Volcom Pipeline Pro: Large Swells Due Tomorrow through Weekend

Pipeline, North Shore, Oahu, HI – (Jan. 26, 2010) – Competitors will have one more day to make final preparations for the $120,000 Volcom Pipeline Pro before conditions get serious once again along Oahu’s North Shore. Contest Director Marty Thomas called a lay day today due to small, head-high waves at Pipe, but extra-large surf (wave face heights around 20 feet) is expected by morning.

“We’ll be keeping an eye on the buoy to see how this swell unfolds,” said Thomas, “but at this point we’re expecting we’ll get two days of competition out of the next four days of swell. There is a chance that tomorrow could be too big, but we won’t know for sure until the readings start to show.”

The buoy that Thomas talks about is located north-west of the Hawaiian Islands and measures open ocean swell heights and wave periods. It is the ‘crystal ball’ of surfers, showing what will soon arrive to the North Shore. Located roughly 200 miles away, swell showing on the buoy takes approximately nine hours to travel the distance to the North Shore.

Requiring just three days of competition, the Volcom Pipeline Pro holding period continues through to February 5.

For exclusive Volcom Pipeline Pro video, photos and more, go to Transworldsurf.com.

To check out the latest conditions at Pipeline, go to Surfline.com’s Pipe cam. When competition gets underway, watch live at Volcom.com.

This is Volcom’s first ever ASP event and is a critical component of the 2010 ASP Hawaii season, offering valuable points towards World Tour qualification, as well as wildcard berths into the December Pipeline Masters.

Volcom has always been dedicated to Hawaii – from supporting a team of world-class Hawaiian athletes and ambassadors, to giving back to the community through local charitable events, sponsorships and organizations. The Volcom Pipeline Pro is Volcom’s next step in their commitment to Hawaii.

In Hawaii, Oceanic Time Warner cable 250 or 1250 will carry live coverage. FUEL TV will also air a 30-minute wrap up show in America, Australia and Portugal at the conclusion of the event – details to be announced shortly.

To check surf forecasts for the event, visit Surfline.com – the official forecaster of the Volcom Pipeline Pro. Mahalo also to Transworld Surf and Electric for helping to bring this event to life.

Media requests for courtesy digital images and news footage should be directed to Jodi Wilmott, Ocean Promotion.