WA’s Jack Robinson Takes Out WSL Championship Opener At Pipeline, Hawaii
West Aussie surfing gun Jack Robinson has had the perfect start to his 2023 World Surf League Championship Tour, winning the season opener at the 2023 Billabong Pro Pipeline today.
Robinson joined Carissa Moore as the Women’s winner after defeating Italy’s Leonardo Fioravanti in fairly average conditions for what we’ve come to expect at the Bonzai Pipeline.
It marks Robinson’s first ever win at Pipeline and his fourth overall, after winning two events in a breakout 2022 season.
“I’ve dreamed of this for a long time, and Andy [Irons] was one of my favorite surfers ever, and it’s just an honor,” said Robinson. “To feel everything, all the emotions at the start of the year, you don’t know how you’re going to come back. I was feeling good, but you never know with this beast, with Pipeline.”
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“This one’s the most special,” he continued. “I’m super grateful for this start here in Hawaii, and I’m just getting myself ready to run that road. It was a low one last year, but I also learned a lot, and there’s no price on that.”
Robinson had to overcome two-time World Champ and previous event winner John John Florence from Hawaii earlier in the day, before beating Brazil’s Joao Chianca in the semi’s to get through to the final.
Moore meanwhile took the Women’s honours over Australian Tyler Wright, with her and Robinson now entering the second event of the season at Sunset Beach as Championship Tour leaders.
For more information, head to WorldSurfLeague.com.
Image Credit: Tony Heff/World Surf League