WSL x Surfline: World Title Showdown

WSL x Surfline.

WSL x Surfline.

WSL x Surfline.

12 | 7 | 2015
Conditions: After Sunday saw the biggest NW swell of the season smash into the Hawaiian Islands, the size has dropped off considerably. Blue skies, light trades and fun, peaky surf in the overhead range at Off-the-Wall was the order of the day. Fanning logs his usual laps in front of the Rip Curl house, De Souza continues to study the Banzai reef in all its moods and Toledo's still toying around with his air game. There are fewer than 24 hours before the start of the Pipe Masters waiting period. It's almost game time. Photo: Jeremiah Klein

Fanning's preparation for the impending showdown is second to none. He's been in the water every day since landing on the North Shore, and today is no different. As the sun breaks over the Pupukea hills he's already in the water and going through the motions. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

After taking part in the heroic rescue of Evan Geiselman yesterday, Fanning has reset. Refocused on what's to come, today he paces himself and holds back on the throttle a bit. His surfing is loose, his demeanor relaxed. Soon enough that will change. Photo: Ryan Moss

With fewer than 24 hours on the clock before the waiting period starts, Medina waits. Keeping a watchful eye on the conditions while visiting friends at the Reef house, he is pensive and distant, his mind in another space. Soon enough he'll be able to mount his title defense, but until then he's doing what he can to temper the anxiety. Photo: Ryan Moss

De Souza's ready. His hourly surf checks and innumerable sessions have him prepared. He's gleaned as much insight from his landlord Jamie O'Brien as he's going to. It's go time. Photo: Sebastian Rojas

12 | 6 | 2015
Conditions: A powerful NW swell continues to build throughout the morning on the North Shore with the energy squarely focused on the Banzai reef. Dawn breaks before 7:00 a.m. and Fanning is seen sprinting down the Kam Highway for a dip at Waimea. By late morning the full force of the swell hits. It's 15-foot at Pipe and extremely concussive. At approximately 11:30 Fanning's about to paddle out when Evan Geiselman suffers a three-wave hold down. Fanning comes to his assistance. Later in the day Owen Wright is in search-and-destroy mode and gets the wave of the day five times over. Everyone else is in the World Title race just try to keep up. Photo: Billy Watts

With more than just a World Title on his mind, Fanning's focused on waterman stuff today. Running down to Waimea for the dawn patrol, he's on a 9'6" Tokoro and loving it. But by 11:30 in the morning everything turned a little more sinister. As he's preparing to paddle out at Pipe, Evan Geiselman suffers a three-wave hold down and Fanning responds. Assisting in the rescue of his friend, it causes everyone on hand to pause and reflect on how serious this arena can be. Photo: Ted Grambeau

From his mid-morning session to his end-of-the-day dream run, all day Wright steals the show. Out of all the six title contenders he's untouchable out there. For as chaotic as the conditions are throughout the day he's in rhythm, making it look far too easy. Photo: Ted Grambeau

"Evan paddled out pipe swung on the first wave he looked at which was kind of a gnarly second reef roll in and went for it. Me and @owright Looked at each other right after the wave and said we should be smart out here and look out for each other, next minute we hear screams from the beach and Evan fighting for his life after knocking himself out on this wave. Thoughts are with you buddy and to @andre_botha_662 that saved his life in the impact zone, hats off to you. Stay strong @evangeiselman. #prayingforyou" - @julian_wilson Photo: Ted Grambeau

Last year's Pipe Master handling the best — and worst — that Pipe can throw at him. On an emotional day at Pipe, Wilson spends the day watching the turbulent conditions and picks his moments carefully. While the furthest away from catching Fanning for the Title, he's very much in tune with the wave, his equipment and has the clear determination of somebody eager to go the distance. Photo: Ted Grambeau

In the shadow of the quickly growing scaffolding, the determination of De Souza continues to grow. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

12 | 5 | 2015
Conditions: Much-ballyhooed NW hits the outer water buoys at approximately 5:00am. Surf in the morning starts small, but by lunchtime the sets start marching in. Rapidly on the rise through the afternoon, by sunset it's 8-foot and building at Pipe and Off-the-Wall. Fanning sneaks in a quick session early, Medina takes his chances in the afternoon, Toledo logs some family time east of Rocky Point and De Souza doesn't take his eyes off of any of it. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

