For many a Hawaiian winter is simply a pipe dream and each season we live the North Shore’s seven mile miracle vicariously through others. There’s few better ways to experience that magic than through the lens of iconic photographer Brian Bielmann who’s been shooting in the water at Pipe and across the North Shore for almost five decades.
With pros from every corner of the surfing globe currently in town for the Vans Pipe Masters, the Eddie Aikau ceremony, and the CT soon to descend on the proving grounds, we caught up with Brian to get the lowdown on whose been the stand outs, what the waves and atmosphere have been like so far this season on the North Shore.
How have the waves been so far on the North Shore this winter?
BB: I’m guessing I’m jaded, as everyone else would say Pipe has been good, and granted there’s been some memorable waves ridden, but I guess I’m waiting for the crazy A plus day, which is yet to come.
What makes the North Shore so special at this time of year?
BB: The energy at this time of year is off the charts, there’s so much talent in one place at the same time. It only lasts a few months so I submerge myself in it as much as I can for the short time its happening.
What’s your favourite wave to shoot at this time of year?
BB: My favorite place to shoot, for almost 50 years, has been Pipeline from the water when its backlit during the late afternoon. The fact there does not seem to be many companies hiring, and I know that I’m getting far more shots from the beach, I have not even been shooting from the water yet. When it gets good, like really good, maybe I will get my lazy ass out there, but I have hundreds of water shots from Pipe now over the years, so it’s hard to motivate myself I guess. Truth is, I’m currently covering a lot of angles I never did much of previously.
What’s the crowd factor like at the moment?
BB: Kind of business as usual, there’s more of a local crowd at places like Pipe, Backdoor and Sunset, while Rocky point and Off The Wall have a lot of traveling surfers out.
With Hawaii very much the proving grounds in surfing, it seems like each season on the North Shore there’s always a stand out surfer or two that elevate themselves to new levels. Has anyone stood out to you so far this season?
BB: By far Erin Brooks. There was two sessions at Rocky Point that stand out in my mind, there was a lot of closeouts and lots of wind but she’s been pushing the limits, doing turns and airs in the right sections. She doesn’t always make it but she’s always staying on her board, no fly aways for the most part. Guys like Noah Beschen and John John Florence are pulling off some cool airs too.
Erin is part of a cohort of women continually pushing the boundaries of the sport each season on the North Shore. How inspiring is it to watch?
BB: I’m so impressed with how much the women have improved, it’s mind boggling and truly crazy. My best shots so far this winter have been of Erin. When Pipe does its thing, I have to say Moana [Jones Wong] is the girl to beat.
You shot the Eddie Aikau opening ceremony, can you tell us a bit about the vibe during that day and what makes it such a special occasion?
BB: This year it was raining so much in the morning and I was running around trying to get shots. I wanted to shoot the whole thing in black and white and it was really overcast, which made it perfect for what I wanted to do. I feel like the Eddie is what keeps surfers grounded and continues to be what surfing should be all about. There’s a lot of older and experienced surfers involved, which is why I think I relate to it so much. I’ve known some of these guys since the earliest Eddie events and then some of the younger talent like Jake Maki and the girls give it a breath of fresh air. I like the respect everyone has for one another, it’s the real deal on the North Shore and the vibe on ceremony day was so good. Let’s hope it goes this winter. Rip Curl has signed on for four years, so everyone is super stoked.
