.png){kind=logo}
When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. The information collected might relate to you, your preferences or your device, and is mostly used to make the site work as you expect it to and to provide a more personalized web experience. However, you can choose not to allow certain types of cookies, which may impact your experience of the site and the services we are able to offer. Click on the different category headings to find out more and change our default settings according to your preference.
These cookies are essential to enable user movement across our website and for providing access to features such as your profile. These cookies cannot be disabled. You can set your browser to block or alert you about these cookies, but some parts of the site will not then work. These cookies do not store any personally identifiable information and cannot be used for marketing purposes.
These cookies allow us to analyze visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site and enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers, such as Google Analytics, whose services we have added to our pages. Information collected through these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly and/or we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by third party providers whose services we have added to our pages. If you do not allow these cookies then some or all of these services may not function properly.
These cookies may be set through our site by our advertising partners. They may be used to build a profile of your interests and show you relevant adverts or content. They do not store directly personal information, but are based on uniquely identifying your browser and internet device. If you do not allow these cookies, you will experience less targeted advertising.
These cookies are set by a range of social media services that we have added to the site to enable you to share our content with your friends and networks. They are capable of tracking your browser across other sites and building up a profile of your interests. This may impact the content and messages you see on other websites you visit. If you do not allow these cookies you may not be able to use or see these sharing tools.
The Pipeline Top 10: The Final That Changed Surfing Forever
Ben Collins
As the start of the 2022 Championship Tour season gets set to kick off with the Billabong Pro Pipeline, we're counting down the most memorable championship moments from the past 10 years.
Considering how many years the Championship Tour finished at Pipeline there have been tantalizing few World Titles decided during a Final at surfing's ultimate proving ground.
Before Italo Ferreira claimed his first World Title with a win over Gabriel Medina at Pipe in 2019, the last time it had happened was way back in 2003. That was when Andy Irons won his second Title in a Final against Kelly Slater.
While it may have been a while between the two, the reminder of how exciting it was to watch it all come down to the last heat of the year has had some profound changes on the sport: It was so good in fact, it led to the creation of the Rip Curl WSL Finals, which ensures the World Title is now decided on a single day, in the water, during the final heat of the season, every year.
But it wasn't just the tension of a Pipeline victory determining the World Champion that made this one of the great moments in surfing history.
This moment was when Ferreira really planted his flag as a force to be reckoned with. He came up against a dominant Medina in the Final -- at a wave Medina excels at -- and came away with a win.
Throughout 2019, the two Brazilians had been regular sparring partners. Both had two event wins heading into Pipeline and both had consistent, dominant years that saw them as the two main contenders when the Championship Tour rolled into Hawaii.
Ferreira arrived on the North Shore earlier than anyone else on Tour, and enlisted the help of Pipeline legends Jamie O'Brien and Shane Dorian. Once the event was called on, he was ready to go.
But the smart money, really, was always on Medina. Unlike Ferreira, he never seemed to struggle in waves of consequence.
There was a sense that Italo was having a great year, but now it's Medina's for the taking. Except Ferreira had other ideas. Italo's end-of-season momentum had helped him crack the competitive code, and his mojo wasn't going to diminish at the final hurdle.
It was Ferreira's statement to commentator Rosie Hodge as he was moving through the draw, before the Final, which explained how his mindset had changed.
"I love this game, and I know how to play it. Just one more. Let's do it."
Ferreira at that point went on to claim his first World Title, and the Pipeline victory. He hasn't looked back since, and neither have fans of surfing.
The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Pipeline gets underway on January 29. Keep it locked right here at WorldSurfLeague.com for the latest news and info as we countdown the start of the 2022 Championship Tour.
Gabriel Medina
Featuring John John Florence, Jack Robinson, Kolohe Andino, Filipe Toledo, Stephanie Gilmore, Ryan Callinan, Jeremy Flores, Italo Ferreira,
Featuring Callum Robson, Griffin Colapinto, Adriano de Souza, Italo Ferreira, Gabriel Medina, João Chianca, Carissa Moore, Leonardo
Take a look back at the ultimate highlight package from Gabriel Medina, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Filipe Toledo, Italo Ferreira, and Yago Dora
Relive 3x World Champ Gabriel Medina's dominance at Pipeline as we gear up for the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti from January 29th -
Featuring Gabriel Medina, John John Florence, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Molly Picklum, Barron Mamiya, Caitlin Simmers, Caroline Marks, Ethan
Billabong Pipe Masters
Check every 9 since 2018 as we gear up for a return to the North Shore at the Lexus Pipe Pro presented by Yeti. Featuring Kelly Slater,
You know if Kelly Slater claims a wave at Pipeline, it must have been a really, really special ride.
In 2019, with Olympic qualification on the line, several competitors were surfing for more than a victory at Pipeline.
Carissa Moore announces her 2020 competitive plans, a recap of Italo Ferreira's road to victory, and Seth Moniz wins Rookie of the Year.
Italo Ferreira wins the World Title and the Billabong Pipe Masters, you can never count out the GOAT and JJF set for the Olympics.