February 12 Archive
An Epic outcome to an Epic Contest!
IBA 2012 Pipe Challenge
Event 1 of 8, Mens Grand Slam Series
Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii
Feb 15-24th, 2012
ibaworldtour.com
Friday, 17th February 2012, Ehukai Beach Park, Oahu, Hawaii -Jeff Hubbard (Honolulu, HAW) has taken out the 2012 IBA Pipe Challenge for the fourth time. Defeating fellow Hawaiian and 11 times Pipe Champion, Mike Stewart in second place, Dave Winchester (Mullumbimby, AUS) in third and 21 year old Sam Bennet from Port Macquarie, Australia in fourth. The flawless 6-8 foot Pipe and Backdoor waves made for one of the highest scoring finals in the history of the IBA.
Hubbard posted a total heat score of 18.65, placing a strangle hold on the remaining finalists as all of them needed a combination of scores to overtake him. In the opening minutes of the final, Hubbard launched the biggest Air-Roll-Spin of the event, for which the judges rewarded him with a massive 9.0 out of a possible 10, confirming that the three time Pipeline Champ is worthy of another win at home. Although the other finalists had posted two scores each, in the excellent range (8.0 or higher), Hubbards final wave sealed the deal for him. Splitting the peak with good friend Mike Stewart, Hubbard chose to go right, taking on the notoriously dangerous and unpredictable Backdoor section, as Stewart scooped into a flawless Pipe bomb. Stewart was rewarded with an 8.15 for a long and deep tube ride, pushing him into second place, when moments later the judges gave Hubbard with a 9.65 after he miraculously exited a near impossible barrel at Backdoor with a roll.
Dropping off the IBA Grand Slam Series (GSS) last year, Stewart will need to back up results like this one on the 2012 GQS (Global Qualifying Series) if he is to regain a spot on the 2013 GSS.
Combined, Mike Stewart and Jeff Hubbard have claimed 15 Pipeline Titles and 11 World Titles together.
Although Winchester and Bennet both put on stand out performances, their impressive heat totals of 16.5 and 16.25 respectively was not enough to overtake Stewart or Hubbard.
Winchester has been a World Title contender for several years now and thanks to this third place result has a good start to what is looking to be a momentous year on the IBA GSS tour.
The 2012 IBA Pipe Challenge is Bennets first event as a Top 24 IBA GSS competitor. Although only 21 years old, the young Australian has put on a show-stopping performance throughout the event and is looking like a potential 2012 IBA World Title contender.
Ladies and DK will resume on Saturday 8am Honolulu time.
Hubb wins 2012 IBA Pipe Challenge!
Jeff Hubbard is the 2012 IBA Pipe Challenge champion. The Hawaii won the event in flawless 6-8ft barrelling waves, in what people are calling the best Pipe event in 15 years.
IBA Pipe Challenge, Day 1!
The 2012 IBA World Tour has officially kicked off! Here's the highlights from the main event yesterday.
Chris Blu... places 1st in Pine Trees Boys Explorer
Despite cold and big winds, Team rider Chris Bluthardt placed 1st in the Boys Explorer division at the NSSA Pine Trees Surf Comp this past weekend on Kauai. Congrats buddy!
The Hyundai Tour event at Sandy Bay, Whangarei, New Zealand
COOLANGATTA, Queensland/Australia (Monday, 6 February, 2012) – 2011 ASP World Champion Taylor Jensen (USA) showed why he is the best in the business with a near perfect performance in the final of the ASP Open Men’s Division of the Hyundai Tour event at Sandy Bay, Whangarei, New Zealand.
Jensen’s opening ride was a near flawless 9.0 (out of a possible 10) and the smooth natural footer linked a long hang ten nose ride with a number of fin-waft re-entries to take the lead in the heat held in 1 – 1.5 meter waves.
Jensen’s second top scoring ride saw him complete a similar display of fins free re-entries and nose rides to combine for a final heat score of 17.35 (out of a possible 20).
This was Jensen’s second victory at Sandy Bay and he was obviously stoked on his win.
Hot on Jensen’s heels was young Australian star Mitch Surman (Australia) who locked in a 16.50 point heat score, needing only an 8.86 score to move into the lead.
Surman’s highest scoring ride had the crowd on their feet and the Australian camp was screaming in support. Unfortunately the ocean went quiet in the dying minutes of the final and Surman was left to take second place behind close friend Jensen. Both surfers were surfing for valuable ASP Australasia Longboard Qualifying Series (LQS) points, which will ultimately see them qualify for the ASP World Longboard Tour.
The sole Kiwi in the Open Men’s final was Thomas Kibblewhite (Orewa) who despite surfing his best heat in the event, couldn’t match the scores of Surman and Jensen. Kibblewhite put on a powerful display and solidified his placing at the top of the 2012 domestic Hyundai Tour ratings after three of five events.
ASP Open Men’s LQS Final Results:
1st Taylor Jensen (USA) 17.35
2nd Mitch Surman (Australia) 16.50
3rd Thomas Kibblewhite 14.20
4th Jared Neal (Australia) 11.85
