Behind the Scenes at a Historic Vans Pipe Masters on Hawaii's North Shore

Growing up in the ancient mountains of New York State, surfing was always foreign to me. Just out of reach. Instead, snowboarding provided a tangible connection to nature, to friends, and to history. Knowing where the thing you love comes from is important, whether consciously recognized or not. Yet on a recent visit to Southern Vermont—the birthplace of snowboarding—I found myself wandering an ersatz Swiss village at the base of the first ski resort to allow snowboarding wondering where the history had gone. How will the next generation (or current, for that matter) know that these hills shaped the earliest snowboard prototypes and hosted some of the most influential tricks and contests in history? The answer, as it all too often does, lies in corporate profit—a Starbucks at the base area makes more than a museum ever will…

Fast forward (or rewind) a few months and I find myself 5,000 miles away with toes in the sand on the North Shore of Oahu. Hallowed ground for surfing. Only this time, everyone knows it. And though there’s no shortage of multi-million dollar homes dotting the shoreline, the beach, the waves, and the bike path are all public—and all steeped in surfing history. To celebrate the community, the history, and one of the most iconic (and dangerous) waves in the world, each December the best surfers from around the world gather to celebrate surf history and compete in the Vans Pipe Masters.

Field Mag has been on the ground for the event for the past couple years—in 2022 we saw inclusion as a theme with women competing in live heats for the first time ever (the women’s division was initially introduced in late 2020 but held virtually due to pandemic restrictions), and in 2023, perfect conditions gave way to hometown heroes John Florence and Moana Jones-Wong being crowned the Vans Pipe Masters champions.

Personally, I’ve been to Oahu many times, too, though all for work in the commercial production world. Each trip peels back another layer, broadens my understanding of local lore, and offers a new perspective on why the Pipeline name carries so much weight, not just in surfing but board sports in general.

Now, this is the part where I could break down the event itself—the format, the judging, the prize money. I could tell you the contest is invite-only, featuring 40 men and 20 women, with roughly half the roster representing Hawaii. I could explain how the heats rotate throughout the day to test surfers in all conditions, or that each wave is judged out of 30 points with no priority system, and that only your top three waves count. I could also break down the $300,000 prize money to be distributed equally between men's and women's divisions.

I could tell you that this year’s contest period spanned 8-20 December, and that waves started out small but workable and ended with towering 10-foot barrels. That the conditions allowed contestants to explore the recently introduced aerial aspect of the contest alongside the traditional pipe riding the wave—and the past 50 years of events—are known for. I could spend a whole paragraph detailing Koa Smith’s perfect 30-point ride, dubbed "one of the best ridden in years" by Nathan Fletcher. And detail how Nathan Florence and Erin Brooks earned the title of Pipe Masters in the end—a historic end to the year for both. The former etching his name in Hawaiian history alongside his brother, 2x Pipe Master John Florence, after earning Stab Surfer of the Year and Ride of the Year titles, and the latter becoming the youngest surfer to ever win the contest at age 17.

But let’s be honest, you don’t want some crusty old guy from Upstate NY giving you a play-by-play of the contest. Instead, I’m more interested in the legacy of the Pipe Masters—what it represents and what it means for the future of surfing. Though alignment with and position on the WSL has wavered over the years, the contest remains a pinnacle event in surfing.

Starting with Jeff Hakman’s win in 1971, the contest has been a proving ground for true legends of the sport. Gerry Lopez, Rory Russell, Derek Ho, Tom Carrol, Bruce & Andy Irons, Kelly Slater, and Jamie O'Brien are just a few names of a long list of men to earn the title. With Moana Jones-Wong and Molly Picklum holding it in more recent memory. Each has contributed to the legacy and tradition of the coveted title of Pipe Master. But that’s the past—the future of the contest? It’s up to the kids.

Err, the groms, as those who prefer a heavy dose of aging board sport slang. There is no shortage of groms on Oahu. And though this year’s women’s division winner, Erin Brooks, isn’t local, the fact that she made finals in 2023 at age 16 and won at 17 is enough. Here, on the North Shore, young surfers have a real chance to make a name for themselves while under the guidance of the sport’s most respected legends. At the world’s most deadly wave, skill isn’t enough. You have to be invited to drop in at Pipeline and Backdoor. You have to earn it. This interplay between generations continues to guide new champions, laying the foundation for a thriving future of contests and everyday surf culture.

On day one of the competition, a pack of young girls ran up to Moana Jones Wong as she exited the water at the end of her heat. Their faces lit up with pure excitement, hanging on her every word and expression. Moments like these will stay with a kid for a lifetime, in their dreams at night and as they paddle out themselves.

I remember it vividly myself, seeing Danny Kass boost impossible alley-oops at the US Open in Vermont two decades ago. Now, watching Pipeline turn on, stopping dozens of international pros, kids, and family all in their tracks, the energy is indescribable. This is where the spark starts. Keeping legacies alive is how we keep the torch lit for the next generation.