Page 4 - MidWeek Windward - Dec 21, 2022

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DECEMBER 21, 2022
Aloha surfers and beachgoers, December so far has been a bit of a mixed bag as far as surf is con- cerned — some perfect days mixed with some ludi- crously lame days. I guess this nicely matches the real world.
BY GARY KEWLEY
Here’s Some Big News About Big Names In Surfing
As of this writing, we’re awaiting small northwest surf to finally kick off the Vans Pipe Masters. The holding period was from Dec. 8 to 20. They had to postpone five days straight as the surf had been pretty unrideble. The forecast was shifting to near high surf warning levels — and big- ger as this article went to print — but onshore winds may be an issue.
names missing — these surfers who were on the invitee list are no longer: two-time world champ and multiple Pipe winner John John Florence, Kelly Slater with a record that’s too long to write about in this article, current world champ Filipe Toledo, three- time world champ and Pipe Master Gabriel Medina, 2019 world champ and Pipe Master-hopeful Italo Ferrei- ra, and the greatest female surfer ever and Pipe Master hopeful Stephanie Gilmore.
Back to the Vans Pipe Masters, which retains its usual December calendar spot but is now a specialty World Surf League-sanc- tioned event. This means World Tour surfers can par- ticipate in the event, but re- sults will not affect Cham- pionship Tour or Challenger Series rankings.
Still, what Vans is doing is awesome. It has been sup- porting surfing for ages.
Check out classic Pipe im- ages from Sean Davey Pho- tography at seandavey.com. Visit surfnewsnetwork.com for updates if contests are on, off or on standby.
Medina, Toledo and Fer- reira have all cited injuries for not taking their invita- tions, while Gilmore, new- ly minted eight-time world champion, pulled out due to a scheduling conflict.
This photo shows a scene from a previous Vans Pipe Masters event. PHOTO COURTESY SEAN DAVEY PHOTOGRAPHY
Regardless, The Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitation- al will be keeping a close eye on this. These long- range models can fall flat, or at least deflate, so go to snnhawaii.com for the lat- est, most accurate forecasts.
Florence may be out just for personal reasons to fo- cus on 2023 — or maybe he knew about the sketchy forecast? As for Slater, he can do whatever he wants.
Jan. 29, has nothing to do with the Vans Pipe Masters, which is a specialty invita- tion event. Either way, my forecast is that Pipe will steal the show for both events as it has since the time it was first ridden.
Plus, the Vans Pipe Mas- ters is reimagined this year and will give equal weight to scoring airs and turns as much as barrels — a bold first at this fabled reef.
GQ, droppin’ in 4 U!
gary@surfnewsnetwork.com
There are 60 handpicked surfers — 40 men and 20 women who are previous world champs, Olympians, Pipe Masters, aerialists and some of the sport’s fast- est-rising stars.
For decades it’s been about the tube, period. Vans has always been on the vanguard of performance product and marketing. Plus, it makes really good footwear. I’ m wearing some right now.
Some big news is the big
As a clarification, the World Surf League 2023 Tour, which kicks off with the Billabong Pro Pipe on
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