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January 16, 2001
Pipeline, Oahu, USA
Keith Sasaki Creations USA 1
6:15 pm Hawaii Standard Time
For Immediate Release
Brazilian Guilherme Tamega Wins the Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro presented by Rockstar Games
Guilherme Tamega created history today by winning the Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro presented by Rockstar Games. The event, final stop of the 2001 tour was offering a handful of riders the chance to take home three different titles; Super Tour, World Qualifying Tour and Pipeline Champion. With the win here today, Tamega takes home all three titles and unprecedented feat in the sports history.
The final day was held in 3-6 feet surf accompanied by clean conditions. The smaller surf allowed competitors many chances to execute aerial acrobatics, synonymous with todays radical bodyboarding level. The smaller wave conditions also allowed riders to take waves over Backdoors shallow reef, which made contest strategy an important factor.
Many big names started falling from the start of the day. Kainoa McGee, a five time runner up at Pipeline couldnt find waves that suited his style, Mike Stewart and Andre Botha were called for a double interference, thus eliminating both of them and Hawaiian hopeful Spencer Skipper fell short one wave of advancing.
The event was offering valuable ranking points for the WQS and Super Tour. Riders competing under WQS rankings were trying to earn enough points to qualify them to next years Super Tour.
Some extremely radical riding took place all through the quarter final round. Hawaiian Jeff Hubbard took his aerial show to town and dominated his heat, one where title hopeful Joe Jordanoff wishes he could do all over. Jordanoff surfed great but fell just short and could only manage third in his heat. Heat three, with Guilherme Tamega, Alistair Taylor, Naoshi Grady and Graham Miller was the tightest of all. All four gave more than their all, but the ARS maneuvers of Tamega and deep tube riding of Grady were the edges that the judging panel were looking for.
A change of pace took place with the specialty drop knee heats. Twenty four riders would each be given the chance to surf twice and two of their best waves of each session would count towards their scores. The rider with the highest aggregated score would turn out winner. In the end David Hubbards four rides edged Kainoa McGee by just a half point. Thomas Richard of the Reunion Island finished third.
As the tide started to change waves improved and the eight remaining riders kicked up the level a couple notches. Ryan Hardy used Backdoors long tubes as his ticket to the finals, while Rui Ferreira aggressively hit section after section to launch ARSs and air rollos. Jeff Hubbards run ended as his waves never materialized enough for him to perform his airs and tubes that he perfectly executed earlier in the day. Just before heat two started, Tamega had this look on his face, the same one he would put on when he was virtually unstoppable five years ago. From his first ARS, rollo, spinner, rollo combo it was clear that he was on a roll. Ben Player found two really clean tubes, much to the judges and crowds delight. He would join Tamega, Hardy and Ferreira in the final.
The best way to describe the final is that it was an ARS Fest. Every section that had a waiting lip was used as a launching pad. Rui Ferreira managed to paddle into one good wave and it looked like he would roll from there, but nothing else really happened for him. He would end up in fourth place. Hardys smooth style that worked in previous heats had to take a back seat to Player and Tamegas constant barrage of aerial antics. Hardy continued to attack Backdoor. It was close between the Australian and Brazilian but Tamegas experience in crunch situations made the difference. He put more height to his airs, more speed to his spins and went just a bit farther on each wave. The mark of a true champion.
Tamega now possesses a fifth world title and the first of the inaugural Super Tour. Hes had his sights on regaining his crown after losing it four years ago.
This event was made possible thanks to the generosity of Rockstar Games, Bob Thomas and his family, the judges and officials, Warren Hoohuli and the thousands of spectators that came down to witness the greatest show on earth.
All latest results, interviews, heats and more can be found at https://mspipepro.tripod.com/mspipepro/ or you can contact Keith Sasaki at mspipepro@yahoo.com for further information.
January 16, 2001
Pipeline, Oahu, USA
Keith Sasaki Creations USA 1
11:30 am Hawaii Standard Time
For Immediate Release
Quarter Finals of the Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro presented by Rockstar Games are set
Round four has just finished and some major upsets have already been recorded. Joe Jordanoff and Guilherme Tamega will carry on their battle one more round to determine who will be crowned Super Tour winner. Both advanced through their heats, Jordanoff more convincing than the four-time world champion Brazilian who is looking for a triple whammie win. He has a shot of event, Super Tour and WQT titles.
Upsets saw two-time Pipeline and World Champion Andre Botha of South Africa bow out. Nine-time World Champion Mike Stewart joins Botha as a spectator as does Kainoa McGee, Damian King and Spencer Skipper.
Naoshi Grady and Jeff Hubbard, both from Kauai looked super strong and convincingly won their heats. Nicholas Capdeville looks to add another good result to his resume and will take fellow European Rui Ferreira to the quarter-finals.
The event is the final stop of the 2001 Tour and possesses a Super Tour and WQS ranking.
Log on to the events website at https://mspipepro.tripod.com/mspipepro/ where you will find information on heats, interviews, contenders and a link where you can enjoy the action thanks to the modern technology furnished by Surfinlive.com Along with the live web cast, we will be bringing you all the heat results, news, interviews and action as it occurs. This has been made possible by the folks at Rockstar Games.
For further information contact Keith Sasaki at mspipepro@yahoo.com
January 16, 2001
Pipeline, Oahu, USA
Keith Sasaki Creations USA 1
7:00 am Hawaii Standard Time
For Immediate Release
Final Day of the Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro presented by Rockstar Games
Just seventeen heats remain at the Mike Stewart International Pipeline Pro presented by Rockstar Games until we will know who will be crowned event winners in the mens and drop knee heats plus World Qualifying Tour and Super Tour.
Yesterday we saw what many considered to have been the best day of the year and perhaps the best day of the events history. 1997 champion Steve MacKenzie summed it up perfectly by saying "This is what everyone dreams of, its actually too perfect"
Surf in the three to six feet range with clean conditions are currently rolling through. An astonishing sixteen Australians remain in contention to take home the event title. Along with the Aussies, five Hawaiians, three South Africans, three Brazilians, one American, one Portugese, one French, one Spanish and one representative from Venezuela comprise main event round four.
Guilherme Tamega is seeking for a triple whammie win as he currently sits in second place in the WQT. His closest rival Jason Hazle was eliminated yesterday thus boosting his chances. He also sits third in the Super Tour race and with Sean Virtues loss that leave him just behind current leader Joe Jordanoff.
The event is the final stop of the 2001 Tour and possesses a Super Tour and WQS ranking.
Log on to the events website at https://mspipepro.tripod.com/mspipepro/ where you will find information on heats, interviews, contenders and a link where you can enjoy the action thanks to the modern technology furnished by Surfinlive.com Along with the live web cast, we will be bringing you all the heat results, news, interviews and action as it occurs. This has been made possible by the folks at Rockstar Games.
For further information contact Keith Sasaki at mspipepro@yahoo.com
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