Fanning heads over to a Mauli Ola Foundation function where he has a date with young Sadie. On this same day last year he surfed with her and she asked him if he'd come back and have a paddle with her again -- so that's just what he did. "We caught 10 waves together and had a blast," says Fanning. "Thank you, Sadie, for making me smile, you special little girl." Photo: Jake Marot

De Souza's focus is unrelenting. He spends the day keeping tabs on the ocean. Staying on the ground level of Jamie O'Brien's Pipe house (directly behind the Gerry Lopez Volcom house), De Souza is steps away from the sand and able to monitor the evolution of the swell. "He's all in," says O'Brien. Photo: Rafaski

For Filipe, family is everything. He moved mom, dad and brother from Brazil to San Clemente last year, and this winter they're right there with him on the North Shore. On Saturday morning the Toledos take some time to enjoy a reprieve from the madness. They dine on a picnic lunch, kick the futbol around and later Filipe noodles around at Kammieland. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

While everyone else in the title race is at least keeping a watchful eye on Pipe, Toledo's busy taking chip shots at Kammies. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

By 3:00 p.m. the new energy is marching in and Medina decides to paddle out at Off The Wall. As lines of swell start piggybacking on top of one another and the reef goes dry on the inside, he sits outside hoping for a gem. It never comes, but he returns to the sand safe, sound and injury free. All told, it's a successful lap. Photo: Pedro Gomes

12 | 4 | 2015
Conditions: Old NW continued to drop throughout the day on Friday, but the weather was impeccable with light trades and blue skies. Most of the action was focused around Off-the-Wall with Fanning, Toledo, De Souza and Medina all taking advantage of the relatively playful conditions. Photo: Pedro Gomes

Eugene we hardly knew ye! In the days of old, this would have simply been a recovery day. But instead, after his win at Sunset on Thursday, Fanning spent Friday morning undergoing soft tissue work with a physical therapist and was in perfect alignment by the time he hit the water at Off-the-Wall. Photo: Keale Lemos

Medina eyes the landing on a lofty lunchtime rotator. For what the surf lacked in punch on Friday it more than made up for in performance. Staying at the Rip Curl team house right in front of Off-the-Wall, short sessions like this have become a flight of fancy for the Brazilian firebrand. Photo: Leo Neves

De Souza and Medina enjoy a moment between friends before the pressure of Pipe sets in. With a large-scale NW swell filling in over the weekend, this may be the last time for a while they smile so easily. Photo: Keale Lemos

Not letting up on his training regimen, De Souza has been in beast mode lately. Today he took a class from legendary black belt Kid Peligro up at the Sunset Beach Jujitsu dojo before sneaking out and catching this runner at Backdoor. It wasn't huge, but it was plenty good enough to keep his senses tack sharp. It appears that staying with Jamie O'Brien might be paying off. Photo: Billy Watts

12 | 3| 2015
Conditions: Holding NNW swell with light trades and clean conditions. At the Vans World Cup of Surfing, Mick Fanning (AUS) holds on for his first-ever victory at Sunset, Julian Wilson (AUS) takes second and Gabriel Medina (BRA) makes the Semis. Owen Wright (AUS) is on hand to chair Fanning up the beach, while Filipe Toledo (BRA) caddies for Deivid Silva (BRA) and enjoys a morning session at Haleiwa.

The defending Vans Triple Crown champ, Wilson's a mathematical long shot to win the World Title, but by standing out in all his heats at Sunset, he's at least building momentum. "The Triple Crown is the second biggest thing to the World Title, for sure," explains Wilson. "If I was out of the Title race I would have come over and fought for it 100 percent, but the World Title is definitely where my focus is." Photo: Tony Heff

Under the watchful eyes of both his caddie and his stepdad Charlie, Medina limbers up for his heat. A full team effort, Gabe's able to insulate himself from the hype and focus on his surfing. And if he's not able to defend his 2014 World Title, a Semifinal finish at both Haleiwa and Sunset are keeping him in contention for the Vans Triple Crown. Photo: Pedro Gomes

Fanning's run at Sunset may be a harbinger of things to come. After opting not to surf in the World Cup the past five years, White Lightning's in rare form for the final day. "The waves have been incredible," explains Fanning. "I'm pretty tired right now, but just over the moon." Photo: Keoki

Goofyfooters have traditionally struggled at Sunset, but there's nothing traditional about Gabriel Medina. Driving bottom turns, fin-blows off the top and knee-buckling floaters -- all are just another day at the office for the young Brazilian phenom. Photo: Tony Heff

