Jamie O’Brien and other Pipeline specialists have been included in the final line-up for the Vans Pipe Masters contest after outrage sparked on social media yesterday over their omission.
A number of the world’s best surfers, including local Hawaiians and Pipeline specialists, took to Instagram yesterday to call out Vans for its choice of invitees, arguing that a number of the best Pipe surfers in the world continue to be ignored, which, in turn, has led to the true meaning of being a ‘Pipe Master’ diminishing.
Posts by both Josh Moniz and Jamie O’Brien received thousands of comments in support from some of the biggest names in the surfing world including Kelly Slater, Billy Kemper, Griffin Colapinto, Julian Wilson and more.
JOB, who is arguably the best to ever to do it at Pipeline, said that growing up he was told to ‘let your surfing do the talking’ but that after spending nearly 30 years surfing Pipeline every winter, he was deemed only fit for an alternate slot for the Pipe Masters.
“To say I’m upset and disrespected is an understatement. It’s sad to see such a prestigious event being run by kooks who clearly don’t understand the reality of the lineup at Pipeline,” he wrote.
However, it seems the power of social media and the surfing world coming together to speak up has caused Vans to do a quick 180 turn and include him in the final lineup, which was announced today. The result of peer pressure, or a coincidence? We’ll let you decide.
Anyways, here is the full list of invitees for the event which runs from 8-20 December. You’ll notice the list also includes Eli Olson who Jamie had referred to in his post as a must have for the contest.
Confirmed Men
Kaulana Apo (HAW)
Noah Beschen (HAW)
Russell Bierke (AUS)
Benji Brand (HAW)
Harry Bryant (AUS)
Legend Chandler (HAW)
Alan Cleland Jr. (MEX)
Crosby Colapinto (USA)
Noa Deane (AUS)
Imaikalani DeVault (HAW)
Cherif Fall (SEN)
Ivan Florence (HAW)
Nathan Florence (HAW)
Kala Grace (HAW)
Mason Ho (HAW)
Kainehe Hunt (HAW)
Koldo Illumbe (IDN/ESP)
Billy Kemper (HAW)
Kyuss King (AUS)
Zeke Lau (HAW)
Jake Maki (HAW)
Barron Mamiya (HAW)
Makai McNamara (HAW)
Torrey Meister (HAW)
Noa Mizuno (HAW)
Seth Moniz (HAW)
Eli Olson (HAW)
Jamie O’Brien (HAW)
Makana Pang (HAW)
Cam Richards (USA)
Koa Rothman (HAW)
Guy Sato (JPN)
Lungi Slabb (AUS)
Koa Smith (HAW)
Balaram Stack (USA)
Eala Stewart (HAW)
Tosh Tudor (USA)
Kauli Vaast (PYF)
Mikey Wright (AUS)
Kū’i’o’okalani Young (HAW)
Confirmed Women
Erin Brooks (USA)
Milla Coco Brown (AUS)
Gabriela Bryan (HAW)
Puamakamae DeSoto (HAW)
Anne Dos Santos (BRA)
Vahine Fierro (PYF)
Kiara Goold (PYF)
Chesney Guinotte (HAW)
Coco Ho (HAW)
Bella Kenworthy (USA)
Maluhia Kinimaka (HAW)
Sierra Kerr (AUS)
Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW)
Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)
Moana Jones-Wong (HAW)
Zoë McDougall (HAW)
Molly Picklum (AUS)
Caity Simmers (USA)
Luana Silva (BRA)
Ēweleiʻula Wong (HAW)
