Surfer Navigates Human Obstacle Course at Pipeline (Video)

“There was no escape,” Zippy explained. “My friend texted me at 3:00am saying, ‘It’s on! Let’s go!’ We got suited up at like 4:00am, and we were in the water before any light. That was one of the first big sets and I was sitting farther out. It looked like a perfect one. Then I looked down the line and realized there were so many people, and I wasn’t going to be able to ride the wave at all.”

As expected, Zippy – who happens to an artist, musician, and physicist in addition to Pipeline charger – gets thwarted by the crowd. There was no way out, and thus, impact.

“There was one guy I had to go around, and his leg came kicking up,” Zippy continued. “He kicked my arm and almost knocked me off. It was so many people. I did feel a few bumps. I was pretty bummed. It was hectic.”

Earlier in the season, amidst multiple injuries from heavy-hitters out at Pipeline, North Shore Lifeguard Kyle Foyle expressed concern over the crowds as it pertains to safety. The wave already is the deadliest in the world, per capita, why make it more so with excess humans? Foyle wrote:

“WTF is going on this winter…. It’s been getting bad for a couple winters now but this year….F&$k! I love helmets and they work but sticking a helmet/impact vest on your 14 year old that has only been surfing for a couple years and doesn’t have the knowledge/skills to surf Waimea or Pipe is extremely dangerous for them and the people around them.”