<div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The World Surf League (WSL) 2023 Championship Tour (CT) season is set to kick off at the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/events/2023/ct/66/billabong-pro-pipeline/results" target="_blank">Billabong Pro Pipeline</a>, at the iconic Banzai Pipeline, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii. The Billabong Pro Pipeline holds a competition window from January 29 through February 10, 2023. This highly anticipated event begins the ten-stop race towards the Rip Curl WSL Finals where the 2023 World Champions will be crowned. The stakes are even higher this year as Pipeline is also the first opportunity of the season for surfers to earn CT rankings points, which will determine who will qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Esteemed Banzai Pipeline To Open 2023 CT Season</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Located in the middle of the “Seven-Mile Miracle” on Oahu’s North Shore, Banzai Pipeline is one of the most iconic and challenging waves in the world. Known for its fast and powerful barrels that break over a shallow reef, it has long been a benchmark to which other waves are measured and is the proving ground for surfers hoping to make a name for themselves. The WSL hosted the first women’s CT at Pipeline in 2020, and last season held the first full-length women's Championship Tour event there. The women clearly demonstrated they have a place in the lineup and will return this year to showcase their talent at the world-renowned wave. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>World Champions Set for 2023 CT Debuts at Billabong Pro Pipeline</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Eager to uphold their titles are reigning WSL Champions <strong>Filipe Toledo </strong>(BRA) and <strong>Stephanie Gilmore</strong> (AUS). Last season Gilmore became the greatest female surfer of all time by winning her record-breaking eighth World Title at the Rip Curl WSL Finals. She is quickly edging towards <strong>Kelly Slater’s</strong> (USA) all-time record of 11 World Titles, but Slater isn’t done yet. He will also make his return to the jersey at Pipeline this year as defending event winner. Slater’s win last year was an emotional one, coming 30 years after winning the contest for the first time and just a few days before his 50th birthday. He is determined to make history once again by adding another win to his name at age 50. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This event will also see the highly-anticipated return of two of the biggest names in surfing, two-time WSL Champion <strong>John John Florence</strong> (HAW) and three-time WSL Champion <strong>Gabriel Medina </strong>(BRA). Both took time away from competition last season due to injury but will return for their chance to further their already remarkable careers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Five-time WSL Champion <strong>Carissa Moore </strong>(HAW) fell just short of her sixth World Title at the Rip Curl WSL Finals last season and will return this year eager for redemption. Also hoping to add another World Title to his name is 2019 WSL Champion<strong> Italo Ferreira </strong>(BRA), who finished last year in second place after a jaw-dropping run through the Rip Curl WSL Finals.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Rookies Prepare To Make Their Mark</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This year’s CT rookie class features exciting fresh faces and includes surfers from countries which have never before been represented. <strong>Rio Waida</strong> (IND) and <strong>Ramzi Boukhiam</strong> (MOR) have made history by being the first CT competitors to represent Indonesia and Morocco, respectively. The qualification of <strong>Maxime Huscenot </strong>(FRA) marks France’s resurgence on the CT after <strong>Jeremy Flores</strong> (FRA) retired last season. Maui, Hawaii's <strong>Ian Gentil</strong> (HAW) has had a long road to the CT after many years competing on the Qualifying Series and Challenger Series and will finally take his place among the best in the world. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Oceanside, California's <strong>Caitlin Simmers</strong> (USA) will also make her long-awaited CT debut at Pipeline. Simmers qualified for the CT 2022 but declined the invitation. Rounding out the Rookie class is <strong>Sophie McCulloch</strong> (AUS) who defied the odds of qualifying for the 2023 CT by winning the Haleiwa Challenger at Home in the Hawaiian Islands. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>World Title Hopefuls Return in Search of Their Own History</strong> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A break-out year for <strong>Brisa Hennessy</strong> (CRI) ended with a No. 5 finish, a career-best for the young surfer from Costa Rica. She now returns with her name well within the pre-season World Title discussion and hopes to be Coast Rica’s first-ever WSL World Champion. Also hoping to make history as Brazil’s first ever woman to win a World Title is<strong> Tatiana Weston-Webb</strong> (BRA), who finished the year in a commendable fourth position on the rankings. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Kanoa Igarashi</strong> (JPN) made his first appearance in the Rip Curl WSL Finals last season and returns this year with motivation to make it all the way to the top and bring Japan its first WSL World Title. Fellow Rip Curl WSL Finals contenders <strong>Jack Robinson</strong> (AUS) and <strong>Ethan Ewing </strong>(AUS) also have their sights set on returning to the Top 5 and bringing Australia its first men’s World Title since <strong>Mick Fanning</strong> in 2013. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Olympic Qualification Race is On</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Billabong Pipe Pro is the first of ten CT stops during which athletes can accumulate points to earn a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics. The 2023 CT is the Tier 1 pathway to Olympic qualification for the world's best surfers. Of the 48 athletes competing in the games, the first 18 (10 men and 8 women) will qualify via the 2023 WSL CT final rankings.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Opening Round Matchups:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA) vs. Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (PRT)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) vs. Macy Callaghan (AUS) vs. Moana Jones Wong (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Brisa Hennessy (CRI) vs. Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 5: Lakey Peterson (USA) vs. Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 6: Courtney Conlogue (USA) vs. Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Molly Picklum (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s Opening Round Matchups:</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 1: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Nat Young (USA) vs. Ian Gentil (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 2: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Jake Marshall (USA) vs. Joao Chianca (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 3: Ethan Ewing (AUS) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 4: Jack Robinson (AUS) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Imaikalani deVault (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Jackson Baker (AUS) vs. Joshua Moniz (HAW)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 7: Griffin Colapinto (USA) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW) vs. Michael Rodrigues (BRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 8: Caio Ibelli (BRA) vs. Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Ramzi Boukhiam (MAR)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 9: Connor O'Leary (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Maxime Huscenot (FRA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 10: Samuel Pupo (BRA) vs. Matthew McGillivray (ZAF) vs. Rio Waida (IDN)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 11: Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Ryan Callinan (AUS)</div><div style="text-align: justify;">HEAT 12: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Watch LIVE</strong></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The Billabong Pro Pipeline will open on January 29 and holds a competition window through February 10, 2023. Once called ON, the competition will be broadcast LIVE on <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>, the WSL’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@wsl" target="_blank">YouTube channel</a>, and the <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/app" target="_blank">free WSL app</a>. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.worldsurfleague.com/" target="_blank">WorldSurfLeague.com</a>.</div>