Banzai Pipeline: Hawaii's deadliest wave

Banzai Pipeline is a notorious surf spot located in the northern section of the island of O'ahu, Hawaii. It is known for its large waves and heavy surf breaks, making it popular amongst surfers. The sound of the wave crashing is often described as a ton of TNT going off!

Pipeline has been described by many experienced surfers as one of the deadliest waves due to its size and fierce impact. Its average wave is around 9ft (3m) but can climb up to 20ft (6.2m), especially in the "Off the Wall" and "Backdoor" sections of the break.

"Who is the world's best left-hander? Jimi Hendrix? Phil Michelson? Babe Ruth? Perhaps, but let's talk about surfing the world's most thrilling yet dangerous left-hand break," wrote Volcom in an article, praising the Hawaiin wave.

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According to SurferToday, Philip Edwards was the first surfer to ride the Banzai Pipeline back in 1961! The Californian surfer known as "The Guayule Kid," made an impression on the Hawaiin surf scene, as the outsider that conquered the North Shore giant.

Legendary surf filmmaker Bruce Brown captured Phil taking off on a six-foot wave, forever engraving the surf spot in surf culture.

Every year, around January and February, surfers flock to the North Shore to witness the Hawaiian Giant in full effect. The Vans Pipe Masters event, gathers some of the world's most talented surfers, big names like Kelly Slater, Jack Robison, Carissa Moore, Tyler Wright, and many more!

The 2024 Pipe Masters is around the corner and all participants are firing up their engines. The event will take place from 29th January up till 10th of February.

Jamie O'Brien, one of the frequent locals at the line-up, describes it best: "The wave at Pipeline travels thousands of miles as open ocean swell before it collides with the relatively shallow limestone reef right in front of the beach. The resulting wave is hollow, fast-breaking, and heavy-lipped."

Due to the ferocity of the wave and the rugged bathymetry, there is a very thin margin of error. If you don't make the drop, you risk colliding with the reef at high speeds. The combination of sheer force and sharp reefs tends to have unhappy endings.

The razor-sharp reef has left surfers with more than a couple of souvenirs. According to Oceanmagic, the Hawaiin wave has claimed the lives of seven surfers since 1989 and injured countless others. A deep reef wound is no joke, especially if gone unnoticed...There are men in grey patrolling below!

The most successful surfer in the Pipe Masters history book is Kelly Slater. The Florida surfer has won the contest eight times over the span of his career. Yet as he told HuffPost, "no one ever feels like they have mastered Pipeline. I don't think anyone will ever feel that way."