“Please pray for Austin Gibbons. He is a fighter and a warrior.”
The popular New York surfer Austin Gibbons was rushed to intensive care yesterday following a wipeout at Pipeline on a day that was too deemed too big, and too unsafe for the world’s best surfers competing in the Lexus Pipe Pro.
The WSL was criticised hither and yon for not running the Lexus Pipe Pro on a day that was as spectacular as it was wild.
The legendary Hawaiian strongman Johnny Boy Gomes, winner of the 1997 Pipeline Masters and a man of “superhuman strength”, reacted angrily.
Although details surrounding the accident are scarce, New Yorker Balaram Stack posted a story on Instagram calling for prayers for his fallen pal.
“Say a prayer for Austin Gibbons. Went down at Pipe yesterday. In the ICU now. U got this kid.”
San Clemente surfer Max Beach, son of Electric sunglasses founder Bruce, posted:
“Please pray for Austin Gibbons. He drowned today at Pipeline. He is a fighter and a warrior. I love you brother.”
It’s been a horror season for injuries at Pipeline, this the sixth serious injury since December.
World number four Joao Chianca, Tahitian kingpin Eimeo Czermak, Pipe regular Koa Rothman and Peruvian shredder Joaquin Del Castillo were the big names sidelined proving it ain’t just the kooks getting belted.