Larry Blair, Mark Richards and Larry Bertlemann (bottom) line up for the 1979 Pipe Masters Final. Although not seen in this shot, Dane Kealoha, Shaun Tomson and Tom Carroll were the other three finalists. Blair had claimed the 1978 Pipe Masters and the simmering Hawaiian contingent on the beach wanted to see Dane destroy the Aussie upstart. Kealoah had lost to the flamboyant Blair in the ’78 final and was determined to win in front of a home crowd. Dane was also gunning for the world title, with one event remaining after Pipe.  

Mark Richards remembers there was almost a coup by the surfers in the lead up to the event because of the stipulations made by clothing sponsors ‘Offshore’. By this stage many of the surfers had sponsorship arrangements with specific companies. MR, who had been wearing Quiksilver boardies, recalls receiving a clear ultimatum from contest director, Randy Rarick. “You had to wear their (Offshore) boardshorts, it was a requirement of the event.  I think it was on the entry form you filled in or the waiver you signed. Everyone tried to revolt… I tried numerous times to revolt but Randy Rarick basically said, do you want to surf in the event or not surf in the event – ‘Boardshorts you’re in. No boardshorts you’re out’.”

With a dazzling mixture of backdoor barrels, pig-dogging and lay-backs, Kealoha dominated for most of the final. Dane saw Pipe as his domain and happily employed his share of don’t argue tactics, frequently muscling other finalists off the split peaks. However, he was forced to come in when he had ridden his maximum of ten waves.  After a hero’s reception when he reached the shore, Dane watched on in dismay as Larry Blair knifed a late drop on the best wave of the heat and twinkle-toed out with the spit. It was tight, but Larry got the nod and claimed back-to-back Pipe Masters… It never got any better for the Maroubra surfer who’d been raised by two of Australia’s biggest criminals. The full story of which is detailed in his compelling autobiography, ‘The Outside’.  

A week after Pipe, the surfers lined up for the last tour event of 1979, at Haleiwa. Dane was still basically an equal first contender for the world title, alongside Rabbit Bartholomew and Cheyne Horan. All three choked, creating the opportunity for Mark Richards to come from behind and claim his first of four consecutive world titles.         

Sources: ‘The Encyclopaedia of Surfing’, ‘The Outside’: Autobiography of Larry Blair