Three Secure Quarterfinal Spots in Pipe Masters, Maui Pro Schedule to be Determined

Griffin Colapinto (USA). PHOTO: © WSL / Heff SOCIAL : @wsl @tony_heff. PC: World Surf League

The next call at the Banzai Pipeline will be today, Friday, Dec. 18 at 7 a.m. HST. In addition to continuing the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask, the call will also determine the schedule for the final day of competition for the Maui Pro presented by ROXY.  The Maui event was moved to Oʻahu after a fatal shark bite incident at Honolua Bay on Tuesday, Dec. 8 involving a recreational surfer.

The World Surf League resumed the 50th edition of the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask to kick off the 2021 Championship Tour as consistent 8’-10’ swells rolled in at the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore on Thursday.

The day opened with Heat 2 of the Elimination Round. Julian Wilson (AUS), Ethan Ewing (AUS) and Miguel Tudela (PER) were originally slated to compete in Heat 1 of the Elimination Round, but Tudela was forced to withdraw from the competition after suffering four broken ribs over the weekend. Wilson and Ewing automatically advanced to the Round of 32.

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), who earned a spot on the 2021 CT season after winning the Injury Wildcard surf-off, hit the water three times on Thursday. In Heat 4 of the Elimination Round, Fioravanti got second place behind Peterson Crisanto (BRA), but also advanced to the Round of 32. Fioravanti remained in the water for Heat 1 in the Round of 32, winning against Filipe Toledo (BRA). Later in the day, Fioravanti again faced Crisanto for Heat 1 of the Round of 16, but this time took the win and became the first surfer to qualify for the Quarterfinals.

Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA). PHOTO: © WSL / Bielmann SOCIAL : @wsl @brentbielmann.

“Last week, I wasn’t even sure if I was going to be on tour for the whole year,” said Fioravanti after winning Heat 1 of the Round of 16, “but now I’m in the Quarterfinals, and it feels incredible. All of the hard work I’ve put into this year is paying off, but it’s not over yet, it’s just starting.”

Rookie Jack Robinson (AUS) won Heat 8 with a combined score of 17.73 (out of a possible 20) for the highest score of the day against fellow Australian Julian Wilson (AUS). Robinson will face 11-time World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) in Heat 4 of the Round of 16. Slater won Heat 7 with a combined score of 12.80 in the Round of 32 against Ethan Ewing (AUS).

“I got a bad wave at the start of my heat, I almost hurt myself,” said Slater, “then all of a sudden, I got two good ones and got a third good one toward the end of the heat.”

The Round of 32 also saw several victories from Brazil, with defending World Champion Italo Ferreira (BRA), two-time World Champion Gabriel Medina, Jadson Andre, Peterson Crisanto, Caio Ibelli, and Miguel Pupo all winning their heats.

“That was a hard heat,” said Ferreira after winning Heat 9 against Sebastian Zietz (HAW). “I got a lot of closeouts and some little ones, but the good thing is I made it. I’m stoked to be in the water again.”

Ryan Callinan (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Jack Freestone (AUS), and Kanoa Igarashi (JAP) also won their heats and advanced to the Round of 16.

John John Florence (HAW) defeated rookie Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) in Heat 2 of the Round of 16, claiming a spot in the Quarterfinals, and will face Fioravanti in Heat 1. Jordy Smith (ZAF) also advanced to the Quarterfinals after winning Heat 3 of the Round of 16 against Caio Ibelli (BRA) with a combined score of 11.67.

John John Florence (HAW) . PHOTO: © WSL / Bielmann SOCIAL : @wsl @brentbielmann.

Surfline Forecast for the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask and Maui Pro presented by ROXY

For Friday, a solid, but slowly easing northwest swell is expected to bring 8’-10’ faces that will ease down to 6’-8’ faces. Conditions will bring both Pipe and Backdoor offerings, but should favor Backdoor. Expect strong northeastern trades throughout the day.

Maui Pro presented by ROXY Remaining Quarterfinal Matchup:

Heat 4: Sage Erickson (USA) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)

Maui Pro presented by ROXY Semifinal Matchups:

Heat 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)
Heat 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. TBD

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Elimination Round Results

Heat 2: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 12.83 DEF. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 6.64, Alex Ribeiro (BRA) 1.20
Heat 3: Mikey Wright (AUS) 9.84 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 5.36, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 1.27
Heat 4: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 4.87 DEF. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 4.50, Conner Coffin (USA) 2.93

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Round of 32 Results

Heat 1: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 11.00 DEF. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 3.00
Heat 2: Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 9.10 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 4.33
Heat 3: John John Florence (HAW) 13.17 DEF. Connor O’Leary (AUS) 9.94
Heat 4: Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 13.67 DEF. Seth Moniz (HAW) 9.04
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 9.17 DEF. Mikey Wright (AUS) 7.33
Heat 6: Caio Ibelli (BRA) 9.30 DEF. Wade Carmichael (AUS) 5.77
Heat 7: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.80 DEF. Ethan Ewing (AUS) 8.60
Heat 8: Jack Robinson (AUS) 17.73 DEF. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.17
Heat 9: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 10.16 DEF. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 2.06
Heat 10: Ryan Callinan (AUS) 9.60 DEF. Yago Dora (BRA) 6.67
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (BRA) 11.17 DEF. Joshua Moniz (HAW) 2.36
Heat 12: Miguel Pupo (BRA) 10.47 DEF. Kolohe Andino (USA) 8.23
Heat 13: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 11.83 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 6.34
Heat 14: Jack Freestone (AUS) 13.00 DEF. Frederico Morais (POR) 5.23
Heat 15: Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.66 DEF. Michel Bourez (FRA) 4.33
Heat 16: Kanoa Igarashi (JAP) 10.00 DEF. Deivid Silva (BRA) 9.00

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Round of 16 Results

Heat 1: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) 10.33 DEF. Peterson Crisanto (BRA) 6.73
Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 8.50 DEF. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) 5.73
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 11.67 DEF. Caio Ibelli (BRA) 1.63

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Round of 16 Heat Lineups

Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA), Jack Robinson (AUS)
Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Ryan Callinan (AUS)
Heat 6: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Heat 7: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Jack Freestone (AUS)
Heat 8: Jadson Andre (BRA), Kanoa Igarashi (JAP)

Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask Quarterfinal Heat Lineups

Heat 1: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA) vs. John John Florence (HAW)
Heat 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBD

Watch the Billabong Pipe Masters and Maui Pro

Watch the Billabong Pipe Masters presented by Hydro Flask and Maui Pro presented by ROXY live stream on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. The competition is carried locally in Hawaii by the Spectrum Surf Channel. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.