Pipeline

Surf Guide

Probably the best-known surf spot in the world, Pipe is capable of pulling the most incredible disappearing acts. In a slack winter with lots of dribbly north swells and bad wind, the casual observer, rolling up to Ehukai Beach Park and gazing west, wouldn't have any idea it was there. (Of course the observer might wonder what the hell those hundreds of guys were all doing sitting around in the same spot surrounded by 2-foot closeouts.) Pipeline is the result of an outer reef refraction effect, which in the ideal swell direction (WNW-NW) pulls waves squarely onto its flat lava tabletop. When such a swell hits the North Shore, suddenly the wave that wasn't there comes roaring back, with all the energy and animal beauty that's drawn surfers to it for generations. In smaller, peakier northwest swells, the wave becomes a dual option, with super hollow rights funneling across toward its close neighbor, Off-The-Wall -- this is Backdoor. Classic Pipe relies on two outer reefs -- Outer Log Cabins and Third Reef -- to refract an approaching WNW-NW swell into a long wall finishing with a tapered peak that hits the inside Pipe reef about 80 yards offshore. The inside "First Reef" is mostly flat solid lava, with a couple of small caves under the takeoff zone which create a distinct boil on the wave face. Even when it's small, a WNW-NW swell at first reef Pipe is always tremendously powerful, breaking hard on the reef and holding a lot of energy in the lip, which is best avoided during wipeouts. At four feet it's an exciting little left barrel with a soft shoulder that reforms down the line and eventually closes out across one sandbar or another. At six feet it's arguably at its most dangerous, sucking brutally hard off the shallowest patch of reef and taking no prisoners on the drop. At 8-10 feet, it begins to open up a little more, with some waves breaking on another slab of the inside reef 10-15 yards outside the main zone, allowing an easier entry and time to select from a range of possible lines. At 12 feet, waves begin breaking in big foamy lumps on Second Reef, another 80 yards or so outside; Pipe itself becomes a second reform section, sometimes a steep flat wall, other times a mad, belching pit. The wave is prone to sand buildup along the inside reef's northern fringe, which occurs during north swells and over summertime; when sand is packed tight along this reef line, Pipe lefts become a hideous closeout, particularly in swells slightly north of west. Six or eight hours of a fresh big WNW-NW swell will clean the sand out and make the wave ready for use.