IBA Pipeline Pro North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii February, 15 – 25, 2011 HAWAII’S JEFF HUBBARD WINS IBA PIPELINE PRO! Takes IBA World Tour Ratings Lead Tuesday, February 22nd (Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii): Jeff Hubbard, 35, Hawaii, has won the first event of the 2011 International Bodyboard Association World Tour, the IBA Pipeline Pro, which culminated today in one-to-two metre waves at Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii. It was the third win at the break for Hubbard, who today earned 2000 valuable GSS ratings points, US$6000 and the all-important lead in the race for the 2011 IBA World Title. Hubbard previously claimed the event in 2006 and 2002 and is considered a Pipe specialist and one of the greatest aerialists in the game. His win today was an incredible come-from-behind effort that saw him snatch the title in the dying moments from a host of hungry rookies – Tom Rigby (Gold Coast, AUS), 2011 IBA World Tour Rookie of the Year, Jared Houston (Capetown, ZAF) and Dallas Singer (Newcastle, NSW, AUS). With seven minutes remaining in the 35-minute decider, Hubbard’s chances looked dashed. In fourth place and requiring two waves to have a hope of winning, it looked like debutant and upstart, Rigby, would have his first-ever taste of victory. Then Hubbard did the unthinkable, pulling a near-perfect 9.75 ride out of a possible 10, for a huge ARS (air, reverse spin) followed by two rolls, to push himself into third place and contention. Two minutes later, Hubbard was again up and riding, pulling into a deep Backdoor cave before launching to the heavens, to pull the ultimate Houdini act, earning a 9.5 from the judges and victory. “I felt like I was surfing form behind all day … I finally got in a rhythm in the finals at the very last minute. But I was in combo-land for 17 minutes. I thought to myself, ‘what’s happened?’. I just felt totally out of rhythm again. I thought I have to dig deep, it’s my local spot, it’s the final – no one was giving an inch. So I just tried harder and it all fell together,” said Hubbard. “It’s probably the most exciting final I’ve ever had out here. I’m over the moon! To come from so far behind and then take first place, I’m really feeling it right now … wow!” Rookie Rigby was on the verge of history, the 18 year-old putting in a career changing performance on the final day, consistently hitting big backflips over the shallow Backdoor reef to the delight of the strong Aussie contingent who cheered him from shore. Rigby earned his spot via his local Australian qualifying series and surfed his way through nine rounds qualify for his first ever Grand Slam final. “I’m living in a dream world right now. I really had no expectations of making the final. To beat Hardy (Ryan Hardy, WA, AUS) in the quarters, he has always been a hero of mine, was awesome. And Amaury, the world champ … it’s been an amazing day. Congratulations to Hubb (Jeff Hubbard), I’m just stoked to be able to surf a final against all these guys, It’s pretty surreal.” said Rigby. Jared Houston (ZAF) finished third at Pipeline last year during his debut appearance at elite level and matched that effort again today. “So stoked to make another final. It’s only my third event here at Pipeline so it feels good to make back-to-back finals. It’s good to compete against these guys. Rigby, he’s come so far in the last year, and to compete against Jeff, he’s one of my idols – it’s fun to a part of it,” said Houston. Fourth place went to Australian Dallas Singer. Finishing in equal fifth place today were Mark McCarthy (Capetown, ZAF) of South Africa and Pierre Louis Costes (FRA). Pierre Louis Costes (FRA), 21, scored the event’s first and only perfect 10-point ride on route to a semis berth, for a big, blue Backdoor tube that he followed up with a text-book roll and backflip. “I wasn’t expecting a 10 point ride, I wasn’t sure what my score was going to be, but the judges gave Mike’s first wave an 8.5 and mine was better so … I’m pretty stoked to get a perfect score at Pipe and it’s only my second 10-point ride ever on the IBA World Tour. It’s an addictive feeling, I hope I get more.” said Costes. Defending IBA Pipeline Pro event champion and reigning IBA World Tour champion, Amaury Lavernhe, suffered an upset elimination at the quarterfinal stage. On a day where the rookie upstarts prevailed, Lavernhe was forced to settle for equal13th after placing fourth in his quarter behind Australian Ryan Hardy (WA, AUS), rampaging Rigby and the South African, McCarthy. I was a bit disappointed in my heat. I didn’t have good waves in the beginning. Technically I still have a lot to learn in these kind of conditions. I had my money on Jared I’m really stoked for Jared, in fact I put my money on Jared for the final because I like him as a guy and I like his riding. But Tom Rigby is good too. He’s just 18 and won t