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IBA / TROUVILLE
Dave Hubbard of Kauai ducked into a small barrel during the IBA Pipe Challenge on Thursday.
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Finalists in two divisions were determined on Thursday at the International Bodyboarding Association’s Pipe Challenge.
Four competitors each in men’s dropknee and women’s events advanced to the finals.
The event is the first of eight on the IBA world tour and also is the most coveted.
Kauai’s Dave Hubbard was among those to advance in 2- to 4-foot surf. He finished second in his semifinal heat with a score of 13.36, behind Cesar Bauer’s 17.33.
“I am feeling good and I am stoked,” Hubbard said. “I got some new boards that I am feeling out that were working really good out there.”
Hubbard advanced by using a combination of barrel riding and powerful snapping turns. He is competing in both the men’s and dropknee divisions.
Also advancing in dropknee were Dave Winchester and Sacha Specker.
On the women’s side, 39-year-old Karla Costa-Taylor from Brazil, who now lives in Hawaii, won her semifinal heat with some solid wave riding. Costa-Taylor finished second on the tour last year and is no stranger at Pipeline, having won IBA and regional events at the break.
“The conditions were tough, but I got two good scores to let me get into the finals so I am happy,” Costa-Taylor said. “Pipeline is my dream wave and I always want to do good in the event. It’s always such a challenge within you and the wave itself. It’s definitely my favorite event to win.”
Other women advancing to the finals were Sari Ohhara, Isabella Sousa and Minami Hatekayama.
Contest organizers will convene daily to assess conditions with an 8 a.m. call to run or not. The forecast looks likely for a return to competition on Wednesday.