Watch: Kipp Caddy Wins Best Paddle Wave At Peahi Challenge

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
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This year, the annual Peahi Challenge surf contest didn't run. A mishap with permitting laws meant the organisers couldn't pitch their tent at the top of the gulch.

Undeterred, the local crew passed the hat around, rallied sponsors, and created a digital contest instead. Which was a saving grace, as rather than one great day, Peahi had a number of them and any ride captured over that time went in the running.

Kipp Caddy spent some time on Maui, including the pre-Christmas period went Peahi went nuclear - Swellnet interviewed him on his return from that trip.

With the season winding down, Kipp had reason to go back to Maui; not for a late season swell but to accept his award for the best paddle wave. Kipp was the only Australian, in fact the only non-American, to win an award. We've watched Kipp evolve from the slabs of Australia, so we know he'll always have a go, but it's still a huge gong for someone new to the Peahi playing field.

2024-2025 Peahi Challenge Winners:

  • Best Overall Performance & Peahi Challenge Champion: Ty Simpson-Kane
  • Best tow wave: Kona Oliveira
  • Best paddle wave: Kipp Caddy
  • MVP Award & Dedication to Safety: Marcus Rodrigues
  • Biggest paddle wave men: Wilem Banks
  • Biggest paddle wave women: Katie McConnell
  • Biggest tow wave men: Shaun Walsh
  • Biggest tow wave women: Mikaela Fregonese

Comments

Lost1's picture
Lost1's picture
Lost1 Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 5:57am

Onya Kipp!

delay_pdl's picture
delay_pdl's picture
delay_pdl Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 6:32am

Kipp Killer!! Wouldn't say that was a bad first wave at friggin' Peahi..

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 8:08am

Something to tell the grandkids.

Well done.

rj-davey's picture
rj-davey's picture
rj-davey Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 8:15am

Very nice work Kipp. Represent!

That rock hop looks like bundle of laughs. Boulder casually rolling away @0:16

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 8:32am

hah, 'casually rolling away'.. well spotted.

Bungan33's picture
Bungan33's picture
Bungan33 Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 10:43am

OMG - I saw that! Imagine doing that rock off and you have to consider moving boulders as well...
Makes the Lennox run seem like kindergarten..

basesix's picture
basesix's picture
basesix Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 8:57am

cool as watch.. looks from our view exactly like kipp said it felt:
'I remember getting to the bottom of the wave and looking up and thinking I'm fucked, it just looked like there was sooo much happening down the line'..
hand of huey punches him out. onya Kipp. nice to see you looking like a normal surfer tackling a bomb with a touch of the bewildered unco, rather than your standard otherworldly practice of casually calvin kleining out of a gnarly maw..

hamishbro's picture
hamishbro's picture
hamishbro Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 9:56am

Nice little one wave doco. Sets the scene nicely.

Bungan33's picture
Bungan33's picture
Bungan33 Saturday, 22 Mar 2025 at 10:42am

Faaarrrk..... That has to be one of the coolest statements in surfing HISTORY! Forget "Bond....James Bond..."
Try this:
"It was kind of like my first Jaw's wave... and I got blown into the channel..."

There are more people who have stood on the moon than can say that. Insane....