Billy Kemper wins Peahi Challenge
PE'AHI, Maui/Hawaii (Sunday, December 6, 2015) - Local Hawaiian Billy Kemper has emerged victorious on a monumental day for the surfing world with the planet’s best big wave riders taking on unprecedented wave heights at Pe’ahi for the maiden World Surf League Big Wave Tour competition held on the island of Maui.
Hailing from the nearby Maui town of Ho’okipa, near the amphitheater-esque cliffs of the infamous big wave venue at ‘Jaws,’ Kemper has beat out an international field of big wave gladiators to claim the crown as Pe’ahi Challenge champion on a day that saw 40’-to-50’ foot waves contested with no shortage of action, carnage and high drama.
Catching the first wave of the event, the new BWT Rankings Leader never looked back and earned great rides throughout the day, bettering his single-wave scores with each, successive round. The 25-year-old put up a highlight reel of impressive surfing - earning an 8.00 (out of a possible 10) in the Final, which, with the BWT format, is equivalent to a 16.00 (out of a possible 20) as a surfer’s top score is scored twice. Backing it up with a 6.77, the Maui native came away with a historic win.
“This is a dream come true,” Kemper said. “We’ve been talking about this moment for years and to have a paddle event in my backyard at, to me, one of the most premier, outstanding waves in the world, means everything to me. I just want to dedicate to this my brother. To paddle Pe’ahi has been a dream of mine for a very long time and to be out there with some of my favorite surfers and best friend - I’m just speechless.”
With the treacherous swell in the water, each of the surfers and WSL water-safety staff kept a close watch on all involved in the event, with several dramatic wipeouts recorded on the live broadcast.
“We passed the word talking out there and I told the boys we can always surf another big day at Jaws but we can never replace each other,” Kemper said. “The main thing is at the end of the day to come back our families. I’m there for everyone and they’re all there for me. It’s a feeling you can’t reproduce or explain it to people. Just a feeling of breaking through a fear factor where it’s all adrenaline. I’m over the moon - I’m just happy to be sitting here doing this interview.”
Earning runner-up and also a Pe’ahi ‘grom’, Albee Layer, 24, showcased his affinity for the barrel - earning a standup tube ride that was rewarded with a 7.60. Riding an 8’8”, the shortest equipment in the event, Layer looked unstoppable heading into the Final.
“I was just trying not to psyche myself out so I hung out with a lot of friends,” Layer said of his pre-event routine. “My shaper, Sean Ordonez, just keeps going smaller and smaller with my boards and it keeps working better and better for me. I’m just really trying to get in the barrel - I’m not trying to get the biggest wave. That’s the wave I’m always looking for - the barrel. They’re a little harder to find but eventually you’ll get one.”
Earning a third-place, a true legend of the big wave sport, Greg Long secured the highest single-scoring wave of a 9.00 alongside Shaun Walsh (HAW), during his Round 2 heat - pulling a critical drop and locking into a massive barrel that he was unable to come out of. The 32-year-old Californian knows this lineup all too well and couldn’t believe the waves that were coming in.
“It was probably one of, if not the best waves of my life even though I didn’t make it,” Long said. “It’s been a dream of mine to catch one of these barrels and to see that vision. It’s the perfect direction to do it and get the waves from way out the back. Paddling in it looks impossible to make it all the way to the channel but then you get around that first section coming from behind and you’re set. I was lucky in that heat with the wind settling down a bit and a couple multiple wave sets to clean it up and then that wave came through - just was out the back and got the greenlight to catch it.”
Universally-respected big wave surfer, Ian Walsh had an incredible day at Pe’ahi, winning his Round 1 heat and advancing to the Final behind Albee Layer in the Semifinals. Walsh also had one of the heaviest wipeouts of the day, but continued to charge through nonetheless.
“There was just a chandelier coming down and it hit my back shoulder and feel like I didn’t penetrate the water at all - just started spinning on the face then a long drop over the falls,” Walsh said. “It takes a lot longer than normal days of surfing when you go over the falls here, so you have a lot of time to think about your mistake. Then it’s really violent, everything is flying everywhere and you’re trying to feel the tension on your leash to make sure the board is not close to you. Just a lot going on - but you’re really just focused on holding your breath and trying to get back to the surface.”
