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The New Version of the Vans Pipe Masters Explained
WSL
The Vans Pipe Masters is a new, invitation-only specialty event. Running independently of the WSL Championship Tour, Challenger Series, and Qualifying Series, the competition will feature 60 Vans-selected men and women surfers, with a focus on local Hawaiian talents. The format and judging criteria have also been determined by Vans, and here is a quick look at how this event differs from the 2023 Championship Tour season opener at the Billabong Pro Pipeline in January.
New Event Format
In this leaderboard-style competition, surfers will surf a total of three non-elimination heats throughout the event window. The competitors' top three wave scores will determine their final score, with the top four surfers in the men's and women's divisions advancing to the Finals for a chance to win a portion of the $420k prize purse.
Alternative Judging Criteria
Judging criteria and scoring will be a large shift from past versions of the Pipe Masters. In this new adaptation, judges will be looking through a different lens and placing an equal emphasis on turns, airs, and barrels. Vans' 60 handpicked surfers will not just be the elite barrel riders we've seen win this contest in years past, but also talented aerialists from across Hawaii and beyond.
Invitees
The invitees were selected to uplift the North Shore community and drive cultural progression and inclusion. 50% of the Vans Pipe Masters' men and women invitees are from Hawaii.
No Priority
The Vans Pipe Masters will not use the priority system. Wave selection, heat strategy, and lineup positioning at Pipeline and Backdoor will be up to the surfers to decide amongst themselves out in the water.
Repeat Matchups
Within the non-elimination format, the same surfers will compete against each other for each of their three guaranteed heats. Up until the Final, the leaderboard-based contest puts the emphasis on capturing the three best possible wave scores over defeating the other surfers in the heat.
The new chapter of the Vans Pipe Masters kicks off December 8-20, 2022. Watch live on vanspipemasters.com and worldsurfleague.com.
News
An 8.67 and 15.17 for Lucca Mesinas sent him surging into Finals Day to defend his event title.
A powerful forehand attack from former CTer Kade Matson earned an excellent 8.67 and a big heat win to send him into the Quarterfinals.
One of the heats of the event unfolded with Kolohe Andino and Luke Guinaldo advancing past Michael Dunphy and 2023 WSL World Junior Champ.
The Southern Californian Lilie Kulber lit up Huntington Beach with an excellent 8.33 to charge into Finals Day in the first event of the
Relive Day 1 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Pro Junior