The waves were pumping Saturday, just in time for the start of the Billabong Pipe Masters.
Kauai’s Sebastien Zietz continued his dream run by winning his first-round heat at Pipeline on a day waves started out in the 6-foot range and rose to 10 feet later on.
Zietz is trying to capture the Vans Triple Crown title that goes to the surfer who does the best overall in the three North Shore contests. Zietz is in first place in the standings after winning the Reef Hawaiian Pro and placing third in the Vans World Cup.
"I am feeling a big weight off my shoulders," he said. "I have been nervous all day watching the waves come up. I am happy to get through that heat and have a little more security on that Triple Crown stranglehold. That was my first real Pipe session of the season. She has not changed. She’s scary, big and gnarly."
The biggest upset of the day came from 33-year-old C.J. Hobgood, who took down an on-fire Jamie O’Brien of Hawaii in the last heat of the day. In his first heat, O’Brien locked in the highest heat total of the event — a 16.34 for some incredible barrel rides — and looked unstoppable.
"I had priority at the end with Jamie only needing a 6," Hobgood said. "A little wave came in and it was tough to know if I should go on it. I was like, ‘All right, I’ll just go on this one and if there’s one behind it, I lose.’ Lucky for me there was not one."
Taylor Knox, 41, who is retiring, lost his heat, the final one of an ASP career that started in 1993.
"It’s like a lightning bolt of pleasure, tears, hills and valleys," Knox said about the sport he loves.
Hawaii’s Shane Dorian had the day’s highest-scoring wave with a 9.1 on a massive Backdoor barrel.
Competition likely resumes today, starting with the completion of the second round, surf permitting.
The three surfers still in the chase for the world title — 11-time world champ Kelly Slater, Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning, will enter the fray in the third round. One of them will be crowned world champ.
