Our expedition traveling the world consciously, in its extreme length, has involved one crucial element: extensive (and oftentimes far ahead) planning. However, when trying to incorporate the World Surf League (WSL) Championship Tour into the schedule, we were entirely beholden to the unpredictability of Mother Nature herself! Competitions have working windows where, depending on weather and wave conditions, events will run over the course of several days. And making it to the famed Lexus Pipe Pro event not only required our usual tidiness in planning, but also a whole lot of luck.
And luck was exactly what we got, as we were fortunate enough to find ourselves amidst a spectacle of a lifetime. Watching WSL pro surfers take on the elements is truly something awe inspiring. But watching them take on the legendary Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu is an entirely different level of epic.
Nine months after we decided it was critical to include Pipeline on the expedition trail, we found ourselves pulling up to the famed surf spot right on time. With a handful of delays due to wild weather, our travel route hand landed us at the semi finals and subsequent finals. These would be two of the most high energy, jam packed and history-making events of the fierce competition.
However, this isn’t to say the surfing conditions were completely ideal. On the day of the semi finals, the beach was almost entirely silent.
The week leading up to this moment was filled with tiny waves, consistent showers and a lot of weather that could bum anyone out who had traveled so far to watch this event. With people venturing to this competition from around the world, planning their vacations to match up with the event perfectly, this could have been a major bummer. Even the locals were frustrated with the conditions, annoyed that their home breaks weren’t putting on their anticipated show. The rain was coming down quite hard that semifinals Friday, but it didn’t deter the die-hards. People were out there, sitting in quiet rows on the beach, umbrellas and raincoats acting as their shields. With a few upsets that day, the mood was solemn.
Some of the tour’s favorites were knocked out far earlier than expected, such as Carissa Moore, Jack Robinson, Gabriel Medina, Kelly Slater and Ítalo Ferreira. But on the horizon there was a shining beacon of hope: Saturday’s finals was meant to be something out of a surfer's imagination. Pipeline was going to be cranking.
The entire North Shore was already there by the time we arrived at 9am the next morning. The scene was set, the waves were going off and finals energy and vibe was indescribable. With waves so big, they sounded like thunder crashing as they closed out, it was impossible not to feel the surfers’ nerves as they paddled out.
We weren’t on site to have your typical conversations with the WSL pros about their victories or defeats. We were there to ask them, after they just went out and showed their ocean mastery, about their connection with the sea. You know, those emotive and contemplative questions about what the ocean means to a pro and their dedication to protecting their backyard, office and playground.
The youngest of surfers had a lot to say about this, specifically the WSL Rising Tides attendees ranging from ages 9-14 years old. These young athletes were on site to meet their favorite WSL pro surfers, as well as get the chance to be in the water with them, learning from the best. While we all collectively watched the competition progress, we talked about everything. From their aspirations to join the pro tour one day, all the way to their views on ocean conservation as a generation inheriting a planet in decline, these Gen-Z’s (and even some Gen Alphas) had an impressive amount to say. Oh, and by the way, they were all girls.
Most of them explained that they were learning about conservation in school, which was exciting to hear for us older Millennials that didn’t have that type of education available to us at this ripe age. But where these girls were learning most about protecting our planet was right on the beaches and shorelines—getting advice from those who came before them. The people they look up to and aspire to be one day are the ones pushing them towards embracing a sustainable future. And because of that, they are taking action.
Most had donated their time to cleaning up beaches, or had a profound experience helping to save endangered turtles endemic to their homes, while almost all were trying to align themselves with projects they care about. What hit home most for us was that every single one of the WSL Rising Tide girls wanted to talk with us for as long as possible about conservation, lining up to get their voice in the mix. At this young age, they were so forward thinking. They spoke about finding ways to contribute to ensure THE NEXT generation would have waves to crush. Youth on youth—that’s just epic.
It certainly seemed like a perfect moment for WSL to further link the sport and conservation together.
As the final heats got closer, the women’s elite were crushing barrels, getting perfect scores and sending the crowd that had tripled in size since 9am into roars. Decked in bathing suits, WSL merch and a ton of branded gear supporting their favorite athletes, the beach was jammed with the surf-obsessed, all here to be wowed by the talent, landscape and conditions alike.
It felt like the changing of the tides, quite literally. Up-and-coming women were taking home the wins, and absolutely dominating these intense conditions, proving to the WSL Rising Tides participants that age is only a number and their time in the sun wasn’t particularly far off. In fact, the winner of the Lexus Pipe Pro 2024 event was the 18-year old Californian, Caitlin Simmers, with the runner up being Molly Picklum, the 21-year old Aussie. Simply put: age doesn’t matter and you can do amazing things in any chapter of your life!
This was a historic moment for women’s surfing, with these young women taking the main stage and shattering expectations and standards. Molly got a perfect 10 on one of the gnarliest days the Bonzai Pipe break had ever seen. For the longest time, surfing has been a boys club, a total male dominated sport. But today, that’s far from reality.
The women were leading the charge on the waves, in conversation about ocean conservation and helping empower the next generation. Caitlin put it perfectly upon winning this legendary event, “Pipeline (and surfing) is for the fucking girls!”
To be continued …
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