Watch: An Unfiltered, Unbiased Behind-The-Scenes Glimpse Of The Pipe Masters

"People Watching is a series of voyeuristic shorts, giving audiences a fly-on-the-wall experience and unfiltered view of events from the inside. The pieces are both uncensored and unbiased, and convey -- with raw honesty -- a real sense of “being there”. 
 
There is no narration and no interviews, as the piece relies exclusively on verité, cut in a smart and engaging style, stringing together a collection of well-paced, candid moments and vignettes that build a sense of intrigue in the viewer and keep them wondering what’s next.
 
During the Pipe Masters, we jumped from house to house, giving audiences a chance to look over the fence and see what really happens inside those walls -- the athlete banter, the shit talking and joking around, the inner circles, the backyard convos, the coaching moments, the surf star cameos and all the reactions."

Comments

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 6:32am

This is a cool clip, really well put together - lots of fly-on-the-wall moments that are surprisingly revealing (curious how RB got permission from everyone!). 

Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch's picture
Gra Murdoch Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 12:33pm

Agreed. Goes to show how what a fertile environment the Woz creates for stories and content just through running the comps – and how they don't quite seem to understand what they have in their hands.

Remigogo's picture
Remigogo's picture
Remigogo Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 9:50pm

I for only one, will say...

I absolutely fully agree with your comment...

gcuts's picture
gcuts's picture
gcuts Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 8:46am

Surely you could find better, more fitting, 'aussie' content to post for this, OUR day?

And, didn't they do this last year for the Volcom Pipe Pro?

Google says yes...

PS: Oh, and yes, the style of the 'behind the scenes footage edit to tell the story' is SO much better than the 'look at me' BS marketing fluff pieces that seem to be published everywhere.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 9:10am

Patriotism isn't one of our editorial qualifiers, sorry. I did a quick search for "Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi + surf" but it came up empty.

Anyway, does it matter if RB have produced similar videos before? I thought it was a good watch. 

Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green's picture
Eugene Green Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 3:50pm

Oh dear.
If not patriotism, how bout a little gratitude?
Look at Australia Day like our Thanksgiving. A lot to be grateful for don’t ya reckon?

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 4:31pm

Eh?

Editorial decisions (i.e. should we run this video or not) are not determined by anything other than if the content is good or not.

Yep, I'm very grateful to be Australian. Amongst other things, Swellnet publicly shows its appreciation of the sacrifice of our Diggers via WOTD on ANZAC Day.

Australia Day is a more vexed issue, and I'd prefer not to steer these comments into a public stance (otherwise we'll end up with a debate that'll challenge the best hybrid politico/religion/climate discussion).

I would however encourage people to read an article by my mate APS, from a few years back in the SMH.

https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/australia-day-must-be-preserved-as-history-intended-in-july-20161205-gt3xmx.html

Buzz1's picture
Buzz1's picture
Buzz1 Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 7:42pm

You’ll never please everyone Ben. And some you’ll never please.

PS. I thought it was great.

shoredump's picture
shoredump's picture
shoredump Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 9:03pm

Great link Ben

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 12:35pm

Seem’s there’s no end to the extent people will try and push every issue/event through the lens of whatever hot-topic issue they triggered by at that moment - in the end, the contrivance of this kind of myopia wears me out and I find my reservoirs of attention and compassion for legitimate concerns sadly gets eroded... in other words, they do their cause a dis-service

A surf-clip posted on a surf-site ... seems pretty straightforward to me ... personally - I like the choices swellnet makes in terms of involvement in broader issues - no need to ignore them but no need for them to be the epicentre of content on a surf-site

Keep up the great work ben + swellnet team ...

ojackojacko's picture
ojackojacko's picture
ojackojacko Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 11:39am

>> “Oh dear.
If not patriotism, how bout a little gratitude?
Look at Australia Day like our Thanksgiving. A lot to be grateful for don’t ya reckon?”

ffs. can’t run a surf video on a surf website on january 26? this is a piss-take, right?

Clive Rodell's picture
Clive Rodell's picture
Clive Rodell Wednesday, 29 Jan 2020 at 1:55pm

Great content, thank you. Nice guy wins, and deservedly so....

Here's a 'Cat amongst the Pigeons' statement..

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oy,Oy,Oy, was originally Oggie, Oggie, Oggie, Oy,Oy,Oy ..... The Cornish Chant.... 'borrowed'... The aforementioned Oggy a Cornish Pasty,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oggy_Oggy_Oggy

JackStance's picture
JackStance's picture
JackStance Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 9:07am

Grand Theft Australia Day

Optimist's picture
Optimist's picture
Optimist Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 9:08am

I enjoyed the video, never been to the pipe masters so I found it interesting. I really like the fact that they give thanks and pray to the good Lord above, to keep everyone safe and have a good time.

Solitude's picture
Solitude's picture
Solitude Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 12:18pm

Great insight. So emotional re watching Italo’s win. Gabe quite gracious with his words too (something that no one saw on the telecast).
Tell you what, being mates with Slater would be hard work wouldn’t it?

AndyM's picture
AndyM's picture
AndyM Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 1:00pm

That whole scene looks like hard work, from the sycophants and fakes, to the poseurs and heroes, the Instagram zombies, down to the crowd yelling ‘woooooooo, woooooooo’.

