Player, Sousa and Specker win at 2013 IBA GoPro Pipe Challenge
posted on 1st March 2013
The IBA GoPro Pipe Challenge 2013 - The 30th Anniversary of Professional Bodyboarding
Event 1 - Men, Women and DK Grand Slam Series
Pipeline, Oahu Hawaii
Ben Player (AUS) has taken out the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipe Challenge in pumping 8-10 foot waves at the Banzai Pipeline today, defeating defending champion, Jeff Hubbard (HAW) in second, Pierre-Louis (FRA) in third and multi talented Dave Hubbard (HAW) in fourth in the dying minutes of the final.
Player posted an excellent score of 8.75 early in the final for a deep set wave barrel on a left and finished it off with a looping roll. Hubbard answered back with a 7.75 and a 7.2 for two deep back to back barrels on draining left handers. The Frenchman and Dave Hubbard both managed to post a good score each 7.38 and 6.25 respectively, but were unable to lock in substantial second scoring rides. With only two minutes remaining, Player was searching for a 6.21 or better to take out the final. Scooping into a heaving Pipe set wave, the Australian negotiated his way through a long barrel and topped the wave off by launching an invert off the closeout to earn himself 7.38 out of a possible 10 points, rocketing him into first place as the buzzer sounded the end of the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipeline Pro.
Victorious, Player was carried up the beach to the podium by good friends and past Pipe Champions, Ryan Hardy and Andrew Lester, accompanied by a cheering crowd of Australian supporters.
Player has been competing in this pipe event for the past 19 years, claimed two world titles, and has several grand slam victories under his belt, but until today has never been able to claim a victory at the infamous Banzai Pipeline.
Mens highest heat totals of the event:
18.01 : Charlie Chapelet Round 05
17.25 : Dave Winchester QUARTER-FINAL
17.25 : Dave Hubbard SEMI-FINAL
16.75 : Andre Botha Round 05
16.43 : Damian King QUARTER-FINAL
16.13 : Ben Player FINAL
15.93 : Jeff Hubbard SEMI-FINAL
15.40 : Mike Stewart QUARTER-FINAL
15.38 : Rui Pereira Round 04
15.25 : Ryan Hardy Round 05
Isabela Sousa (BRA) claimed a convincing victory in the Ladies division of the 2013 IBA GoPro Pipeline Pro, defeating Minami Hatekayama (JPN) in second, fellow Brazilian Karla Costa-Taylor in third and Saro Ohhara (JPN) in fourth.
Sousa looked unstoppable throughout the heat, pulling into one pipe barrel after another, exiting with speed and power and punching solid rolls off the end sections to exclaim her dominance over the fellow finalists.
Today's victory is the Brazilians second pipe title and undoubtably solidifies her long and illustrious future bodyboarding career.
Ladies highest heat totals of the event:
15.88 : Isabella Soussa FINAL
15.08 : Maira Viana Round 02
14.00 : Karla Costa-Taylor SEMI-FINAL
13.96 : Isabella Soussa SEMI-FINAL
13.03 : Aoi Koike Round 02
12.88 : Lilly Pollard QUARTER-FINAL
12.58 : Karla Costa-Taylor QUARTER-FINAL
12.43 : Emma Cobb Round 02
11.81 : Maira Viana QUARTER-FINAL
11.71 : Roberta Bitzer Round 02
The Dropknee division featured a hotly contested final, taken out by South African Sacha Specker, defeating Hawaiian wave wizard and multiple DK World Champion, Dave Hubbard in second, Australia's multi talent Dave Winchester in third and Peruvian powerhouse and 2010 DK World Champion, Cesar Bauer in fourth to claim his second IBA Pipeline Pro DK victory.
Specker had a solid lead early in the final, but Hubbard and Winchester managed to find some excellent barrel rides to keep them in contention. Although Bauer never really found his rhythm during the final, he put on a show-stopping performance, pulling into big barrel over the shallow backdoor reef, keeping the beach spectators cheering on the edge of their seats. Hubbard made a last ditch effort in the last five minutes of the final, but it was speaker who managed to hold onto poll position.
DK highest heat totals of the event:
17.33 : Cesar Bauer SEMI-FINAL
16.16 : Sacha Specker FINAL
15.38 : Dave Winchester QUARTER-FINAL
15.33 : Dave Winchester SEMI-FINAL
14.78 : Dave Hubbard FINAL
13.95 : Martin Mouradian Round 02
13.36 : Dave Hubbard SEMI-FINAL
13.08 : Dave Winchester Round 02
13.01 : Dave Winchester FINAL
12.95 : Sacha Specker QUARTER-FINAL
The next event on the 2013 IBA World Tour will be held on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia from April 18-28.
King of Pipe
Hawaiian Legend, Kainoa McGee pulled into and managed to exit a set wave Pipe bomb on his stand-up paddle board to be crowned the "King of Pipe".
This newly introduced concept unfolded in spectacular fashion, featuring a barrel fest on a variety of waveriding crafts and the legendary Mark Cunningham who navigated his way through some deep Pipeline barrels in possibly the purest form of wave riding, bodysurfing with only a pair of swim fins.
The remainder of the field featured:
-Surfers: Jamie O'Brien and Bruce Irons
-Bodyboarders: Mike Stewart and Jeff Hubbard
-Standup paddle boarder: Kala Alexander
