Australia’s Jack Robinson has taken over the world No.1 ranking after winning the season-opening World Surf League event in Hawaii at Pipeline.
While compatriot Tyler Wright was forced to settle for second with home hero Carissa Moore breaking through for victory, Robinson clinched the men’s final against Italian Leo Fioravanti.
Jack Robinson is the new men’s world No.1 surfer.Credit:Beatriz Ryder, World Surf League
The Billabong Pro was the 25-year-old West Australian’s fourth title heading into his third year on the tour.
Robinson finished last year ranked world No.3 but is now the man to beat and will wear the yellow jersey at next week’s Sunset Pro, also in Hawaii.
While the final was a low-scoring affair in blustery conditions with surfers robbed of the usual barrels that Pipeline produces, Robinson earned the title.
He beat former Pipeline trophy winners and world champions Gabriel Medina and John John Florence en route to the final.
In a grinding 40-minute decider, Robinson’s best two waves scored 9.17 while his good mate Fioravanti, in his first final, could only manage 7.47.
“It’s so special, I dreamed of this for a long time,” Robinson said.
“Start of the year you don’t know how you’re going to come back and I was feeling good but with this beach you never know so what a way to start it.
“It’s going to be a long road and I’m just getting the legs ready to run that road so I’m going to try and go all the way.”
Losing the final in the last two tour events in Hawaii, five-time world champion Moore edged Wright with a combined two-wave score of 11 points to 10.
Wright and Moore met in the final in Hawaii in 2021 when the Maui Pro was relocated to Pipeline from Honolua Bay due to a shark scare, with Wright then taking the trophy.
Moore also finished second in the Billabong Pro last year, losing to Moana Jones Wong in an upset.
But this time she was all smiles.
In a low-scoring final, with the lead changing several times, Moore set up the victory with barrel ride that judges scored a 7.17.
Wright could only manage two scores of 5.0 and bombed her last wave with just over a minute left on the clock.
Moore was ranked No.1 for most of 2022 before being beaten by fifth-ranked Stephanie Gilmore in the WSL final.
“I’m so happy I have so many emotions – this win has been a few years in the making,” Moore said.
“After finishing the season the way I did last year it’s nice to come away with a win and wipe that slate clean.”
AAP
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