Good vid though, well put together.

Craig's picture
Craig's picture
Craig Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 1:07pm

That was great!

bipola's picture
bipola's picture
bipola Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 5:07pm

it was good to watch it from a different point of view, and slaters tube, longest one i ever seen i was sure he wouldn't make it but you could just see his board in each section
.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 5:18pm

Slaters wave at 1/4 speed and full screen...the take off was a slide down the face under amazing control before the tuberide .

Robwilliams's picture
Robwilliams's picture
Robwilliams Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 6:19pm

Well said ben. value your approach and response. full credit to you.

Terminal's picture
Terminal's picture
Terminal Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 3:42am

+1

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 7:45pm

Cool clip ,love to have been there,next best thing i suppose was watching the vid and just to add a bit of straya day oi oi oi onya Ben.!

jayet-010's picture
jayet-010's picture
jayet-010 Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 8:38pm

Really enjoyed that

Coops70's picture
Coops70's picture
Coops70 Sunday, 26 Jan 2020 at 11:14pm

The lizard nodding yes when they said did Medina Lose the world title after burning ciao was either great editing or fluke, either way it was good to watch.

Yendor's picture
Yendor's picture
Yendor Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 7:59am

Yep, I thought that was a nice touch too. I think whatever the outcome of that drop in for Medina, the fact that he had done it screwed with his head for the rest of the day.

gsco's picture
gsco's picture
gsco Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 7:09am

This was great and is better than the content the WSL is currently producing. Although he was visibly upset, I was surprised at how humble and gracious Medina was in defeat.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 11:53am

I enjoyed it too. Different to what we usually get to see.

wbat's picture
wbat's picture
wbat Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 12:34pm

Very cool.

brucebruce's picture
brucebruce's picture
brucebruce Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 1:06pm

Some nice insight there and well put together. Could have done with less setup conversations though, some of those were pretty cringy.

monkeyboy's picture
monkeyboy's picture
monkeyboy Monday, 27 Jan 2020 at 2:05pm

Great vid.

Did Kelly pay up or did the kid get barelled ?

billie's picture
billie's picture
billie Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 7:48am

Was that a genuine comment by gcuts? Is ANYONE that close minded and pig-headed anymore? Does everyone know it's 2020? Are there any Aussie surfers surfing near the level of Gabe, Italo and Felipe? Are there any Aussie surfers coming from such poverty anymore? All the good Aussie surfers these days are spoilt by their local boardriders clubs and spoilt by their sponsors as they are the "great white hope" for the Telegraph reading bogan majority. Give me the legend Brazillians ANY day

Robo's picture
Robo's picture
Robo Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 12:02pm

what legend Brazilians lol.

memlasurf's picture
memlasurf's picture
memlasurf Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 2:51pm

Great fun but that trophy was BAD. Looked like a deformed turd.

warddy's picture
warddy's picture
warddy Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 4:08pm

Does anyone else out there think Charlie looks like Parko ....
Sorry Parko

Robo's picture
Robo's picture
Robo Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 4:59pm

Everytime i hear Aussie Aussie Aussie at the AO Tennis i cringe, old hat now give it a rest.

truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher's picture
truebluebasher Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 6:24pm

Thanx for inside tell all...
Kelly & Charlie order a sacrifice to the Reef God to initiate a new WSL warrior
WSL Chiefs point bone & wave on sabotage terrorist plot to take-out WSL wildcard.
Gotta say that's Hawaiian Tradition, just need a Shark God to circle a WSL virgin.

WSL surfers laugh off more sea rescues than whole world of athletes combined.
Fair to say WSL Surfers lounge rescue craft longer than their own surf craft.
So where & when do WSL or Surfers Award their victor's lap - surf limo pilots.
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/88183/billabong-pipe-masters-water...
Surely deserve recognition? This alone wins WSL 'White-trash Surf Label'.

Yes! That could have been Caio... for all we know...staking a friend to a Reef so wrong!

Note: Kelly covers outerknown cap with Rip Curl cap to steal the Show (Every Year!)

Who here noted which Legendary Surf Patron / Champ awards Surfing's Holy Grail...?

WSL CEO Sophie palms off WSL goblet & kisses Italo...(That ended well.)

Welcome SUP God Logan as keeper of the Surf Stoke Bespoke.
All year, Logan snorts from & empties chips into his 2020 Mull Bowl.
Come the day kisses the new owner..."Take good care of my baby!"
Ain't no surf ceremony here...quit hogging the chips & lower the bowl champ!

Remigogo's picture
Remigogo's picture
Remigogo Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 10:11pm

Sorry tbb, but were not some of the best raised on fruit loops, chips and maccas??

Remigogo's picture
Remigogo's picture
Remigogo Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 10:12pm

But seriously???

Remigogo's picture
Remigogo's picture
Remigogo Tuesday, 28 Jan 2020 at 10:37pm

After watching above clip 1.5 times...

I have concluded that the bestest highlight for me within the 2019 WSL season is....

Boom boom Tish...

Italo's entry into the water to start round of 16 heat!

He was always gonna win from there!!!

Woop...woop.

Why did...THAT... Not make highlights...

Back then...when???