Pipe Invitational Called ON on O‘ahu’s North Shore

The 2019 Billabong Pipe Masters will commence with the Pipe Invitational, which will determine the event’s wildcards.
Credit: © WSL / Sloane

The 32-surfer Pipe Invitational trials event, has been called ON at Pipeline on Oʻahu’s North Shore.  The competition will determine the two wildcards into the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, which is the final event of the 2019 World Surf League Men’s Championship Tour.

Today’s Pipe Invitations gets underway at 8 a.m. in four-to-six foot surf.

“The new WNW swell has filled in overnight providing clean surf at Pipe and Backdoor from a really good direction,” said WSL Hawaiʻi/Tahiti Nui Competition Director, Marty Thomas. “The swell will slowly build through the day… we are looking forward to an exciting trials competition to kick off the Billabong Pipe Masters.”

Pipe Invitational to Determine Event Wildcards

Today’s draw for the Pipe Invitational is comprised of the top Hawaiʻi competitors from the 2019 Volcom Pipe Pro and the International and Regional QS, event sponsor wildcards, standout Pipe performers, the Vans Triple Crown contender, and the previous year’s Pipe Invitational winner.

The winner and the runner-up of the Pipe Invitational will face either World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (BRA) or World No. 2 Gabriel Medina (BRA) in the opening round of the Billabong Pipe Masters and have the opportunity to play spoiler in the 2019 World Title race, according to an event announcement.

As the 11th and final stop of the men’s 2019 CT, the World Title will be decided at this event. There are only five surfers in contention to win it all: Current World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (BRA), No. 2 Gabriel Medina (BRA), No. 3 Jordy Smith (ZAF), No. 4 Filipe Toledo (BRA), and No. 5 Kolohe Andino (USA).

The Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL app, and VansTripleCrownofSurfing.com.

Pipe Invitational Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Tyler Newton (HAW) vs. Eli Hanneman (HAW) vs. Harry Bryant (AUS)
Heat 2: Cody Young (HAW) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW) vs. Kainehe Hunt (HAW) vs. Shayden Pacarro (HAW)
Heat 3: Adin Masencamp (ZAF) vs. Keanu Asing (HAW) vs. Brodi Sale (HAW) vs. Kalani David (HAW)
Heat 4: Liam O’Brien (AUS) vs. Finn McGill (HAW) vs. Torrey Meister (HAW) vs. Nathan Florence (HAW)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Kiron Jabour (HAW) vs. Benji Brand (HAW) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 6: Joshua Moniz (HAW) vs. Eithan Osborne (USA) vs. Koa Smith (HAW) vs. Makuakai Rothman (HAW)
Heat 7: Ian Gentil (HAW) vs. Billy Kemper (HAW) vs. Makai McNamara (HAW) vs. Michael O’Shaughnessy (HAW)
Heat 8: Dusty Payne (HAW) vs. Justin Becret (FRA) vs. Gavin Gillette (HAW) vs. Jamie O’Brien (HAW)

Billabong Pipe Masters Seeding Round 1 Matchups:
Heat 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Conner Coffin (USA), Soli Bailey (AUS)
Heat 2: Kolohe Andino (USA), Griffin Colapinto (USA), Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 3: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Deivid Silva (BRA), Ricardo Christie (NZL)
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Peterson Crisanto (BRA), Frederico Morais (PRT)
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Willian Cardoso (BRA), TBD
Heat 6: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Michael Rodrigues (BRA), TBD
Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS), Jack Freestone (AUS), Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
Heat 8: John John Florence (HAW), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Heat 9: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA), Michel Bourez (FRA), Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 11: Julian Wilson (AUS), Wade Carmichael (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 12: Seth Moniz (HAW), Ryan Callinan (AUS), Yago Dora (BRA)