created a highlights video for us all to enjoy. Lets hope that the new WSL does more things like this next year for all us fans.
http://youtu.be/e9vIoUVBCek
Uncontestable?
As a stocking filler we had to include this video from Surfing Magazine. On December 13th the third round of the Pipe Masters was called off… huge swell was rolling in with clean up sets breaking on the third reef. As soon as the organisers cut the cord, Pipeline began pumping. This is what you didn’t get to see on the ASP webcast, enjoy!