Pictured: Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, will surf against Kai Otton (AUS), 33, in Heat 3 Round 5 of the Billabong Pipe Masters.
Credit: ASP/CESTARI
PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Wednesday, December 11, 2013) – A lay day has been called at the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, with declining swell on offer at Pipeline and Backdoor. The Billabong Pipe Masters marks the third and final stop on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
Stop No. 10 of 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Pipe Masters has seen incredible performances thus far, including two perfect 10 point rides, ASP World Title Race action and heavy wipeouts. While a holding pattern appears to be in store over the coming days, a promising swell is expected to deliver epic Pipeline conditions for a dramatic finish this weekend.
“The surf has dropped and we’re expecting the swell to diminish throughout the day,” Marty Thomas, Vans Triple Crown Contest Director said. “We’re watching a swell that will start to build on Friday and could deliver incredible waves for Saturday.”
Please note that yesterday’s Vans Triple Crown updated rankings were based off of the Billabong Pipe Masters WCT Points. All Vans Triple Crown events are based off of the ASP Prime points scale. Following Round 4 of the Billabong Pipe Masters, Tahitian Michel Bourez (PYF), 28, still maintains the frontrunner position on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing although he has been eliminated. Below is the official breakdown for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.
– Jeremy Flores (FRA), 25, needs a 5th to overtake Bourez on the rankings.
– John John Florence (HAW), 21, currently needs a 3rd to surpass Bourez.
– Sebastian Zietz (HAW), 25, needs a 3rd to pass Bourez.
– Yadin Nicol (AUS), 28, needs to win the Billabong Pipe Masters to overtake Bourez.
– Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, also needs a win to overtake Michel Bourez.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am local time for a possible 8am start to Billabong Pipe Masters competition.
The Billabong Pipe Masters holds a waiting period from December 8-20, 2013 and is webcast LIVE via vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com
For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com.
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS ROUND 5 MATCH UPS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Mick Fanning (AUS)
Heat 2: Nat Young (USA) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
Heat 3: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
Current Vans Triple Crown Rankings
1 – Michel Bourez (PYF) 8,500
2 – Ezekiel Lau (HAW) 7,900
3 – Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 7,800
4 – Jeremy Flores (FRA) 5,150
5 – Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 4,800
6 – John John Florence (HAW) 4,100
7 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 3,100
8 – Yadin Nicol (AUS) 2,800
