John John Florence, Moana Jones Wong Win the 2023 Pipe Masters

The Pipe Masters, one of the most prestigious surf contests ever to exist, has looked a little different in recent years. And on Tuesday, this year's event wrapped up.

It’s no longer a World Surf League Championship Tour event, it no longer ends the season (it’s not on the CT docket at all, in fact, replaced by the Pipe Pro to kick off 2024), there’s no priority in the water (aside from the Finals), the points system requires a applied math degree to fully comprehend, there were a lot of underground names, and a handful of other alterations to the legendary competition.

But still, the waves were pumping; the crowds on the beach ooh-ing and ah-ing; and two well-deserving Pipeline chargers took home wins for the men’s and women’s.

It was a local’s only affair on the winner’s podium of this years Vans Pipe Masters with the Queen of Pipeline Moana Jones Wong taking the win for the women, and John John Florence snagging the trophy for the men.

After a long, quiet 28 minutes of the 40-minute Final, John John Florence finally put a keeper score on the board, a tricky Pipeline tube for a 12.50; he then immediately followed it up with a Backdoor drainer for a 18.00.

It was enough to beat Makana Pang, Billy Kemper, and Seth Moniz.

Then, there was Moana. She was unstoppable throughout much of the event.

Nathan Fletcher – aerial innovator, Pipeline specialist, living legend – who made the call for Vans to run the contest said about the now two-time Pipe Master, Moana:

“She took it to Pipeline like no other female took it to Pipeline. It’s second to none for the women at Pipeline. What we saw in the water has never been done.”

As for JJF, speaking to his win himself, he said:

“It feels so good. Those ones are so hard when there’s not a lot of good waves. But it was really fun grinding it out with all my friends.”

Congrats to all.

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