Billabong Pipeline Masters - 2015

Julian Wilson in a backdoor nugget, on his way to earning the prestigious title of Pipe Master for 2014

Aloha and welcome to the Colosseum of surfing, that is the 2015 World Surf League, Billabong Pipeline Masters. This event is a battle to the death to see who will be crowded the 2015 World Champion along with crowing a new Pipe Master.

The Banzi Pipeline is one of the most extreme waves on the planet. Huge swells generate out of Alaska and make their way south to hit the table top shallow reef that lies on the North Shore of Oahu. This reef is riddled with lava spines and caves that surfers can easily hit or get caught in. This is what makes Pipe so notorious. For us the viewer, makes for spectacular viewing when the worlds best tackle this beast in early December, which is winter time on the North Shore.

Portugal left a bitter sweet taste in a lot of peoples mouths, the lack lustre conditions that were on offer made for a pretty boring contest really. However all the title front runners bowed out in their round 2 and 3 heats. This has bought an exciting title race into Hawaii and the 6 gents that are at the fore front are: Mick Fanning (AUS), Adriano De Souze (BRA), Filipe Toledo (BRA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Owen Wright (AUS) and reigning world champ Gabriel Medina (BRA). Any of these 6 guys have a mathematical chance of taking the title.

Men’s World Title Scenarios Ahead of the Billabong Pipe Masters:

If Mick Fanning finishes 25th/13th at Pipe
- Owen Wright & Julian Wilson will need a 1st
- Gabriel Medina will need a 3rd or better
- Adriano de Souza will need a 9th or better
- Filipe Toledo will need a 13th or better to clinch the World Title

If Mick Fanning finishes 9th
- Gabriel Medina will need a 1st
- Adriano de Souza will need a 5th
- Filipe Toledo will need a 9th

If Mick Fanning finishes 5th
- Gabriel Medina will need a 1st
- Adriano de Souza will need a 3rd
- Filipe Toledo will need a 5th

If Mick Fanning finishes 3rd
- Adriano will need a 2nd
- Filipe will need a 3rd

If Mick finishes 2nd
- Adriano will need a 1st
- Filipe will need a 1st

And if Mick Fanning wins the event he will clinch the World Title.

This scenario plays heavily into Micks favour as MF has been in the spot before. Adriano and Filipe have never really had strong performances at Pipe in the past. They can re-write the history books though!

Catch all the action on worldsurfleague.com from the 8th of December. It’s going to come down to the wire!

Billabong Pipe Masters 2015 - Official Trailer

**Heat draw and Surfline forecast to follow.

Come on, Mick! Grab number 4.

Big day today. Mick is still well in contention, having progressed to the quarter finals along with his world title competitors Adriano de Souza and Gabriel Medina. Filipe Toledo was knocked out in round 3, which means it’s now a 3 horse race for the 2015 title.

Mick’s efforts today were especially heroic, as he found out this morning that his eldest brother had passed away overnight. He elected to power on, and he looks a red-hot chance at a 4th world title as things stand.

Kelly Slater also progressed to the quarters, along with CJ Hobgood, who is competing in the final event of his illustrious career and looking to go out with a bang. Adam Melling and Mason Ho round out 7 of the last 8, with one of Josh Kerr or Jeremy Flores also set to advance, depending on results tomorrow.

Finals day looks set to be tomorrow. This is going to be a close one.

Absolute heroics yesterday by Fanno. Such courage and strength to go out there and perform the way he did after a family tragedy. He didn’t clinch the title but he couldn’t be a bigger champion in my eyes.

Congratulations to Adriano de Souza—world champion!