We’re back, it’s the start of a new year, and the 2024 CT kicked off with a full-day of impeccable Pipeline, much to everyone’s excitement, and surprise. And, just like a lot of the new faces hitting the circuit, it’s also my rookie year covering the comp.

After a couple of days with less than favourable onshore conditions, it felt like everyone on the North Shore was itching for Wednesday to roll around, and boy, did it roll around. The sun rose, and the traffic simultaneously backed up on the Kam Highway all the way to Haleiwa. It felt like the whole of Oahu dumped into the contest site; even given the skinny, lick of sand separating the front-line Real-Estate from Pipe’s Pacific roar.

Day one saw some stand-out, scream-able moments that threw the crowd, the commentators, and myself, into a frenzy; the first of which came all before I’d even had a chance to down the gallon of coffee I had on hand.

Callum Robson scored a near perfect Pipeline ride, and what ended up being the wave of the day, all before 9am; getting spat out of the barrel just as everyone began letting go of their breath-holds thinking he hadn’t made it. The beach-goers quickly dusted of their cobwebs and dialled up the anticipation, watching the horizon, realising they were in for a treat as the waves turned on and far exceed expectations.

National pride was out in full force as the surfers competing under the Hawaiian Flag brought the ‘mana’ and the local knowledge. Wildcard, Jackson Bunch grabbed what I would deem the loudest ride of the day, running himself from third to first in his heat, all as the buzzer hit the megaphone. Shion Crawford was another local-wildcard wrecking ball, knocking 2023 world champion, Filipe Toledo, into the eliminations.

With every Hawaiian-raised rider that skipped the elimination round, you could feel the sense of achievement radiating off the beach crowd and the comp crew. It was heartwarming for the locals and their resident heroes. Whispers rippled across the beach, about predictions for winners and what the week had in store for us. Of course John John was on their lips as he strolled through his round one heat and proceeded to tell the commentary team he didn’t really want to come in until he’d caught ‘that one’.

Robinson and Slater had Backdoor covered with back-to-back rides, which made for some incredibly delectable viewing, but it was the defending champ Robbo, who ultimately won the clash of the tube titans. “It feels like it’s my first time back at Pipe, because it’s my son’s first time here,” commented the new dad. “It just feels new again, because we’re here together, I definitely thought ‘better not get knocked out of the first round now’.”

And, as we can all agree, it never gets old watching Kelly do, what Kelly does, best. At that point in the day, the savvy groms had pinpointed the exact route the athletes were taking in and out of the water, scoring endearing wide-eyed moments with their idols pre and post heat.

Like the wildcards, the rookies were the other big over-achievers of the day, with four out of the five newcomers advancing to the following round, painting us a pretty, competitive picture of just what that next generation of surfing might end up looking like. Crosby Colapinto didn’t back down from a paddle battle with local stand-out, Baron Mamiya, demonstrating just how hungry the new kids on the block really are.

The elimination rounds saw the crowds and sun dwindle slightly, even as A-Frame waves continued to roll in. A touch of vindication saw both Aussies – Jacob Willcox and Liam O’Brien – finesse their way into further heats; “It was a bit of a disappointing start. I was excited to surf really good Pipe with no one out, so I was just pretty bummed not to get any good waves that heat,” reflected LOB.

“But, we got to surf again straight away, and I got another chance. It was a little bit of redemption for me,” he chuckled.

Between the ever-so-unique nicknames being hurled from the beach commentary tent, the riveting action and the overly-warm Hawaiian hospitality, I think I finished day one with more energy walking home, than I had after that litre of black coffee hit my system.

The 2024 Championship Tour has kicked off in rainbow-tickler, Pipe tee-pees. It bodes well for a big year.