Get Ready for the IBA Pipeline Pro

Source: www.ibaworldtour.com

posted on 11th February 2011

An esteemed assemblage of the world's most revered bodyboarders are preparing to face-off on Hawaii's most famous and dangerous wave during the inaugural Grand Slam event of the 2011 International Bodyboarding Association (IBA) Grand Slam Series - the Pipeline Pro.



Renowned for its sheer power and perfect form, the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu's North Shore of Hawaii will test both the skill and courage of competitors across four categories, including Men's, Women's, Drop Knee as well as a special Master's category, from February 12th through to 25th, 2011.

The event kicks off with two-days of trials at Sandy Beach on Oahu's South Shore that will allow for unlimited Women and Drop Knee entrants as well as up to 64 Men. From this, the top 16 Pro men along with the top 3 Women and top 4 Drop Knee competitors will enter the main event at Pipeline from February 15, 2011.

"Over the last two weeks the waves at Pipeline have been near perfect and we hope to see the same for the contest," IBA Tour manager Terry McKenna said. "Relaunching our revamped tour with our new TV documentary series and LIVE webcast we hope to take professional bodyboarding to a new level."

Dating back over 30 years, the Pipeline break lies deep at the heart of bodyboarding's origins and is regarded as the longest running world tour contest in history.

This year's Pipeline Pro will showcase bodyboarding talent across four generations, from local kid Patrick Orr (HAW), 13, to 'the Kelly Slater of Bodyboarding' 11X Pipeline Champion Mike Stewart (HAW), 47.

Adding to this illustrious lineup is reigning IBA World Champion and defending Pipeline Pro Champion Amaury Lavernhe (Reunion Island), 25; Pipeline specialist and former World Champion Jeff Hubbard (HAW), 35, and former event champion and bodyboarding icon Damian King (AUS), 32.

2010 Rookie of the Year Jared Houston (SA), 21, took third at the IBA Pipeline Pro in 2010 and is eager to improve on this result here this year.

"I have been on Oahu training and surfing for three weeks now, the first week was epic but week two was spent in bed fighting a flu type illness so it's been abit up and down. This last week I have been getting back into it slowly and after my surf today, I'm confident that I'll be in top form come the Pipeline Pro," Houston said.

Another surfer hoping to make his mark at 'Pipe' is Ben Player (AUS), 32. Posting a series of equal fifth results at Pipeline, Player has been the most consistent finisher at this event and hopes to claim his inaugural title here this year.

"Pipeline is and always will be the epicenter of bodyboarding," Player said. "The surfer that is the best at Pipeline is the best surfer in the world as it offers every different kind of wave from life threatening through to playful. It has always been a goal of mine to win here."

The Pipeline Pro offers both GSS (Grand Slam Series) and GQS (Global Qualifying Series) points to the riders in the Pro Men's division. GQS points will start from the trials and carry through to Round 6. From Round 7 on, the points will become GSS points. Because Hawaii will not allow for man-on-man heats, the format will be slightly different from the remainder of the IBA Series events this year.

Another feature of this year's IBA Pipeline Pro will be a showcase of the rich history of the event with the special "Masters Final", featuring several former event champions including Michael "Eppo" Eppelstun (AUS), Daniel Kaimi (HAW), Steve "Bullet" MacKenzie (AUS), and Ben Severson (HAW) all of whom will take to the water in an exhibition on the last day of competition before the Pro Men's final.

Wildcards into the event are local athletes Kainoa McGee and Jarret Lau. International wildcards include Alistar Taylor (SFA) and Jason Finlay (AUS). The Women's wildcards are Lilly Pollard (AUS), Steph Pettersen (BRA) and Claudia Ferrari (HAW). Drop Knee wildcards are Mason Rose (AUS), Paul Roach (USA), Matt Lackey (AUS), Nick Trotter (HAW), Kainoa McGee (USA), Cassidy Sonoda (Haw), Jacob Pembroke (HAW), and Bud Miyamoto (HAW).

The LIVE webcast will be the most ambitious ever undertaken by IBA with multi- camera angles and replays as just some of the improved features. Manny Vargas will again be the anchor for the webcast and will also host a new TV documentary series that will follow all GSS events throughout 2011. After the success of Fronton, the team at the Redbull Media House has again backed the event and viewers will be able to watch the action LIVE on www.redbull.tv.

Event check-in will be on Friday, February 11 at the Ehukai Beach Park and the trials will be held the following morning on the south side of Sandy Beach.

Supporting sponsors include:

Turbo Surf Designs, Dave & Busters and Aqua Hotels and Resorts.

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