I'm not going to harp about how deadly Pipeline is, nor how impossibly steep, unpredictable and formidable the break can be. You already know this. You've heard it time and time again.
In short, Pipeline is a grown man's or woman's wave. Oddly enough though, every single year, not-so-grown men and women surf it. Every single year, as in the case of the Volcom Pipe Pro, talented adolescents compete and excel at this terrifyingly perfect break. So go figure.
Maui's Cody Young gets comfy in a Backdoor drainer. - WSL / Damien Poullenot
Adolescents like 13-year-old Landon McNamara, who caught some proper bombs during the 2010 Volcom Pipe Pro. Or the young Floridian Nils Schweizer who stepped up to the plate the same year and a couple of years later at the same event. And last year, at just 17, Griffin Colapinto threw himself over the ledge on a few 10-footers in his heat.
Indeed, the long list of teenagers proving themselves at Pipe continues on and on.
And this year at the Volcom Pipe Pro there's more than a handful of junior chargers; perhaps, the most in the event's history.
Wondering who these fearless young phenoms are? See below.
Noah Beschen uses his dad, Shane's, contest know-how out at Sunset. - WSL / Tony Heff
Noah Beschen
Son of Championship Tour legend Shane Beschen (World No. 2 in '96), 16-year-old Hawaii resident, Noah Beschen, is a vibrant regularfooter commonly launching airs around Rocky Point or packing growers at Backdoor. In the media spotlight since his pre-teens, you might remember his clips as a youngster from large P-Pass. With more meat on his bones these days and a dad like Shane as his coach, Noah's got a bright future ahead of him.
Noa Mizuno pig-dogs a warbly righthander at home. - WSL / Tony Heff
Noa Mizuno
2016's Hawaii Junior champion, 18-year-old Noa Mizuno is a deadly part of Oahu's young, new competitive charge. A South Shore local alongside the likes of Seth Moniz, Josh Moniz and Zeke Lau, Noa's been putting serious time in on the North Shore and Pipeline.
San Clemente's young Griffin Colapinto carries on his surf town's rich tradition of breeding champs. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Griffin Colapinto
Charging hard at last year's Volcom Pipe Pro on big days, plus having a hell of a winter season during the Vans Triple Crown, San Clemente's 18-year-old Griffin Colapinto is out for blood. He's also put in quite a few winters at the Billabong house, taking lickings at Off-The-Wall and learning the ropes at Pipe. Griffin finished at No. 32 on the QS ratings, too, for his performances at Haleiwa and Sunset in the Triple Crown.
Finn McGill bottom turns on a bomb at Sunset. - WSL / Freesurf/Heff
Finn McGill
With recent back-to-back runner-up finishes at Sunset (Junior Pro and Open), plus an astounding win at the Pipeline Invitational in December, big things are expected from the North Shore's 16-year-old Finn McGill. In-tune and on a roll at Pipe, Finn's Backdoor game is well beyond his years.
Wyatt McHale busts loose in a heat away from his island home. - WSL / Kenneth Morris
Wyatt McHale
At 15, Wyatt is the youngest competitor in the Volcom Pipe Pro, and he's carving a name for himself at each break along the Seven Mile Miracle. A skinny, surf-stoked grom just a couple of years ago, Wyatt has sprouted a few inches taller and is transferring that power into his surfing quite seamlessly.
Cody Young slips into a Backdoor beauty. - WSL / Poullenot/Aquashot
Cody Young
Fresh off a third-place finish in the World Junior Championship and 4th in the Sunset Pro Junior, 17-year-old Cody Young of Maui has become a regular face in North Shore lineups this winter. A favorite of Pancho Sullivan's from the new crop of young Hawaii competitors, Cody is a big kid out to prove his worth.
Carlsbad's Jordy Collins puts it way on a rail in California. - WSL / Jackson Van Kirk
Jordy Collins
Another young Californian and contemporary of Colapinto's, 18-year-old Jordy Collins is a bright talent putting his time in on the North Shore. A flashy goofyfooter with amazing tube sense, if he can transfer that talent to Pipeline and not let the three other guys in his heat mess with his head, he'll surely advance far.
Logan Bediamol, flaring on his backhand. - WSL / Kelly Cestari
Logan Bediamol
Another young outer-island stunner, Maui's 16-year-old Logan Bediamol is no stranger to power or waves of consequence. Following in the footsteps of other Upcountry Maui greats like Billy Kemper and Ian Walsh, look for Logan to go all-out this year.
The Dangerous Juniors of the Volcom Pipe Pro
Beau Flemister
I'm not going to harp about how deadly Pipeline is, nor how impossibly steep, unpredictable and formidable the break can be. You already know this. You've heard it time and time again.
