Banzai Pipeline

Banzai Pipeline

North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii
Travel article

Official Rating

User Rating

Difficulty 10

  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

Break frequency 4

  • 10
  • 9
  • 8
  • 7
  • 6
  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

144 days a year

Death pit Wave

Wave Direction

Swell Direction

3.0m - 3.5m Swell

Wind Direction

Tide

Bookmark and Share

spot author

Username: longinus

Date created: 17/03/2008

recommended board

general information

The fiery crucibe from which the likes of Butch Van Artsdalen, Gerry Lopez, Mark Richards and Tom Carrol have all proven their worth over the course of surfing history. Jack Johnson wiped out here so badly that he received 150 stitches in his forehead. This is one of the most deadliest waves in the world, the crows factor often pushes surfers to take off on impossible sections where serious injury is the only possible outcome.

The name Banzai Pipeline was first used in the 1961 Bruce Brown movie - Surfing Hollow Days. The name was a fusion betwwen the nearby beach, Banzai Beach and the thoughts of the surfers accompanyiny Bruce to catch what were the first waves at this then un-named spot.

The wave itself requires a poerful NW swell to push over one of the three reefs that form the break. The more powerful the swell, the further on the outer reef the wave will break. 2nd Reef breaks at around 12 feet and third reef 17 feet plus. If you have never surfed Pipe, do not even contemplate going out in a 2nd or 3rd reef swell - repeat, do not contemplate. Those unlucky enough to wipe out badly here will be greeted with an unforgiving tabletop reef with several large lava spires inserted at random intervals around the break.

IN MEMORIAM - RECENT DEATHS AT PIPELINE 

Moto Watanabe - Pro Japanese surfer (1/19/2004)
Jon Mozo - Surf photographer (2/10/2005)
Malik Joyeux - Tahitian Pro (12/02/2005)
Joaquin Velilla - Puerto Rican big wave surfer (1/12/2007)
Joshua Nakata - local bodyboarder (03/16/2008)

Wave length

100-200m

Share with

50-99

Best months

September - April

Equipment

Body Board, Short board, Long board, gun, Rhino Chaser

Wave type

Death pit

Access

Standard Paddle

Hazards

Reef/Rock, Locals, Rips

5 Day Forecast

5 day forecast not available.

Air - Sea - Swell - Wind

  • Spring suit
  • Spring suit
  • Board shorts
  • Board shorts

NE

0M / F5

NE

0M / F6

NE

0M / F5

NE

0M / F4

video gallery Upload a videoView gallery

  • 2
  • 2
  • 2
  • Default
  • Default
  • Default
  • Default
  • Default
  • Default

photo galleryUpload a photoView gallery

47e7fa73090eaeaa8924fce6e8113a6a

Pipeline 3

By: Jennifer Zampese
3167c9aa1717b70dfd9d20fbf8beb4b1

Pipeline 1

By: Jennifer Zampese
6615c0b29ebb1ad3859053101132fb46

Banzai Pipeline 2

By: Ben DeCamp
962729bcc4d38432dcb9e19751702790

Hawaii Line Up Pipe

By: Tim McKenna
Cd62756e2a7be3e98b7e93bf791e581f

Banzai Pipeline 1

By: Ben DeCamp


You must be a registered user to comment. Click here to register.