FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Jamie O'Brien dropped into a large Banzai Pipeline wave during the finals heat, where he beat Bruce Irons for his first professional title.

O’Brien wins
in his backyard

The North Shore resident takes
the Hansen’s Energy Pro
in 20- to 25-foot waves

---

By Brandon Lee
Special to the Star-Bulletin

In many ways, yesterday was a typical one for young professional surfer Jamie O'Brien. He woke up at his home on Oahu's North Shore, walked outside his backyard some 60 feet down the beach and surfed his favorite wave, the Banzai Pipeline.

Vastly different, however, was by the end of the afternoon, the 19-year-old had won his first professional and Pipeline contest, taking the title at the 18th annual Hansen's Energy Pro in extremely challenging waves with 20- to 25-foot faces.

"(Yesterday), Pipeline was insane, as big as it handles," said O'Brien, $7,000 richer after his World Qualifying Series victory. "Perfect wind, sun, the crowd on the beach -- I couldn't ask for more. I just got lucky."

In the final at the dangerous break, O'Brien was the best of a foursome of Hawaii surfers all 23 and under.

O'Brien just edged out two-time defending champion Bruce Irons for the title. He accumulated 10.9 points (out of 20 maximum) for his best two waves in the final to Irons' 9.9. O'Brien's best single wave in the final scored 8.7 to Irons' 8.6. Joel Centeio, 20, finished third with a 7.74, and 21-year-old Jamie Sterling, fourth, with 6.4.

"(Winning is) like getting another barrel (ride)," O'Brien said. "I just can't describe the feeling. I'm so happy."

Pipeline's maximum swell yesterday came with a heavy west direction to the waves, providing mostly left-handed breakers. Many competitors bounced off the shallow reef during wipeouts and one competitor, New Zealand's Blair Stewart, was forced to retire after suffering a back injury in the fourth round. Eleven boards were broken by the waves yesterday and 24 over the three-day event.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM North Shore resident Jamie O'Brien celebrated after winning the 18th annual Hansen's Energy Pro yesterday at Banzai Pipeline. At right is Joel Centeio, who came in at third place.

Irons took several of the biggest wipeouts, but also sat deepest in the lineup and charged some of the largest waves. The younger brother of current world champion Andy Irons, Bruce showed his experience and mastery at Pipeline by winning all of his heats at this year's Hansen's until the final. The final was the first heat at the event in the last three years he did not win.

"It was pretty treacherous out there, very treacherous," Irons said. "I'm stoked to have made the final. (Being) so close to winning is like, Ah! But I'm stoked for Jamie, he deserves it."

Sterling and Centeio also caught some of the biggest waves and Sterling nabbed one of three perfect 10 scores (in the semifinals) for the day. "You could get the wave of your life or the beating of your life," described Centeio. "I'm lucky that I had only one pretty bad wipeout in my quarterfinal heat."

But it was O'Brien's lucky day most of all. He won two of his heats and placed second in the other yesterday en route to taking the final. O'Brien was also a finalist at the prestigious Pipeline Masters contest in 2001 -- an event Bruce Irons won.

He bested Irons this time by taking a left-breaking wave on his backhand a little over 10 minutes into the 35-minute final -- immediately after Irons had posted his 8.6 riding right at the section known as Backdoor. While Irons' wave was bigger, O'Brien's was more hollow and he was able to ride in the barreling section longer for his 8.7.

While neither rode a good wave for the remainder of the heat, O'Brien's second score of 2.2 to Irons' 1.3 allowed him to hold his advantage.

"It definitely gave me an advantage -- living at Pipeline," O'Brien said. "(And) I've always wanted to beat (Irons). I thought he edged me out, but I got him."

Also of note yesterday, professional bodyboarder Kainoa McGee, competing in his first surf contest at any level, successfully surfed his way into the semis before being eliminated. Lance Hookano won the longboard expression session and $500, and Evan Valiere, the Todd Chesser Memorial award, was awarded for sportsmanship and consistently riding the biggest waves over the event's three days.

FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM Jamie O'Brien tried to keep balanced inside a barrel. He came out of it and made the wave and went on to win the event.