It was more than a pipe dream for promising Barbadian surfer Josh Burke after placing 49th at the World Surf League’s annual Volcom Pipe Pro in Hawaii last week.
Competing in difficult surf with swells of eight to 20 feet at the most famous and dangerous wave in the world on the North Shore of Oahu, the 20-year-old Burke won his Round 3 heat with the highest score of 6.67 points.
He opened up with a 6 to 8-foot left-handed gem, pulling into the barrel riding over the foam ball and getting totally covered in the wave while exiting.
Burke was subsequently eliminated in the first heat of Round 4, but despite dropping from his 33rd position on his pro debut last year, Burke said he was delighted to gain tremendous experience at such a prestigious WSL Qualifying Series event, which was the second qualifier of the season for the Hawaii/Tahiti Nui region.
“I feel incredibly fortunate to compete here at Pipe, getting the line-up with just three other surfers in the water when the norm is over one hundred,” Burke said after the competition.
Burke explained that in his Round 4 heat, he got a magical “back door” wave, which was going right in the opposite direction of the surf, which could have given him the score required to advance.
“Getting a nice barrel that could have been deeper if I stalled. However, the decision-making in these waves are faster than a split second that can determine a ten-point ride or getting seriously hurt,” he explained.
Hawaiian Joshua Moniz emerged champion in the 144-man field with a combined two-wave total of 17.56 in the final, closely followed by 2010 winner Jamie O’Brien, Weslley Dantas andCam Richards
Burke left Hawaii yesterdayto compete in two 6 000 events on the important leg in Newcastle and Manley Beach, Australia. (EZS)