Tom Carroll (AUS) has won the four-way Heritage Series heat over Derek Ho (HAW), Sunny Garcia (HAW) and Gary Elkerton (AUS).
The ocean had gone deceptively quiet after a full day of competition that included the Final of the Men's Pipe Invitational, Round 1 of the Billabong Pipe Masters and the Women's Pipe Invitational. But all that changed when the legends of Pipe took to the water.
The two-time World Champ scores a near-perfect ride, 30 years later.
Garcia, who competed in the first two events of this year's Vans Triple Crown, was the first to get his feet in the wax with a casual glide-in. With a brief lull, Pipe looked spent until Carroll dropped into a deep barrel, emerging with the spit for a 9.60. The 53-year-old, who won the Pipe Masters in 1987, 1990 and 1991, was out to prove that he still had it -- and then some.
Garcia and Ho managed to keep pace with sweet barrel rides of their own but Carroll's early heroics were too much to overcome.
"It's kind of like an old friend, it's pretty nice to be out there again," Carroll said. "Being out there with just three other guys, three guys you've surfed with for a long, long time, it's just a great feeling."
The Pipe Heritage Series is the third and final heat of the series for 2014. It comes after the Occy-Curren faceoff at J-Bay and the Pottz-Gerr heat at Lower Trestles.
Carroll Wins Pipe Heritage Series
WSL
Tom Carroll (AUS) has won the four-way Heritage Series heat over Derek Ho (HAW), Sunny Garcia (HAW) and Gary Elkerton (AUS).
The ocean had gone deceptively quiet after a full day of competition that included the Final of the Men's Pipe Invitational, Round 1 of the Billabong Pipe Masters and the Women's Pipe Invitational. But all that changed when the legends of Pipe took to the water.
Garcia, who competed in the first two events of this year's Vans Triple Crown, was the first to get his feet in the wax with a casual glide-in. With a brief lull, Pipe looked spent until Carroll dropped into a deep barrel, emerging with the spit for a 9.60. The 53-year-old, who won the Pipe Masters in 1987, 1990 and 1991, was out to prove that he still had it -- and then some.
Garcia and Ho managed to keep pace with sweet barrel rides of their own but Carroll's early heroics were too much to overcome.
"It's kind of like an old friend, it's pretty nice to be out there again," Carroll said. "Being out there with just three other guys, three guys you've surfed with for a long, long time, it's just a great feeling."
The Pipe Heritage Series is the third and final heat of the series for 2014. It comes after the Occy-Curren faceoff at J-Bay and the Pottz-Gerr heat at Lower Trestles.
Tom Carroll
Larry Blair won two Pipes, back to back. This kid from nowhere! He tried to win a third and the whip came down.
Why, after 35 years, this is still the trophy every surfer wants to own (next to a World Title).
Barton Lynch, Tom Carroll, Jake Paterson and Stephanie Gilmore take some time to enjoy the splendors of remote Western Australia.
Three world champs enough for ya?
The two-time World Champ tells Dawn Patrol that facing The Box requires "surfing wholeheartedly."
Heritage Series
Derek Ho, Gary Elkerton, Tom Carroll and Sunny Garcia take to the water for an epic Pipe heat.
Meet the competitors of the final ASP Heritage Series heat for the 2014 season.
The final heat of 2014 to showcase some of history's most renowned Pipe Masters.
Longtime rivals Martin Potter and Brad Gerlach face off in the second Heritage Series heat at Lower Trestles.
Ahead of his face-off against longtime rival Martin Potter, Brad Gerlach visits the ASP desk during the 2014 Hurley Pro at Trestles.