WSL Addresses Controversial Move to Call Off Pipeline on Biggest Day

Dashel Pierson
·2 min read
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On Monday, Pipeline was massive.

Double overhead, probably even triple, waves steamrolled through the gladiator pit of the Pipeline lineup with a few diamonds in the rough. Following a handful of lay days, the contest was ON – or so many surfers and surf fans thought.

The World Surf League decided to put the contest on hold, then eventually called it off. Scrolling through the quagmire of comments, people were pissed.

Even Johnny Boy Gomes, former Pipe Master, chimed in with dismay:

“You gotta be kidding me, cancel today‼️ WTF happened to pro surfing now days. It’s a circus run by clowns.”

Instead, the WSL decided to run the event today (Tuesday) in much smaller surf. And before the event kicked off, Chief of Sport Jessi Miley Dyer did a little damage control:

“We figured it’s worth coming on here and chatting a little bit about yesterday. Obviously we saw all the comments. We really wanted to run, too. There’s nothing better…the WSL loves to see big, perfect Pipeline. I know our surfers also want to surf those conditions, too.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t quite there yesterday. We had a lot of wash-throughs. It was really big. It kind of cleaned up in the afternoon for sure. But that’s outside competition hours for us. When you get to about 4:00 o’clock in our permit, we have to be off the beach at 4:30. So, it was a bit late for us to start the contest yesterday.

“We’re looking forward to today, and crossing fingers for a couple big barrels.”

As expected, folks were still pissed. Johnny Boy, again, penned:

“Wasn’t there yesterday! You can stop your BS because everyone could see how perfect Pipeline was yesterday on the Surfline cam.”

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