22.22% of Surfers Wore Helmets on Opening Day of the Pipe Pro

Pipeline, often considered the deadliest and most dangerous surf spot on earth, has lived up to its perilous reputation so far this winter season.

In recent weeks, numerous pro surfers have experienced the wrath of Pipe, slamming their heads on the reef, nearly drowning, and suffering concussions. Casualties include: Kai Lenny, Koa Rothman, Eimeo Czermak, and Joao Chianca.

And from that carnage, an age-old debate has resurfaced – to wear a helmet or not?

By most accounts, there’s been more helmets in the lineup and more concern for safety while surfing Pipeline than, probably, ever before following the spate of head injuries. So, with the World Surf League’s 2024 kickoff event, the Lexus Pipe Pro, currently underway, what about the Championship Tour surfers? Are they strapping in, too?

Here’s a look at the opening round of the Pipe Pro. Underlined names = helmet; strikethrough = no helmet.

Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI Men's Opening Round Matchups:
Heat 1: Yago Dora (BRA), Matthew McGillivray (RSA), Kade Matson (USA)
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA), Callum Robson (AUS), Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Jack Robinson (AUS), Rio Waida (INA), Kelly Slater (USA)
Heat 4: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Seth Moniz (HAW), Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)
Heat 5: Ethan Ewing (AUS), Cole Houshmand (USA), Jackson Bunch (HAW)
Heat 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Samuel Pupo (BRA), Shion Crawford (HAW)
Heat 7: John John Florence (HAW), Caio Ibelli (BRA), Jake Marshall (USA)
Heat 8: Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Liam O'Brien (AUS), Frederico Morais (POR)
Heat 9: Ryan Callinan (AUS), Jordy Smith (RSA), Imaikalani Devault (HAW)
Heat 10: Connor O'Leary (JPN), Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Eli Hanneman (HAW)
Heat 11: Barron Mamiya (HAW), Ian Gentil (HAW), Crosby Colapinto (USA)
Heat 12: Miguel Pupo (BRA), Italo Ferreira (BRA), Jacob Willcox (AUS)

That’s six out of 36 surfers wearing helmets, or 22.22%. Not a massive percentage of the field, but still, most likely more helmet-wearers than past years.

Luckily, there were no major injuries at Pipe during the opening day of competition – either from surfers wearing helmets, or those who opted out. But it’s only day one.

Stay tuned.

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