Bodysurfer vs. Bodyboarder vs. Surfer vs. SUPs

Who will win the coveted King of Pipe? Bodysurfers, Surfers, Bodyboarders or SUPs?

To celebrate the 30^th anniversary of The Pipe Challenge, the IBA (International Bodyboard Association) added a spicy new competition to the event lineup: the “King of Pipe.” The “King of Pipe” was the 1^st event of its kind to feature a variety of wave-riding crafts and riders. 

The line up included: 

• Bodysurfer:              Mark Cunningham
• Stand Up Paddlers:     Kainoa McGee and Kala Alexander
• Bodyboarders:         Mike Stewart and Jeff Hubbard
• Surfers:                    Jamie O’Brien and Bruce Irons 

On March 1^st, 2013, a windy day at North Shore, seven guys paddled out into 8-10 foot waves to make history and have fun doing it. 

Standout Mark Cunningham showed off his “part human, part seal” legendary style of bodysurfing, charging deep into the reef break with a GoPro in one hand. The 40 minute competition included broken surfboards, broken paddles, endless barrels, and pure aloha stoke. Crowning of the King of Pipe was left up to the viewers who voted on the IBA’s Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/ibaworldtour. 

In the end, it was Hawaiian waterman, Kainoa McGee that was crowned “King of Pipe” after pulling into and masterfully exiting a set wave Pipe bomb on his stand-up paddleboard. We welcome the dawn of a new era in wave riding competition! Now, who’s ready to see some handboards and handplanes in the next event?