Spencer Skipper was in perfect rhythm with Pipeline, maneuvering the pits and launching off the lips with ease.
In dreamy 6- to 8-foot surf, Skipper posted the highest score of the IBA Hawaii Pipeline Pro bodyboard event in his Round 5 heat with a 9.7 for one particularly heavy tube ride followed by a massive air on the inside. It was met with cheers from the crowd on the beach.
Skipper has been doing the event since 1996 and is as enamored as ever.
"For me, this wave is what always drove me to ride a bodyboard," Skipper said. "All the guys that I looked up to before me proved themselves out here, so for me it was always the ultimate wave."
Hawaii island’s Keahi Parker survived a close heat that came down to the final seconds. He hung on for second (10.6) against Kauai’s Tanner McDaniel (10.43) and Yoan Florantin (10.33) His heat, won by Australia’s Shaun Petersen (11.6), highlighted one of the better waves of the day at Backdoor.
"Stoked that I made it to the last day because the forecast is looking really good," Parker said. "There were some really good waves out there. I got that one Backdoor wave, which was one of the bigger Backdoor barrels I got all year."
The youngest competitor in the event was the 14-year-old McDaniel, one of the top up-and-comers from Hawaii. He is still alive in the junior division, which will likely go on Sunday.
"The waves are perfect with super fun conditions," McDaniel said. "In my first heat, I got the best wave I ever got in a contest. It was just a big Pipe barrel, which was a great reward for surfing that heat."
McDaniel is sponsored by Mike Stewart, the oldest competitor in the event at 52.
"It’s pretty trippy, but when I think about the age gap it doesn’t make me think they should be surfing better," McDaniel said. "I think I should be surfing as good as these guys.
The forecast looks good for a Sunday finish for the men’s and junior divisions. The Women’s and Drop Knee will likely finish Saturday.
