Practice sessions are on for The North Shore Soap Factory Pipeline Womens Pro
Late season swells are the call as the El Nino (Christ child) continues. Forecasters expect a moderate to large swell with light winds for Easter weekend. The contest waiting period begins the day after Easter. The event has started on the first day twice before in recent history and competitors should be prepared. Contest officials are looking for anything from 4-10 feet Hawaiian scale, which means 8 to 20 foot faces. Pipeline tends to be a fickle wave and conditions will be watched closely.
Anticipation is growing as entries grow. The North Shore Soap Factory selected a couple wild cards. Maui's Paige Alms who charges big Jaws will get a slot in shortboarding."I am so happy every year to be a part of this contest!", Said Alms. "I love surfing Pipe... and watching everyone push their limits. Thanks to all the sposnors for your continued effort to keep this contest going! I hope we score perfect Pipe this year!" Also getting a special wild card slot into bodyboarding will be Jade Robes. Jade is a seasoned Pipe surfer and will make the big drops. Keep The Ocean Blue, a project by big wave rider Alec Cooke, is supporting this years event by sponsoring Rochelle Ballard. Ballard has been considered one of the best tube riders in the world and is a local at Pipeline. "It's great to spread the word about Keep The Ocean Blue.
"We all have to do our part now, our Oceans are in real trouble", cautioned Ballard. " It has to be a personal commitment at home, we have to slow our waste, do it for the next generation." Ballard has been a long time supporter of environmental causes and community service projects as is The North Shore Soap Factory Pipeline Women's Pro.
For more information www.pipegirls.com, 808-781-2535 Daily updates www.surfnewsnetwork.com, 808-596-7873 www.northshoresoapfactory.com, www.dukefoundation.org
