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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, December 15, 2002

Slater out-surfs Irons in Pipeline opener

Advertiser Staff

The XBox Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters, highlighted by a world-class heat featuring Florida's Kelly Slater and Hawai'i's Andy Irons and Brian Pacheco, began the main event rounds yesterday at the Banzai Pipeline.

Hawai'i's Andy Irons challenges the Pipeline in a first-round heat. Irons wiped out, but moves to the second round.

ASP Ellis

Eleven of 16 first-round heats were completed.

Slater, a six-time world champion and five-time winner of the Pipeline Masters, took control of the heat with an 8.0 ride into a deep tube. He added a 6.5 barrel ride for 14.5 points that easily beat Pacheco (6.75) and 2002 world champ Irons (5.25), who suffered a horrendous wipeout on his first wave.

"I thought I might make it for a second, but I just couldn't get under it," said Irons, who was sent headfirst into the surf and broke his board. "I just got shredded."

Heat winners go directly to third round while second- and third-place surfers go to the second.