“Pipeline is for the f*cking girls”
A lot went down on Finals Day for the Lexus Pipe Pro. From two perfect rides to new faces on the podium, 2024’s event will be one for the books.
On Saturday, February 10, the last day of the waiting period, things got cooking. Throughout the day Pipeline and Backdoor produced the goods, with solid barrels for both the men and the women.
Photo by Julie Froelich on Unsplash
Hawaii’s Barron Mamiya and California’s Caity Simmers took the win in almost perfect conditions. What happened throughout the day was considered by many surf fans as a day to remember.
The Women are Here to Stay
Pipeline, arguably the world’s most dangerous wave, has been for many years, a mens-only event. That was until 2020 when Australian World Champ Tyler Wright took the first win for the inaugural women’s event.
This year it was a feast for the senses when women’s surfing’s elite pushed themselves into heavier and more critical barrels.
In the final, Australian Molly Picklum faced off against Californian Caity Simmers. Picklum had already gotten a perfect 10 in her previous semifinal heat, and was looking to rain-hell on her opponent.
Photo by Rachael Ledford on Unsplash
In the end, it was the young Californian who took the ‘W,’ scoring a 8.83 and a 3.83. Picklum scored the heat’s highest score, a meaty 9.27, but couldn’t back it up.
In a post heat interview, Simmers told the WSL commentator Strider Wasilewski that, “Pipeline is for the f*cking girls.”
An All-Hawaiian Final for the Mens
Two of the North Shore’s top local chargers took to the water in a final that looked as good in the water as it did on paper. Two time World Champ John John Florence faced off against local rookie Barron Mamiya.
During the final, the local pipe experts took perfection to the next level. Trading barrels, the two surfed a relentless heat until Mamiya took a late drop on a perfect pipeline left, grabbed his rail and skirted under the lip, and somehow came flying out after the fire-hose like spit, scoring a perfect 10 point ride.
Needless to say, it was the perfect final.