The opening round of the Billabong Pipemasters In Memory of Andy Irons was completed in eight-to-ten foot, testing Pipeline conditions that had spectators on their feet in approval - including a Perfect 10 from C.J. Hobgood (USA).
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Kelly Slater makes a run at Backdoor during Round 1.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Joel Parkinson slows down for a barrel in Round 1.
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- WSL / laurent Masurel
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Julian Wilson will have to fend off elimination in Round 2.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Jordy Smith drops into Pipe during Round 1.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Kelly Slater during Round 1 at Pipe.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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C.J. Hobgood finds a deep tube and a perfect 10 in Round 1. This will be Hobgood's final contest as a professional surfer.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Jeremy Flores finds a cavern at Backdoor during Round 1.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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John John Florence (HAW) lands a full rotation during Round 1.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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John John Florence (HAW) finds a tube during his Round 1 heat.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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John John Florence (HAW) does an air after a barrel in Round 1.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Bede Durbidge advanced to Round 3 with a low heat score in tricky conditions.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Ricardo Christie tries to avoid the lip during Round 1.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Taj Burrow returned to competition after taking time off for the birth of his first child.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Current Jeep Rankings Leader Mick Fanning (AUS) won his Round 1 heat going Backdoor for a 9.43 and backing it with a 5.17.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Backing his 9.43, Mick Fanning (AUS) found a 5.17 to earn a Round 1 win and advance directly to Round 3 - leading the forefront of the World Title race.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Bruce Irons (HAW) went wave-for-wave with current World No.1 Mick Fanning (AUS), coming just short of Fanning's 9.43 Backdoor ride with his own 7.83 and will face elimination against Title contender Filipe Toledo (BRA) in Round 2
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Runner-up at the Pipe Invitational, local charger Jamie O'Brien (HAW) upset current World No.2 Filipe Toledo (BRA) by winning Heat 5 of Round 1.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Getting waves at both Pipeline and Backdoor, Jamie O'Brien (HAW) upset World Title contender Felipe Toledo (BRA).
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Current World No.2 and World Title contender, Filipe Toledo (BRA) faces elimination in Round 2 against Bruce Irons (HAW).
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Kolohe Andino (USA) will have to do battle in Round 2 after losing his Round 1 bout against 2004 Pipe Master Jamie O'Brien (HAW) and current World No.2 Filipe Toledo (BRA).
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Fighting for a re-qualification spot, Michel Bourez (PYF) is in fine form - winning his Round 1 heat.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Making Title race contender Gabriel Medina (BRA) work for a win, Keanu Asing (HAW) earned runner-up in Heat 3, Round 1.
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- WSL / laurent Masurel
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Kai Otton finds a huge score in Round 1.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Bruce Irons put up a big fight in Round 1, but will have to surf in Round 2.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Current World No.4 and World Title contender, Gabriel Medina (BRA) earned a direct pass to Round 3 with his Heat 3, Round 1 win.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Rounding off Heat 2, Round 1, Dusty Payne (HAW) earned third-place and faces elimination in Round 2.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Current World No.4 and World Title contender, Gabriel Medina (BRA) says he feels no pressure in this year's Title race - winning his Round 1 heat.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Not finding the scores necessary, Jadson Andre (BRA) couldn't find a win over Mason Ho (HAW) in Heat 2, Round 1 and faces elimination in Round 2.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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World Title contender Owen Wright's (AUS) last minute injury replacement Mason Ho (HAW) won Heat 2 of Round 1.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Alongside Mick Fanning (AUS) and Bruce Irons (HAW), Sebastian Zeitz (HAW) did his best to hold his own against two of Pipeline's best - but was unable to find the scores and is facing elimination in Round 2 against 11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA).
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
32 of 65
Owen Wright's (AUS) last minute injury replacement, Mason Ho (HAW) won Heat 2 of Round 1.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Glenn Hall (IRL) experienced the full wrath of Pipeline in his Heat 1, Round 1. Hall will have to battle in Round 2 to keep his campaign alive.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Runner-up of Heat 1, Round 1, Adrian Buchan (AUS) will have to do battle in Round 2 to keep his Billabong Pipemaster hopes alive.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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2015 Rookie of the Year Italo Ferreira (BRA), winner of Heat 1, Round 1.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Jamie O'Brien upset World No. 2 Filipe Toledo in Round 1.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Gabriel Medina advanced directly to Round 3.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Mason Ho, all smiles after a Round 1 win. Ho entered as an injury replacement for Owen Wright.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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17-year-old Pipe Invitational Winner, Jack Robinson (AUS) rounded off Heat 3, Round 1 with a third-place finish and will face elimination against World Title contender Adriano De Souza (BRA) in Round 2.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Adriano de Souza finds a wave at Pipe, but couldn't overcome Michel Bourez in Round 1. He will surf in Round 2.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Michel Bourez finds a tube in Round 1. His victory sent Title hopeful De Souza to Round 2.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Adriano De Souza (BRA) faces elimination in Round 2 with his World Title hopes on the line.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Gabriel Medina finds a deep tube for the direct advance in Round 1.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Mason Ho slows himself down in the barrel during Round 1. Ho received a spot in the main event after Owen Wright withdrew due to injury.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Glenn Hall does a pencil drop in an attempt to break through to the back of the wave.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Italo Ferreira heads for a tube at Backdoor during Round 1.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Adrian Buchan drops into a barrel in Round 1 of the Billabong Pipe Masters.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Gabriel Medina at the press conference.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Filipe Toledo at the press conference.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Perfect conditions on hand for the Men's Pipe Invitational.
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- WSL / Laurent Masurel
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Perfect Pipe
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Lineup at Pipe.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Axel Irons celebrated his birthday on the opening day of the Billabong Pipe Masters in memory of his father Andy Irons.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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The men's 2015 World Title contenders.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Adriano de Souza (BRA), current No. 3 in the world.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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Adriano de Souza, Filipe Toledo and Gabriel Medina pose for a picture with the prize that only one can receive.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Mick Fanning, the current Jeep Leader.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Mick Fanning at the Billabong Pipe Masters press conference.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Lyndie Irons, Axel Irons and Bruce Irons attend a blessing for the opening of the Billabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons.
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- WSL / Kelly Cestari
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The current Top 3 surfers in the world and the grand prize.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Julian Wilson and Gabriel Medina during the press conference.
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Owen Wright has a look at the conditions during the Billabong Pipe Masters press conference.
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- WSL
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WSL x Surfline Dec7page5
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- WSL
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Pipeline is heating up with solid conditions and a pack of pros. See how they're prepping for the Billabong Pipe Masters.
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- WSL
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Surfline x WSLpage5
- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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- WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
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Taj Burrow returned to competition after taking time off for the birth of his first child.
Photos of 2015 Billabong Pipe Masters