Spot Check: Pipeline

Imagine a wave so fierce it’s been hailed by the entire surf world as the most dangerous wave on the planet. Now imagine the surfers who can’t wait to throw themselves over the ledge and into the barrel - a liquid freight train that can crown you a hero, send you straight to the hospital, or worse. Pipeline isn’t just a wave; it’s a proving ground on Oahu’s North Shore that’s been chewing up boards and egos since surfers first dared to ride it. Still, every winter, it roars to life, drawing ocean warriors from across the globe to test their mettle against one of nature’s wildest creations. Do these surfers have a death wish? We think the contrary…they have a life wish. 

Back in the ‘60s, guys like Phil Edwards and Butch Van Artsdalen stared down Pipeline’s heaving lefts and rights, turning a break considered unsurfable into surfing’s ultimate stage. Edwards is often credited with the first documented ride in ‘61, but it was the likes of Gerry Lopez and Rory Russell who polished its mystique in the ‘70s, their smooth styles making what was once thought impossible look easy. 

As surfboards evolved from single fins to thrusters, barrel riding also evolved. Guys like Michael and Derek Ho, Shaun Tomson, Buttons Kaluhiokalani, Johnny Boy Gomes, and a handful of others began pumping and weaving in and out of barrels, further raising the bar and showing the next generation the way. 

The surfers aren’t the only ones who wait for this infamous wave to wake up. Brands and sponsors have been slapping their logo on anything to do with the place since the 70’s. Pipeline’s contest legacy kicked off in 1971 with the first Pipe Masters, dreamed up by Fred Hemmings, a former world champ turned visionary. That year, Jeff Hakman claimed the inaugural title, threading through waves that were already notorious for their shallow reef and bone-crushing power. Back then, Pipeline was less about polished competition and more about survival. Guys like Gerry Lopez, who won in ’72 and ’73, brought a zen-like flow to the chaos, earning him the nickname “Mr. Pipeline.” The event was raw and grassroots and drew a small but hardcore crowd to Ehukai Beach Park. It wasn’t yet the worldwide spectacle we know today, but it set the stage for what would come.

Through the ‘70s, the Pipe Masters grew steadily, fueled by the North Shore’s reputation as surfing’s ultimate frontier. The wave itself became the benchmark for tube riding mastery. Its prestige was undeniable. Winning Pipe was a crown almost as heavy as a world title. Then came 1983, and everything leveled up. Hemmings, alongside Randy Rarick, launched the Triple Crown of Surfing, stitching together three North Shore gems: Haleiwa, Sunset, and Pipeline. The Pipe Masters became the grand finale, the third jewel in a grueling seven-week gauntlet. This wasn’t just about one wave anymore, it was a test of versatility and endurance across the Seven Mile Miracle, with Pipeline as the pinnacle. 

The ‘90s turned Pipeline into a battleground for prestige and dominance as a new phenom named Kelly Slater snagged his first Pipe Masters win in ’92 at age 20, kicking off a reign that’d see him take seven titles by 2013. The Triple Crown became his playground, too, with wins in ’95 and beyond. Meanwhile, locals like Derek Ho, who kept the Hawaiian flag flying, won the event and was crowned World Champ in ‘93. The Pipe Masters, still the Triple Crown’s climax, eventually became the final stop of the then ASP World Tour, regularly determining the winner for the whole year. Prize money grew, sponsors like Mountain Dew and later Billabong jumped in, and TV coverage made it a global event, cementing its importance in surf culture. 

The 2000s brought the Andy Irons era. The Kauai-born charger won Pipe four times (’02-’06) and the Triple Crown three times (’02, ’03, ’05), trading blows with Slater in some of the most epic showdowns ever. The 2003 Pipe Masters, where Irons clinched the world title over Slater, is an event still talked about to this day.

The contest at Pipeline has undergone changes over the years, as women have joined the event. The Triple Crown is no more, but Pipe remains on the World Surf League’s roster, as the first event, not the last. Some argue that this has changed the world title game and lessened the importance of high-stakes tube riding to decide a world title. Still, every winter, the now “Lexus Pipe Pro” turns the North Shore into a global spectacle. Crowds pack the sand, and tens of thousands are glued to broadcast as 10-foot bombs peel off Second Reef, and today’s best surfers, like local boys John John Florence, Barron Mamiya, and local girl Moana Jones, put on a show and compete to etch their name next to the legends of surfing. 

Most of the spot-checks on our blog go into detail about when the best time to surf the place is and what board to ride. Pipeline is a bit different. Let’s just say it’s expert only, and if you don’t know, don’t go. But if you do happen to catch it on an approachable day when the ocean is very small, say maybe 2-3 ft., you may want to give it a try. Just be mindful of the shallow reef and current, check the forecast so you know what the ocean is doing, check with lifeguards, and, as always, respect those around you. That being said, the best time to watch or photograph Pipeline in all its glory would be October through March, possibly into April. The magic happens with a west-northwest swell direction. Anywhere from 6 to 12 feet at 300-320 degrees means it’s on and big enough to light up the reef but not so chaotic it washes out. Light east or northeast trade winds keep the face clean, grooming those glassy barrels we know and love. 

Those who have put in their time at this revered wave have earned the right to ride it. Everyone who does so is well aware of the dangers involved. It’s a delicate risk-calculated dance that, for many, starts young, on the shoulder of the wave, just watching. Then, they get a little closer, maybe eventually taking off on the shoulder. Then, deeper and deeper they go, until the wave that the local uncle couldn’t catch rolls right to them, and he calls out, telling them to GO! And like that, a lifelong obsession begins, and another generation of pipeline surfers is alive and well.