Monster Energy
Friday - January 20, 2006
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Monster Energy Pipeline Pro contest director Reid
Inouye
All right, surfers ... let’s drop in!
It’s been a big week with 10 feet per day average. This is the “minimum” dosage surf doctors recommend to keep big-wave riders out of their offices. We’ll see lots more through March - stoked!
There’s an exciting contest nearing its holding period. It’s the 22nd annual Monster Energy Pipeline Pro, presented by Billabong. They have from the 27th of this month to Feb. 10 to finish off three days worth of epic Pipeline. It’s hard to believe this competition has been going for 22 years. I had the chance to surf-talk with contest director Reid Inouye. Reid’s been at this game a long time and knows what it takes to run it and what kind of athlete it takes to win it! Let’s check in ...
GQ: How long have you been doing contests, pro and amateur?
Reid: Started back in ‘82, but HPAC started in ‘84. So that’s what ... 24 years?
GQ: Wow, and you’re still going strong.
Reid: Not really strong. I’m trying to do less events, but bigger ones. I only do two events per year now: the Xcel Pro and Monster Energy Pipeline Pro. But I help Rabbit Kekai with his Gromm Fest every year.
GQ: What’s new with the Monster Energy this year?
Reid: We moved up our waiting period two weeks to coincide with the Pipeline Body Surfing Classic, Jan. 27-Feb. 10.
GQ: There’s been some huge names in the past.
Reid: Oh yeah! Jamie O’Brien, Bruce Irons, Derek Ho, Andy Irons, Johnny Boy Gomes, Sunny Garcia, Tony Moniz, Vetea David ...
GQ: Holy ...
Oleo Elogram slashes at last year’s Monster Energy
Pipeline Pro
Reid:Yeah, it goes back. Most of the big-name Hawaiians are in there. Bruce and Andy both won it when they were just 17; Jamie O. made his debut with his win at 19 years old. That’s the caliber.
GQ: Unreal, and you’ve had some really epic days.
Reid: Epic and big days, 10-12 feet!
GQ: What’s its rating on the world circuit?
Reid: It’s a four-star rated event, which means there’s $75,000 to go around in prize money.
GQ: What does the winner get? Reid: Winner gets 7,500 bucks and they’re gonna throw in a Kicker Sound System and KMS Wheels ...
GQ: Cool. When will you edit it all and air it on Billabong Surf TV on KIKU Channel 9?
Reid: Probably in early March. It airs Friday nites at 9:30. It’ll also be airing on Fuel TV early summer.
GQ: What else ... any parties? Gotta have a surf party.
Reid: Oh yeah, there’s a kickoff party on the 29th, Sunday, from noon till 5-ish at Sunset Beach Elementary School park. And we’ve got four bands lined up - all local bands with a huge following - kind of a ska-reggae music festival ... autograph-signing sessions with the event pro surfers ...
GQ:Yikes, all this and you also have your magazine, Heavywater. How do you do it?
Reid: I hardly surf anymore ... keeps me busy. I wanna get the epic surf Gary Kewley gets.
GQ: But I’ll still be working when I’m 70!
Reid: I just hope I can still surf when I’m 70.
GQ:Any last comments on the Monster Energy?
Reid: The difference between this event and the Ripcurl Pipe Masters is this is geared toward those who surf Pipe on a daily basis vs. the top world touring pros.
GQ: It gives the local talent their break.
Reid:Yeah ... and if you look at so many of the past winners of this event, they’ve also won at the Triple Crown’s Pipe Masters.
GQ: Looks like this should be one of the best years ever!
Reid: Keeping our fingers crossed ... praying to the man above, and praying for every-body’s safety.
GQ: Right on, Reid.
Reid: Tom Stone is actually doing the blessing this year -
on Thursday the 26th - the day before the event.
GQ: Thanks, Reid, for your long-standing service to the surf community all these years. These events serve as a platform to inspire athletes to greater heights. Look at how Hawaii is performing - and you’ve played a part in that!
Reid: And if it wasn’t for you, Gary, nobody would know about it.
GQ: Laughs ... look forward to seeing the waves go off for you and Monster Energy Pipeline surfers, Reid. I’ll be telling everyone here and on surfnewsnetwork.com, ‘cause we have a new Pipe Cam. Stoked!
OK, gotta go ... something has come up (surf)!
I’m GQ, dropping In 4 U!
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