Pipeline, on Oahu’s North Shore, comes to life (generally) from November to March.
But every now and then, a sneaky late-season swell comes through and lights up North Shore hotspots. Long gone are the hordes of Championship Tour surfers, surfers looking to make a name for themselves, and the surf industry circus. Who’s left? The locals.
Koa Rothman is one of those lucky North Shore locals. And he recently scored a very late-season swell at home with some proper-sized Pipeline.
“Randomly right now, Pipe is good,” Koa said. “This could be the last swell [of the season]. It’s kind of out of nowhere. It’s a rare, late-season swell. And I’m going to go get barreled…towards the end of April. It’s pretty crazy.”
We previously reported on a crazy drop Koa stuck during the session, and seen in its entirety in the full clip. “That’s the one he was waiting for!” his posse cheers from the beach.
So, Koa got his Pipeline fix. He milked Pipeline for all it was worth this season.
But what’s next? Where to now that the North Shore summer slumber has begun?
“There’s a lot of swell lighting up in the South Pacific right now, so I think it’s going to be time to get moving,” Koa said. “After this last swell…Pipeline’s last swell of the season. And then there will be a first swell. It just never stops, man.”
Pipeline Stats/Info
Wave Type: Left and right (Backdoor) barrels
Season: Fall, Winter (occasionally Spring)
Bottom: Reef and sand (and broken surfboards/knocked out teeth)
Skill Level: Experts only
Equipment: Shortboards, bodyboards (soft-tops if you’re Jamie O’Brien)
Ideal Swell Direction: WNW, NW
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