The IBA GoPro Pipe Challenge 2013 – The 30th Anniversary of Professional Bodyboarding
Event 1 – Men, Women and DK Grand Slam Series
Pipeline, Oahu Hawaii
Presented by IMUA ORTHOPEDICS SPORTS & HEALTH, SCIENCE, T&C SURF and in association with BODYBOARDKING, DHX, VERIZON, PRIMO-BEER and TURTLE BAY RESORT HAWAII
www.ibaworldtour.com
Thursday February 21, Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii - Day 2 of IBA GoPro Pipe Challenge saw the Women’s and DK divisions decide their respective finalists in bumpy 3-4 foot waves at Backdoor and Pipeline today. Both DK and Women’s finals will be held on the last day of competition, still to be decided by event organizers according to favorable conditions.
Round 1 and 2 of the DK division kicked off today’s action in clean, but slow surf. Martin Mouradian (GLP) posted the highest single wave score of the event thus far, an impressive 9.25 for a clean backdoor barrel. Other stand-outs of the early rounds included Australia’s Dave Winchester and Shane Griffiths who picked off good looking right handers, exiting barrels and finishing off their rides with clean floaters and snaps.
The quarterfinals featured the top 8 seeds up against the round 2 victors. Fighting his way through the early rounds, Winchester managed to keep his momentum throughout the quarters and semis, winning all his heats with fast and powerful riding over the shallow Backdoor reef. Multiple DK world champion, Dave Hubbard (HAW) along with Sacha Specker (ZAF) also managed to stand their ground with strong performances on their forehand, picking off bowling lefts at Pipeline to secure spots in the DK final. The fourth DK finalist is Peruvian natural footer Cesar Bauer, who showed why he was the 2010 DK world Champion by executing huge projected floaters on set waves at backdoor to win his semifinal, the last heat of the day.
DK highest heat totals of the event:
17.33 : Cesar Bauer SEMI-FINAL Heat 14
15.38 : Dave Winchester QUARTER-FINAL Heat 09
15.33 : Dave Winchester SEMI-FINAL Heat 13
13.95 : Martin Mouradian Round 02 Heat 08
13.36 : Dave Hubbard SEMI-FINAL Heat 14
13.08 : Dave Winchester Round 02 Heat 05
12.95 : Sacha Specker QUARTER-FINAL Heat 10
12.33 : Sacha Specker SEMI-FINAL Heat 13
12.13 : Micah McMullin Round 02 Heat 05
12.01 : Micah McMullin QUARTER-FINAL Heat 10
Pictured: Dave Winchester (AUS) with a lofty floater to secure his spot in the DK final.
Photo: IBA/Trouville
Pictured: Dave Hubbard (HAW) tucking into a rare barrel today
Photo: IBA/Trouville
Pictured: Sacha Specker (ZAF) laying it on the rail during the semifinal.
Photo: IBA/Trouville
Pictured: Amaury Lavernhe (REU) put on a strain performance with floaters like this one, but will have to be happy with a 5th place finish today.
Photo: IBA/Trouville
The ladies action was nothing short of show stopping today. Australia’s Emma Cobb and Lilly Pollard both suffered injuries in their first heats, but managed to push on through the quarterfinals, before being eliminated in hotly contested semifinals. Past world champion Neymara Carvalho (BRA) alongside Maira Viana (BRA) looked like a force to be reckoned with in the early heats, but could not continue with enough momentum to fight their way out of the semifinals.
Defending champion Isabela Sousa (BRA) put on a great performance, launching a clean ARS in the dying seconds of the semifinal to secure her spot in the 2013 GoPro Pipeline Challenge women’s final. Fellow Brazilian super-talent Karla Costa-Taylor showed why she also deserves to be in the final, linking smooth spins and big powerful rolls at Backdoor and keeping up with her younger country woman by executing a flawless ARS in the semifinal.
Matched up against the Brazilians in the final will be the Japanese duo Minami Hatekayama and Sari Ohhara who both picked the eyes out of the tricky surf today, finding multiple combination maneuver rides, linking rolls and spins with immaculate precision.