In short, Pipeline is a grown man's or woman's wave. Oddly enough though, every single year, not-so-grown men and women surf it. Every single year, as in the case of the Volcom Pipe Pro, talented adolescents compete and excel at this terrifyingly perfect break. So go figure.
Adolescents like 13-year-old Landon McNamara, who caught some proper bombs during the 2010 Volcom Pipe Pro. Or the young Floridian Nils Schweizer who stepped up to the plate the same year and a couple of years later at the same event. And last year, at just 17, Griffin Colapinto threw himself over the ledge on a few 10-footers in his heat.
Indeed, the long list of teenagers proving themselves at Pipe continues on and on.
And this year at the Volcom Pipe Pro there's more than a handful of junior chargers; perhaps, the most in the event's history.
Wondering who these fearless young phenoms are? See below.
Noah Beschen
Son of Championship Tour legend Shane Beschen (World No. 2 in '96), 16-year-old Hawaii resident, Noah Beschen, is a vibrant regularfooter commonly launching airs around Rocky Point or packing growers at Backdoor. In the media spotlight since his pre-teens, you might remember his clips as a youngster from large P-Pass. With more meat on his bones these days and a dad like Shane as his coach, Noah's got a bright future ahead of him.
Noa Mizuno
2016's Hawaii Junior champion, 18-year-old Noa Mizuno is a deadly part of Oahu's young, new competitive charge. A South Shore local alongside the likes of Seth Moniz, Josh Moniz and Zeke Lau, Noa's been putting serious time in on the North Shore and Pipeline.
Griffin Colapinto
Charging hard at last year's Volcom Pipe Pro on big days, plus having a hell of a winter season during the Vans Triple Crown, San Clemente's 18-year-old Griffin Colapinto is out for blood. He's also put in quite a few winters at the Billabong house, taking lickings at Off-The-Wall and learning the ropes at Pipe. Griffin finished at No. 32 on the QS ratings, too, for his performances at Haleiwa and Sunset in the Triple Crown.
Finn McGill
With recent back-to-back runner-up finishes at Sunset (Junior Pro and Open), plus an astounding win at the Pipeline Invitational in December, big things are expected from the North Shore's 16-year-old Finn McGill. In-tune and on a roll at Pipe, Finn's Backdoor game is well beyond his years.
Wyatt McHale
At 15, Wyatt is the youngest competitor in the Volcom Pipe Pro, and he's carving a name for himself at each break along the Seven Mile Miracle. A skinny, surf-stoked grom just a couple of years ago, Wyatt has sprouted a few inches taller and is transferring that power into his surfing quite seamlessly.
Cody Young
Fresh off a third-place finish in the World Junior Championship and 4th in the Sunset Pro Junior, 17-year-old Cody Young of Maui has become a regular face in North Shore lineups this winter. A favorite of Pancho Sullivan's from the new crop of young Hawaii competitors, Cody is a big kid out to prove his worth.
Jordy Collins
Another young Californian and contemporary of Colapinto's, 18-year-old Jordy Collins is a bright talent putting his time in on the North Shore. A flashy goofyfooter with amazing tube sense, if he can transfer that talent to Pipeline and not let the three other guys in his heat mess with his head, he'll surely advance far.
Logan Bediamol
Another young outer-island stunner, Maui's 16-year-old Logan Bediamol is no stranger to power or waves of consequence. Following in the footsteps of other Upcountry Maui greats like Billy Kemper and Ian Walsh, look for Logan to go all-out this year.
Logan Bediamol
All-time conditions provided a barrel spectacle at the Air Tahiti Rangiroa Pro to determine Quaterfinalists.
The Maui, Hawaii, competitor went ballistic to post a near-perfect heat total of 17.50 in dreamy Rangiroa conditions.
Maui's Logan Bediamol has break through performance, leads charge of strongest rookie class in 35 years of Vans Triple Crown
The culminating event of the annual WSL Hawaii/Tahiti Nui junior series crowned regional champs after a day of intense action
Barron Mamiya and Zoe McDougall won the Regional Junior Champ title while Savanna Stone took home the Regional Women's QS trophy.
Volcom Pipe Pro
Feast your eyes on a collection of stunning still images from a playful week at Pipe.
Pipe and Backdoor delivered for the 8th annual event, serving up perfect 10's, cavernous barrels and wipeouts galore.
O campeão mundial Adriano de Souza quase festeja sua segunda vitória no templo sagrado do esporte no Havaí.
Watch the finals day highlights as Australian underdog Soli Bailey surfs to victory.
An international showdown made for an all-time Final.