Surfing - Pipeline Masters
Weblog - Surf Nation - Times Online December 07, 2006
What is the connection between the Pipeline Masters and Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945?
On the eve of the Pipeline Masters, Cornish waterman Andy Cox has been in touch. Here, glass of fine wine in hand, he gives an insight into just what makes the Masters the biggest show in town.
Tennis has Wimbledon and boxing Madison Square Garden but surfing trumps both: surfing has Pipeline. And tomorrow sees the start of the Rip Curl Pipeline Masters. The last stop on the World Championship Tour (WCT) the Masters is, without doubt, the one contest above all others that a professional surfer wants to win. To become a Pipe Master is to enter surfing’s folklore, to make an indelible mark on history’s page, to be able forever after to hold your head high.
Pipeline stands out even among the other world class breaks on Oahu’s North Shore: places like Sunset, Backdoor and Off The Wall. It is one of the shallowest and most dangerous reefs on the planet, capable of producing huge barrels when conditions are right. There are other waves that meet this description, notably Teahupoo in Tahiti. What sets Pipe apart is its history, its provenance. If Teahupoo is a bottle of Jacob’s Creek, an enjoyable pleasure to be shared with friends, vintage Pipe is Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945, to be savoured only on the rarest of occasions, drunk from the finest crystal and on bended knee.
A look at previous winners of the event reveals some of the legends of the sport: Gerry Lopez, Rory “the dog” Russell, Michael and Derek Ho, Tom Carroll and, more recently, Kelly Slater and Andy Irons.
One of surfing’s most dramatic days of all time came in 2003 when Irons defeated Slater in the final event of the year to win not only The Masters, but also the Triple Crown (best surfer in the three Hawaiian events) and the World Championship. This year, Slater has already wrapped up his eighth world title but Irons will want the Triple Crown and the Masters trophy. Having won the event in three of the last four years, he is the man to beat.
Posted by Alex Wade on December 07, 2006 at 09:01 PM in Weblogs Permalink
For more surfing news see www.timesonline.co.uk/surfnation
What is the connection between the Pipeline Masters and Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945?
On the eve of the Pipeline Masters, Cornish waterman Andy Cox has been in touch. Here, glass of fine wine in hand, he gives an insight into just what makes the Masters the biggest show in town.
Tennis has Wimbledon and boxing Madison Square Garden but surfing trumps both: surfing has Pipeline. And tomorrow sees the start of the Rip Curl Pipeline Masters. The last stop on the World Championship Tour (WCT) the Masters is, without doubt, the one contest above all others that a professional surfer wants to win. To become a Pipe Master is to enter surfing’s folklore, to make an indelible mark on history’s page, to be able forever after to hold your head high.
Pipeline stands out even among the other world class breaks on Oahu’s North Shore: places like Sunset, Backdoor and Off The Wall. It is one of the shallowest and most dangerous reefs on the planet, capable of producing huge barrels when conditions are right. There are other waves that meet this description, notably Teahupoo in Tahiti. What sets Pipe apart is its history, its provenance. If Teahupoo is a bottle of Jacob’s Creek, an enjoyable pleasure to be shared with friends, vintage Pipe is Chateau Mouton Rothschild 1945, to be savoured only on the rarest of occasions, drunk from the finest crystal and on bended knee.
A look at previous winners of the event reveals some of the legends of the sport: Gerry Lopez, Rory “the dog” Russell, Michael and Derek Ho, Tom Carroll and, more recently, Kelly Slater and Andy Irons.
One of surfing’s most dramatic days of all time came in 2003 when Irons defeated Slater in the final event of the year to win not only The Masters, but also the Triple Crown (best surfer in the three Hawaiian events) and the World Championship. This year, Slater has already wrapped up his eighth world title but Irons will want the Triple Crown and the Masters trophy. Having won the event in three of the last four years, he is the man to beat.
Posted by Alex Wade on December 07, 2006 at 09:01 PM in Weblogs Permalink
For more surfing news see www.timesonline.co.uk/surfnation
posted by Andy at 6:56 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home