Pipeline Masters fills field
By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer
There were no trophies awarded yesterday, yet Rob Machado and Brian Pacheco said they felt like champions after winning the two wildcard spots in the Xbox Pipeline Masters.
Grant Ellis © ASP Ellis
Machado won the day-long trials event, while Pacheco placed second. The trials — held in clean waves of 6 to 10 feet at the Banzai Pipeline — featured 32 surfers competing for two openings in the contest.
Rob Machado escapes over the back of a wave on the way to winning the trials event for the Xbox Pipeline Masters.
The remainder of the field is restricted to competitors from surfing's World Championship Tour.
"The trials is always such an amazing field," said Machado, who is from Cardiff, Calif. "Often it's harder than the main event."
The field of trialists included many of Hawai'i's top big-wave surfers, and Pipeline specialists from around the world.
Machado won the Pipeline Masters in 2000, but had to compete in the trials because he is no longer on the world tour.
Pacheco, who is from Makaha, almost slept through his morning heat.
"I woke up late, and then I had to battle the school traffic," he said. "I got here right when my heat started. I just grabbed my board and ran."
He awoke to a perfect 10 for a long ride through one of Pipeline's famous barreling waves. Now, he will face new world champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i, and six-time former champ Kelly Slater of Florida in the first round of the main event, which could begin today.
"Hopefully the waves will be bigger and better," Pacheco said. "But I feel ready."