Keen to help a fellow countryman, Toledo caddies for Deivid Silva in Round 4. "I took Sunset off to make sure that I'm ready for Pipe," declares Toledo. Photo: Pedro Gomes

For all the physical work Adriano de Souza's (BRA) put in over the past year, he's also crunched the numbers and knows exactly what he needs to do at Pipe, relative to the other contenders. Bowing out early in the Sunset event, he surfs Rocky Point in the afternoon Thursday before getting back online at home. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

The surf is three-to-four feet and playful at Haleiwa in the morning. Toledo breaks his board on his first wave after attempting a relatively standard top turn but, after commandeering a backup, he uncorks a few snaps, airs and tail blows. Photo: Billy Watts

12 | 2 | 15
Conditions: Sizable NW swell in the morning shifted to a more NNW direction throughout the day as conditions cleaned up. Wave heights hovered in the six- to eight-foot range at the World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach with six-foot surf and some bigger sets at Pipeline at sundown. Mick Fanning (AUS), Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Adriano de Souza (BRA) compete at Sunset; Julian Wilson (AUS) and Owen Wright (AUS) spend the day prepping in the Pipe zone.

Going through his own world title trials and tribulations at Pipeline, Joel Parkinson (AUS) is able to offer countryman Wilson some unique insight. In 2012 Parko won the Pipe Masters on the way to his World Title. His thoughts on the subject? "Consistency pays off." Photo: Billy Watts

Intent on keeping all facets of his game sharp, Fanning spends the day bouncing between Off -the-Wall, Sunset and Pipe. A little rail work in the morning out in front of the Rip Curl house to keep the arc tight, a heat win at midday, followed by an evening rinse at the proving ground. Not a bad little Wednesday. But with the NW swell holding strong all day, it's not all play. After surviving Sunset Fanning points out that "it's a lot of work out there." Photo: Rafaski

De Souza rolls into the World Cup of Surfing looking to pick up some momentum before the Pipe showdown. Losing in Round 3, he does the exact opposite. He now has less than a week to pick up the pieces, regroup and get his game face on. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

Stealing the evening show at Pipe as conditions cleaned up and the swell sorts itself out on the Banzai reef, Wright paddles out before dark and locks into a few bombs. A former Wave of the Winter nominee, as the long-range forecast comes into clearer perspective Wright's affinity for the wave could serve him. Photo: Ryan Moss

12 | 1 | 15
Conditions: Smallest day of the week. No contest at Sunset again. Dawn sees Toledo, by himself at the Ronnie Bowl at Rocky Point, working tirelessly on his backside punts. When he doesn't make one, he punches his board in disgust. During the day, there's a few moments at Off-the-Wall, and toward afternoon, a fresh NW swell starts filling in.

Yes, throwing a football like this is technically poor form, as many on social media were quick to point out. But considering Fanning is a three-time World Champ and charges Pipe, Backdoor and OTW like a madman, he can throw a football however he damn well pleases. Photo: Ryan Moss

11 | 30 | 15
Conditions: Medium to small NW swell sends most of the pro surfing world straight to Rocky Point for an all-day, hi-fi shredfest. Sunset contest is off. Adriano sticks mostly to the rights, but snags a few lefts as well. He catches a lot of waves. Filipe works on his rotations.

11 | 30 | 15
Contrary to what you might think, this is not Pipeline. It's Pipe's friendlier neighbor Rocky Point, doing its best Banzai impersonation. And while it's known more for punts than pits, De Souza has been spending time seeking the latter. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

Most of the North Shore beachfront team houses have amazing living rooms. But most of the actual living happens on the porch overlooking surfing's 50-yard line. "[The World Title] is something that's there, but there's so many variables that have to come together," Wright says. "I really try not to focus too much on it or get too ahead of things." Photo: Tom Servais

Toledo doesn't see many Pipeline-esque barrel sections at Rocky Point, but still works on a Pipe exit strategy. "Just trying to get the best from these days in Hawaii," he says. Photo: Henrique Pinguim

Having won the World Title at Pipe in 2013, Fanning knows it doesn't do any good to stress or fret about the showdown to come. "You can't do any more than go out there and do your best. Whatever happens, happens." Photo: Robert Pascua

Photos: (Clockwise from top left): Henrique Pinguim, Tom Servais, Henrique Pinguim, Pedro Gomes