This is a surf break that offers high-performance surfing but can handle a good-size swell too. It breaks outside and peels, with a section called the Toilet Bowl where it jacks up and gets pretty hollow. A win here gives ya the lead in the Triple Crown race.
Next up is the six-star, $125,000 O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at the big wave spot, Sunset Beach, running Saturday through Dec. 6. At the same time is a women's specialty event, the $10,000 O'Neill Sunset Challenge.
This break is known for having 10- to 25-foot surf that breaks about a half-mile off the beach. It's a true proving ground of surf mastery and a place where reputations are made.
The surf here can be gnarly and life-threatening. A bad wipeout easily can lead to drowning.
The third contest is the World Championship Tour's $270,000 Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters, Dec. 8 to 20.
Meanwhile, the women are off to the World Championship Tour's $65,000 Billabong Pro on Maui.
Pipeline is one of the hollowest waves on the planet. It breaks in shallow water, 4-feet deep at times over some sharp, jagged coral.
Surfers take a risk when pulling in the barrel from 6 to sometimes 20 feet to get the tube ride of their life.
Former winners here are legends Gerry Lopez, Rory Russell, Derek and Michael Ho, Andy and Bruce Irons, Mark "Occy" Occhilupo and Kelly Slater, to name a few.
This year the world title has already been decided, with Slates winning his seventh overall world championship. Three-time champ Andy Irons is second heading into these events, so look for these guys to go all out with no pressure on them.
In the women's, the battle is still on between the current world champ, Peruvian Sofia Mulanovich, and hot up-and-coming Australian Chelsea Georgeson. This title race should go down to the wire.
