2024 Vans Pipe Masters Day One – Live updates, comments and guesses

2024 Vans Pipe Masters Day One – Live updates, comments and guesses

Click here to read our Vans Pipe Masters preview and follow along below for updates on everything happening on the beach today. This post will be updated every few minutes with new insights and game by game.

Although Vans has decided not to have a live stream at this time, you can follow along on social media via @vanssurf, @surfline and @stab. You can also click here for Heat updates and here for the full rankings

According to Sean Collins, individual waves in a Hawaiian swell are estimated to travel about three times as long as the wave period. So a 17-second wave like the one that hit last night should be moving at about 51 nautical miles per hour – or 94 km/h.

These tractor-trailer speeds would explain why the size and angle of the swell here on the North Shore seems to change so quickly – from flat yesterday morning to 20 feet last night to still scary but manageable today.

The tumble of the trade winds this morning looks pretty similar to a sunrise last year, before some second sets of reefs came in force and Harry Bryant stuffed a 7’2 Gravelle into the belly of a 30-point kite.

We’ll see how things develop today. The event begins at 8 a.m. Hawaii time, women go first – refresh this page for updates.

For reference:

  • There are 40 men and 20 women in the draw, with Hawaiians making up about half of the roster. There are four heats in which each round takes place three times. The four surfers with the highest scoring waves in these heats advance to the finals.
  • Each run alternates between morning, midday and afternoon to surf in all conditions and maximize your chances.
  • The heats last 30 minutes and each wave is awarded 30 points (10 points each from three judges).
  • No priority and only the best three waves from the first three heats count.
  • 40-minute final for four people, where only the two best waves are taken into account. Vans will announce any priority restrictions for the final depending on conditions.
  • The total prize money is $300,000, with distribution on the men’s and women’s sides as follows:
    • 1st place: $75,000
    • 2nd place: $35,000
    • 3rd place: $25,000
    • 4th place: $15,000

Women’s Heat One, Round One – Caity Simmers (USA), Moana Jones-Wong (HAW), Zoe McDougall (HAW), Chesney Guinotte (HAW)

“I feel like I’m the most complicit here,” Caity Simmers laughed a few days ago as we bobbed in the water in front of the small (and less crowded) backdoor. “Usually everyone from the competition would be out here surfing before the event, but it was so relaxed. It’s a little different than a CT scan. Normally I’m the least stressed… now I’m the most excited.”

Along with Moana Jones-Wong and local grom Chesney Guinotte, Caity will be paddling out this morning with one of her best friends – Zoe McDougall.

“If a good backdoor wave comes to you and Caity, who will join in?” I asked Zoe last night.

“Well,” Zoe giggled. “I go. She lives at my house, so she better let me go.”

As the four women drift through the coast, lining up in a trade-ruffled line, the sun continues its focused Waianae Mountains, not quite illuminating the icy bones of Pipeline Reef.

Moana grabs the first left, a head-high wobbler, to no avail. After a long wait, Caity follows with a backhand snap and Moana grabs another clamshell. Zoe and Chesney make both half rounds.

Finally, almost 20 minutes into the heat, the first mobile tube winds onto the backdoor reef, with Caity fending off Moana and throwing herself behind the foaming curtain for a 16/30.

Despite a drop from the air and another attempt by Caity, 16 is the only result at the end of the round.

During the heat draw the other night there was clearly a feeling that being in the first heats of the day was a curse. It looks like this perspective holds true so far.

Women’s second round, first round – Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW), Erin Brooks (CAN), Sophie Bell (ZAF), Eweleiʻula Wong (HAW)

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