Molly Pinklum too!
The 2022 Pipe Masters is, officially, in the books as two new names are etched into the histories of “the world’s most prestigious surf contest” alongside Gerry Lopez, Derek Ho, Kelly Slater, Rob Machado etc. New York’s Balaram Stack and Australia’s Molly Pinklum. Insta-legends. Forever Pipe Masters.
Stack dispatched Griffin Colapinto, Kaulana Apo and Joao Chianca in stormy, rain-whipped Backdoor to hoist the title high above his handsome head. “I’m shocked,” he said afterward. “I don’t really know what to think. I need a minute to settle in. I’m stoked my mother is here. I’ll be thankful and shocked for a while.”
Pinklum took out Bellylou Johnson, Caitlin Simmers and darling Carissa Moore and declared, “Although I was holding the trophy, I feel like we won by pushing women’s surfing. I’m honored to have done this alongside such a strong, inspirational, cool class of women!”
You can, and should, catch all the highlights above but there are a few questions we must ponder, together, before you go. The Pipe Masters was radically reimagined this year, scoring barrels, airs and turns with the same weight, removing priority, multiple no-loser rounds etc. While the swell forecast made for some trouble, delaying the proceedings for a week, how did you feel about the overall business?
Like it was all more reflective of “the world’s most prestigious surf contest” or that the Pipe Masters has been degraded to a fun, but pointless, novelty show?
Nothing at stake, save many thousands of thousands of dollars and the title itself, did seem to take some of the oomph out of it. The World Surf League, for all its problems, does create a narrative that becomes compelling and truly does claim the world’s best surfers. Medina, Florence, Slater each sitting out the Pipe Masters throwing that truth into starker relief.
The real proof of the Pipe Master’s health will be, I suppose, if late January’s Pipeline Pro becomes surfing’s crown jewel instead.
What are your thoughts there?
Also, imagine if Sal Masekela’s self-satisfaction could be turned into an energy source. Enough gigawatts to light Stack’s New York City.
Salf-Satisfaction.
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That’s still young! I’m def in diff age bracket, then. I think SurfAds is only 38.
Just went back to see if it was fixed. Noticed this one “Bellylou Johnson”.
When I see Bal on the boardwalk in March/April I will tell him that the BG Commenters approve of his performance.
I’m sure that will make this victory MUCH more sweet.
Not as sweet as knowing that you relayed your tenuous relationship with him in the comments.
I was thinking that it was pretty sweet that the BG Commenters are more than just old men yelling at clouds…
Define old.
52, body of 70…
Personal experience, Selema is the biggest douche alive. Among all his bullshit, the top was bitching and lying his way into a charity Board seat with Burton while throwing surfing as a community under the bus.
Sal is despised as a gigantic fucking annoying poser in the skateboard world too, being forced upon us in those lame x games etc,,, Sal devalues any event massively.
explain
In her interview at the U.S Open they asked her “how it was out there and she said “ the waves sucked” haha.
That would be sick! One of my friends knows their family pretty well ( mackdawg productions) and asked me if she should get coaching on her post heat interviews. I like how honest she is. Its refreshing.
How does Mahina Flo outperform ever other WSL booth chick in one comp?
Classy.
She’s dynamite fo sho, going places
For all the hype on airs, did anyone even land one in the comp?
Not on anything remotely a real Pipe wave.
Yago on a very small end section.
If you missed this contest, you didn’t miss anything.
https://www.youtube.com/wat…
I beg to differ, best chick charging i’ve ever seen and even some makes, JOB being well, JOB, some bombs made and lots of dirty lickings and busted sticks, i really enjoyed it especially sharing it with my BG CREW!!!
Oct.4 , 2022 – Cape Hatteras, N.C.- 6-10ft. THICK North Swell
Watched Balaram air drop a 10ft rogue wave
Stick it at the bottom completly flat, accellerate in the blink of a eye thru two caves and then come out with the plunging breaker.
Very impressive!
It was at that moment I knew he would crush it in the Pipe Masters.
Those short period east coast Haterras swells seem to be good training for pipe waves. Brett Barley was in the volcom comp I think and handled it.
Balaram Stank should have also got a run.
Bal Sack too edgy?
Ball Sack is his long standing nickname.
Can comprehend.
https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
The heavy burden of charging big waves.
How you gonna spell Molly’s last name wrong through the entire article. Come on man.
What place did this guy get? https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
His name is Salema now.
Stab selling Pipe as the Best air wave in the World was a Bold Strategy Even more Bold was ripping off Eddie’s contest blatantly. The fact that they didn’t really go with the Usual Stab on Air Talent was interesting. Makes you wonder if the Stab High crew didn’t want to be around the North Shore for 2 months because of ripping off Eddie’s contest.
After Koa’s Utube rant Eddie got camera time and mentioned his contest Coincidence or Cowardice on Vans/Stab’s part? It was a contest run in less than stellar conditions that had good in bad moments sorta like the CT. Not unlike the CT there were probably half the field I could care less about & 3/4 of the field had no shot at winning the contest.
The most memorable moments Riss on Day 1 Sierra Kerr day 3 JOB and Nathan Florence Vlogging during a comp which says everything you need to know about the contest in general. Joao pissing down Griffs Leg in a Heat in a Non Priority contest. The Commentating itself was no different than any other specialty event thats non CT. There were pros/cons but give me 8 hrs a day for 10 contests a year I could pick it a part like I do with the CT folks. Thumbs in the middle with room for improvement…
Feb’s did FINE and should be highly noted! Harry and Eithan..
Dude rips and deserved to win, but fuck his name sounds like an S.T.I:
“took this heapa home from the boozer last week, now me boardies are sticking to me leg, think I’ve got balaram stack”
worlds second best Jewish surfer..right behind Makua rothman
i funny.
I thought it was good. Two perfect drop ins in the ladies semis and final. They deserved the penalties they got.
No word on Mahina? A star was born. Part grace jones evil dominatrix, part smooth and engaging tv anchor.
They never should have mentioned airs in this contest. Nobody was going to legit try to launch an air out there. The only thing that resulted from claiming air contest was opening invites to people who had no business being out there.
What invitee had no business being out there?
Tosh Tudor
Josh’s inclusion is outside Barrelled’s line of thought.
But I agree with you.
this guy! https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
Eithan
He and harry (hairy’s was a bit hairer too!) sacked up to say the least! Now they need to go to night school and learn some vocabulary speak like a proper gentleman. So nice to hear that Hawaiinan scientist commenting and Makua for that matter..
‘Dr’ Kapono was inflicting pain from the booth
So just one guy? (who came 13th)
I would think there are far better Pipe specialists than quite a few of the invitees. Rio Waida is another that comes to mind. There are a few guys I never heard of so can’t say but they definitely aren’t Pipe guys. I guess my point is that it’s an invite contest, invite the best if that’s the case. Have an air contest at Rockies.
I guess with being involved with so many events I’m just a fan of breaking the mould of the who, whats and how’s of running a one.
People got too caught up on the “air” aspect, but the criteria was just searching for progression.
Hats off to Vans.
Rasta rob
He charged and looked rock solid in the pit.
Hey negs what’s the little human figure with the plus sign next to it in the badge section that turns red when you click on it?
That’s if you want to “follow” the person. Fuck knows why anyone would though.
I think I’ll follow Sam.
Email updates on every post?!?!
So I get woken up at 2am to read them .