Kaua‘i’s Oshi Grady advanced through to Round 5 after winning four straight heats on Wednesday and Tim Hamilton won his heat — final one of the day — on the opening day of the International Bodyboard Association’s Turbo Bodyboard Pipeline
Kaua‘i’s Oshi Grady advanced through to Round 5 after winning four straight heats on Wednesday and Tim Hamilton won his heat — final one of the day — on the opening day of the International Bodyboard Association’s Turbo Bodyboard Pipeline Pro on the North Shore of O‘ahu.
Grady of Kilauea and Hamilton of Hanalei are expected to hit the water again on Sunday when Day 2 of the competition is expected to resume.
Wailua’s David Phillip is seeded in Round 5 and Puhi’s David Hubbard is slated for Round 7
World No. 5 Jeff Hubbard of Puhi will surf on the final day of competition as he is seeded in Round 8.
Much attention was paid to former Pipeline Masters champion and O‘ahu local Jamie O’Brien who was making his debut on a bodyboard. Despite a strong start, O’Brien lost his fins then his footing and finished third in his heat.
“I was a kind of a little bit nervous,” O’Brien said in a post-ride interview for the IBA. “I wished I made those couple of waves I had and I would have felt a lot better, but at least I made the drops.”
More than 140 top bodyboarders were entered in this competition whose holding period will hold until Feb. 27.
The Pipeline Pro is considered an International “Grand Slam” event that carries a $20,000 purse.