Pictured: Minami Hatekeyama (JPN) on a solid set wave at backdoor.
Photo: IBA/Trouville
Pictured: Sari Ohhara (JPN) jumping with joy as she hears the good news.
Photo: IBA/Trouville
Pictured: Karla Costa-Taylor has a full bag of tricks up her sleeve. Here a speedy reverse spin over the shallow Backdoor reef.
Photo: IBA/Trouville
Pictured: Emma Cobb (AUS) putting on a brave face after suffering from a shoulder, rib and thumb injury during her quarterfinal heat this morning.
Photo: IBA/Trouville
Women highest heat totals of the event:
15.08 : Maira Viana Round 02 Heat 08
14 : Karla Costa-Taylor SEMI-FINAL Heat 14
13.96 : Isabela Sousa SEMI-FINAL Heat 13
13.03 : Aoi Koike Round 02 Heat 07
12.88 : Lilly Pollard QUARTER-FINAL Heat 10
12.58 : Karla Costa-Taylor QUARTER-FINAL Heat 11
12.43 : Emma Cobb Round 02 Heat 05
11.81 : Maira Viana QUARTER-FINAL Heat 12
11.71 : Roberta Bitzer Round 02 Heat 05
11.66 : Hiromi Takake Round 01 Heat 04
Event organizers have urged round 3 Men’s riders to check in for the call at 7am local time.
For all results and the full draw of the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge, visit http://results.ibaworldtour.com/draw.html
Check out the daily highlight clips on the dedicated IBA You Tube channel
IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge 2013 – Trailer
IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge 2013 – Trials Day 1
IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge 2013 – Trials Day 2
IBA GoPro Pipeline Challenge 2013 – GSS Day 1
Don’t miss a heat with the IBA Tour Guide iPhone App.
This IBA Grand Slam will be live on www.ibaworldtour.com
Order your official event merchandise on the IBA online store today.
Stay tuned on the www.ibaworldtour.com and www.facebook/ibaworldtour for regular updates.
The IBA would like to thank all supporting brands-
GOPRO
“It’s on. We are doing this thanks to you, your passion for your sport and your longstanding support of GoPro. You’ve been with us since the early days and we are stoked to return the favor. We are honestly blown away by your open hearted stoke for GoPro and cannot wait to share some waves with you at Pipe or wherever else our paths may cross in the water. It is awesome that you thought of us to help in this way and we are fired up to deliver! Hi5s all the way around!” “ from Nick and everyone at GoPro.”
SCIENCE BODYBOARDS
“Science bodyboards is stoked be part of the team that is presenting the 30th pipe challenge. We hope that all the bodyboarding communities around the world can come together to support this event as a positive turning point leading into the future!” Quote from Mike Stewart…
IMUA
At IMUA, the collaboration of both a sports orthopedic surgeon and primary care sports physician provides a comprehensive approach utilizing non-operative and operative treatment of musculoskeletal conditions. Our mission is to provide exceptional care in a supportive environment, moving patients forward in the promotion of health, optimization of function, and recovery from injury, facilitating participation at all levels of activity. We believe that serving others and giving back makes everyone better. With gratitude, we are proud to be actively involved with a variety of local community organizations and are especially honored to sponsor the 30th annual bodyboarding Pipeline Pro!
T&C SURF
Founded in Hawaii in 1971 by Craig Sugihara, in order to share in and perpetuate the stoke and aloha of the Hawaiian surfing lifestyle. T&C Surf has since evolved into a multifaceted company that encompasses surfing, skateboarding and bodyboarding and has solidified its passion as a worldwide industry icon. T&C Surf operates three divisions: manufacturing, retail and licensing. Visit us online atTCSurf.com.
“T&C Surf is proud to support such an iconic bodyboarding event at the infamous Pipeline. We feel it’s important to support the industry and to help promote the exciting sport of bodyboarding.”
Sacha Specker
IBA Media
www.ibaworldtour.com
