How the Famous Pipeline Came to be
Off of Kamehameha Highway in Pupukea, North Shore, Oahu lies the iconic and legendary break Banzai Pipeline, also known as Pipeline or just Pipe. Today, it is one of the world's most popular destinations for surfers looking to get some time on this historic wave. Pipeline has been featured in Hollywood movies, numerous short surf films, and is probably the most photographed break in the world. Here is how this incredible wave became one of the biggest names in surfing.
Origin
Phil Edwards at Pipeline in 1963 ©Leroy Grannis/ Surfing Magazine 1989
In December of 1961, filmmaker Bruce Brown, board shaper Mike Diffenderfer, and surfer Phil Edwards were traveling and shooting for a surf film near the North Shore of Oahu. Driving along Kamehameha Hwy, they stopped at Banzai Beach in Pupukea, and the picturesque, turquoise, barreling wave they saw would change surf history forever.
Edwards got out his board, Brown got out his camera, and under the warm Hawaiian sun, they filmed a surf session at this incredible new break. The next day they went back to film the second-ever, and much longer, surf session at Pipe.
During these few days on the North Shore, there was construction happening on Kamehameha HWY. Diffenderfer noticed the similarities between the blue barrels at Banzai and the concrete pipelines on the side of the road and suggested the name Pipeline for the new break. The footage from these legendary surf sessions can be seen in the surf film; “Surfing Hollow Days.”
The Rise to Fame
A year after its discovery, word had spread fast through the surf community about Pipeline. A regular group of surfers established themselves at the break, and it became a destination spot for traveling surfers.
As Pipeline grew in popularity, surfers discovered a more dynamic break. On bigger swells, surfers charged Second Reef Pipe, and on XXL swells, only the bravest attempted the Third Reef break. Furthermore, in the late 1970s, a small group of surfers started riding Pipeline's right-breaking twin, Backdoor, bringing even more fame and variety to this incredible wave.
Pioneering surfers like Gerry Lopez, Mark Richards, Shaun Thomason, and Derek Ho mastered this break and brought more fame to the wave as film crews followed.
Today, the break is a hot spot for surfing and bodyboarding competitions, and when it's on, there is always a crowd. Every year, the Pipeline Master is a must see event. Many Pro surfers are regulars in the lineup, and a few, including our very own Jamie O'Brien, love the break so much they have houses just outside Pipeline.
Want to get one on one surf coaching from the Pipeline master himself? Check out the Jamie O’Brien Surf App here for exclusive advice and content.
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