No Fear’s Flynn Novak Earns Wildcard for 2009 Pipe Masters
HIC Pipeline Pro Awards
8 Wildcards for the ’09 Pipe Masters
Story courtesy of ASP Hawaii
There was more bloodshed and hold-downs at Pipeline than a UFC match today, as 56 of Hawaii’s best Pipeline surfers put it all on the line at the HIC Pipeline Pro in a bid to secure a place in December’s prestigious Pipeline Masters.
Pounding waves of up to 15 feet well and truly lived up to Pipeline’s fearsome reputation and by 5 p.m., eight surfers had sealed the deal. But not all were left standing. Oahu’s Jonah Morgan (Haleiwa), Flynn Novak (Haleiwa), Liam McNamara (Haleiwa), and Mason Ho (Haleiwa); Maui’s Hank Gaskell (Hana) and Dusty Payne (Lahaina); and Kauai’s Gavin Gillette (Kilauea) and Sion Milosky all won Pipeline Masters berths.
Novak, 25, suffered the worst of the top eight, literally putting his life on the line in a list ditch effort to qualify. He wound up being shipped to shore in a rescue by the Water Patrol jetski with a head and lower back injury that knocked the air out of him for a good 15 minutes. While he eventually left the beach under his own power, the injury was bad enough to require stitches and prevent him from flying to Brazil this evening for a World Tour competition.
“It was that very last ride,” said Novak. “I pulled into the barrel and the bottom dropped out on me. I landed on my back on dry reef and lost all my wind, my head hit next and that’s all I remember. But it was worth it. I’m in!”
In keeping with the February tradition, Pipeline was at it’s scary best today: all hair and teeth. While it can definitely get bigger, it rarely gets more dangerous. in fact, today was easily the gnarliest day of the winter – a shifting, heaving lineup that rolled the dice on every ride. Winds were variable clocking from off-shore to light on shores and then back to clean and glassy for the final heats.
Jonah Morgan, Flynn Novak, and Jesse Merle-Jones consistently posted the top wave scores through the rounds; Merle Jones falling one spot short of a wildcard win today after Morgan and Novak ultimately edged him out. Maui’s Dusty Payne, 20, was also a feature today, as was renowned North shore charger Mark Healey. Healey, like Merle-Jones, was unfortunate to narrowly miss out on the prize.