Making his maiden voyage to the infamous break at Pe’ahi, Gabriel Villaran showed his prowess in taking on the world’s best, including a stacked local lineup, and making a run to the Final - topping Shane Dorian in the Final. Earning his spot to the Final with a buzzer beater, the Peruvian was elated coming out of his Semifinal heat.
“It feels amazing because this wave is next level,” Villaran said. “The wind is really challenging and is making the drop really hard. It’s my first here so to get a few waves and get a little barrel at the beginning so I’m really happy. The guys out here, especially the locals, are really good and I’m just trying to figure it out. I’m enjoying the day and just really an epic day - to make the final is a great opportunity for me.”
PE’AHI CHALLENGE FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Billy Kemper (HAW) 22.77
2 – Albee Layer (HAW) 19.33
3 – Greg Long (USA) 16.26
4 – Ian Walsh (HAW) 1.00
5 – Gabriel Villaran (PER) 0.80
6 – Shane Dorian (HAW) 0.00
Comments
Well done what a comp...a fucking big figs effort from all.
Agreed. An Awesome morning of surf. Those guys are mental.
Next level charging !
Mark Matthews drop pre event was incredible. Can't believe he stuck it.
That jet ski wipeout was super heavy too. Who was getting towed at the time?
Lost doggy that was Kai Lenny, he had two 20 footers on the head before that too. what a champ.
Cheers mate. Crazy shit!
Great production from the WSL too. It's hard to emphasise just how difficult webcasts can be at regular locations, let alone at a remote cliff top with huge surf, and they pulled it off in style.
While the comp was happening , Evan Geiselman had a bad incident at pipe a head knock and 3 wave hold down, hope he pulls through.
That jet-ski run down goes to show how quickly things can go horribly wrong. great to see it run live in good surf.
You know the waves have got to be pretty serious when the two guys below only manage 1 point between them!
4 – Ian Walsh (HAW) 1.00
6 – Shane Dorian (HAW) 0.00
Final was a little slow (they actually extended the time)
Both Dorian & Walsh sat way out back waiting for the mega bomb which never came so I don't think it was because they were piking (unlike Toled0.00's effort at Chopes earlier in the year)
(With that said, Dorian had taken a big hit in the Semi and was reputedly pretty rattled)
Actually watching the final I thought Dorian sat a bit wide of the pack for most of it
the whole webcast Was great viewing
Dorians wave before the comp even started possibly blew a fuse . It was one of the biggest heaviest airdrop reconnect sideways takeoffs ever & he made it . Maybe he had already peaked
what!!!...no heat analyser ?!?
c'mon WSL
I agree Curly -- WTF WSL AND --- no punters club either!
Your gunna have to wait this stuffs gold !
Some massive air drops blew me away.I liked Ian Walsh's early effort nearly pulling of the mega drop barrel of the event ! Congratulations to B.Kemper !
A landmark event.
A fair bit of documentation on insty from the comp . Healey has a interesting left
Heat analyser is up...thanks WSL !
Here's Healey's interesting left Cam was talking about.. Apparantly not seen or scored?
And that wave not being scored ...Healy says cost him a place in the final ?
My mistake with photo it is the top one .lefthander , yes udo he said that on insty
How do you miss a left like that ? Was it possible that only the rights would be scored ??
Great event regardless.
A misunderstanding about start time tb , he said his heat ( which wasn't the first of the day ) started as he stood up , but because they couldn't hear , by marks calculations it should have begun , . So he got the wave and the judges must have ruled it before his heat started .
I remember that wave Caml. It was quite long and he raced the first section and then it sort of fattened out....
BTW did you see the massive rocks sitting 20m out from the cliff at the end of the left. Holy shit these giant boulders with 10 foot washthroughs straight over them.
Still can't get over Greg Long style. He looks so comfortable on those boards, very smooth in his rail movements.
Yes greg had it sussed hey Mick ! His equipment dialed .
His angled turns mid face smooth. He is riding Quads but wonder what his fin set up and rails are??
I noticed Healey had a thruster, I'd love to hear each guys explanation for what fin set up they were using on the day and why.
Goofyfoot I hope you have time to read the thread I started . There might be something for you in there .