83
PIPELINE SURFING
Where?
Pipeline Beach
59-337 Ke-Nui Road
North Oahu, HI
When?
Two weeks in December every year.
Significance:
Golfers want to play at Augusta. Mountain climbers long to scale Everest. Surfers dream about the opportunity to surf the Banzai Pipeline at the Pipeline Masters. The Pipeline Reef is where those surfers congregate for the best “break” in the world. The Banzai Pipeline serves as the biggest barrel in the world among the best waves on the north shore.
Surfing the Banzai Pipeline is not for the weak of heart. It is a tubed surfing break that calls Ehukai (“Reddish Tinged Water”) Beach Park on the north shore of Oahu home. Surfers call it “cranking” when the water surrounds them, but this is not a peaceful enclosure that provides a protective water cocoon. The powerful waves come up fast and break in a furious and almost violent fashion. Surfers have come out of it with cuts and a few broken bones.
The Banzai Pipeline got its nickname from Bruce Brown in the late 1950s. Brown was a surf cinematographer. Reacting to a surfer navigating a vicious wave while narrating “Surf Safari,” he shouted “banzai” with the cameras rolling. The name has stuck ever since. The Banzai Pipeline and the Pipeline Masters have been immortalized in other movies, most recently Blue Crush, along with documentaries and books.
The Pipeline Masters is the most prestigious surfing contest and the final leg of the annual World Championship Tour. Surfers from around the world come together to find out who is the best of the best, not to mention the “master” of the Banzai Pipeline.
Who attends?
Surfers, surfing hopefuls, and wannabes can be found at the Pipeline Masters. Locals also congregate to watch the best surfers battle their hometown waves.
Tickets:
No tickets necessary. A beach towel and binoculars will suffice. And wear sunscreen.
Accommodations:
Turtle Bay, North Shore Oahu Hawaii
57-091 Kamehameha Highway
Kahuku, HI 96731
Phone: (808) 293-6000
Fax: (808) 293-9147
Toll-Free: 1-800-203-3650
www.turtlebayresort.comNote: 443 beach cottages and guest rooms on five miles of beachfront that face the beautiful Kawela Bay, Bay View Beach Lawn, and Turtle Bay.
JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
92-1001 Olani Street
Kapolei, HI 96707
Phone: (808) 679-0079
Fax: (808) 679-0080
Toll-Free: 1-800-626-4446
www.ihilani.comNote: A breathtaking view of one of the finest white sand beaches in Hawaii. Luxurious amenities, elegant surroundings, and private lanais.
Waikiki Beach Area (forty-five minutes from Pipeline Beach):
Aqua Palms and Spa
1850 Ala Moana Boulevard
Waikiki Beach, HI 96815
Phone: (808) 947-7256
Fax: (808) 947-7002
Toll-Free: 1-866-406-2782
www.aquaresorts.comNote: AAA 3-Diamond-rated hotel located one block from Waikiki Beach.
Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort & Spa
Note: On twenty-two oceanfront acres, this resort boasts beautiful tropical gardens, waterfalls, exotic wildlife, and priceless artwork. Over twenty restaurants and lounges onsite.
On-Site Hospitality:
Nothing formal, just the beauty and majesty of the Hawaiian surroundings.
Travel Packages:
If you are going to travel to this event, I would recommend using a reliable company to work with you on making the necessary arrangements. The suppliers listed in this book have solid references and are by far the most trusted in the business. Below are some of the organizations to try for this Top 100 Must See Sporting Event.
Premiere Corporate Events
14 Penn Plaza, Suite 925
New York, NY 10122
Phone: (212) 695-9480
Fax: (212) 564-8098
Toll-Free: 1-877-621-5243
E-mail: requests@tseworld.com
www.tseworld.comwww.pcevents.com
Premiere Sports Travel
201 Shannon Oaks Circle, Suite 205
Cary, NC 27511
Phone: (919) 481-9511
Fax: (919) 481-1337
Toll-Free: 1-800-924-9993
E-mail: sales@sportstravel.com
www.sportstravel.com
Dining:
Pizza Bob’s
Haleiwa Shopping Plaza
66-145 Kamehameha Highway
Haleiwa, HI 96712
Phone: (808) 637-5095
Note: In the heart of old-town Haleiwa, this restaurant serves fresh, non-greasy pizzas with large toppings over a hand-tossed crust.
Kua Aina Sandwich Shop
66-160 Kamehameha Highway
Haleiwa, HI 96712
Phone: (808) 637-6067
Note: Locals consider this the place for the best burgers in Hawaii.
Jameson’s by the Sea
62-540 Kamehameha Highway
Haleiwa, HI 96712
Phone: (808) 637-6272
Note: The menu features sashimi, fried calamari, and mahi mahi. Dine on rattan furniture while listening to the music of Hawaii.
Haleiwa Café
66-460 Kamehameha Highway
Haleiwa, HI 96712
Phone: (808) 637-5516
Note: An affordable option and great meal for the budget-conscious diner.
Haleiwa Joe’s
Note: Down the road from the Pipeline and a great place to get a quick lunch before watching the best surfers in the world compete.
Airport:
Honolulu International Airport
Sports Travel Insider’s Edge:
Best way to watch the action:
Avoid the water and experience the Pipeline at its best. Stand on the beach with the throng of Pipeline fanatics as the sand squishes between your toes. You will notice that, at times, the crowd speaks in hushed tones, almost in reverence for the event. But when a surfer emerges from the white, join those fans in loud cheers.
Best place to get up close:
Again, avoid the water. High tide is, in a word, treacherous. Bring binoculars for an up-close look at the waves breaking far from shore. Visually, standing on the beach is as close as you want to get.
Best travel tip:
Staying on the North Shore is not only more convenient, but also less crowded than other parts of the island. After all, you’re in Hawaii to relax. And what better way to relax but to take in a swim—when the surf is not up, that is.
Notable Quotes:
“Pipe is the ultimate arena and the Pipeline Masters is the most prestigious title on tour.”—WAYNE “RABBIT” BARTHOLOMEW, ASP President and 1978 World Champion
“This is how it should be. Beautiful day, good waves, and the Hawaiians showing the world what they can do. There’s just no other spot like Pipeline.”—GERRY LOPEZ, legendary surfer
Relevant Websites: