The World Surf League’s 2024 Championship Tour season is just around the corner, with a kickoff on the North Shore of Oahu at the Lexus Pipe Pro.
And while the event won’t (potentially) start for another couple days – the window runs from January 29th to February 10th – the world’s best surfers are in Hawaii, feeling out their new season quivers, and warming up for the upcoming season.
Perfect timing, too, as Pipeline went absolutely nuts over the past few days.
Since Saturday, it’s been nonstop waves on the North Shore, with a hefty W/WNW swell on tap, igniting surfing’s most deadly, yet iconic, wave: da Pipeline.
First thing’s first: The GOAT.
Kelly Slater had hip surgery back in September of last year, from which he told SURFER he expected to be: “Landlocked for a while. Probably ‘til December.”
But it looks like he’s all healed up now, based on his Backdoor drainer Tuesday night.
Another recent hip surgery recipient, Griffin Colapinto, put in the practice time out at Pipeline, too. “Pipeline is great for self reflection,” Griff noted. “Can really show you where your mentals are. Spent about 12 hours in the water to get these waves.”
(Note the helmet from Griff; expect to see a lot of those this season following a spate of recent head injuries at Pipe including Kai Lenny, Koa Rothman, and more.)
Elsewhere, three-time world champion from Brazil, Gabriel Medina, got his reps in. And surf filmmaker Tucker Wooding commented: “Pipe went off yesterday. Best day I’ve seen in a couple years I think! So much footage to go thru but here is @gabrielmedina on one from yesterday afternoon.” (Stay tuned for full edit from Wooding.)
Oh yeah, and don’t count out Jack Robinson – another helmet-wearer this year.
Now the real question is…will this season be a repeat of last, in terms of swell? Will the 2023 curse carry over, with pumping swell before the event window begins, then crickets once it opens? Fingers crossed it won’t, but this swell brings back memories.
Stay tuned.
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