After 3 days of waiting for the waves and weather to improve the Monster Energy Pro, presented by Billabong, got underway at 8am HST this morning in 4-5 foot surf at Backdoor and Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore.

They’ve got a NW swell running and the strong trade winds finally backed down enough for them to sound the starting horn.

This 3-star ASP World Qualifying Series event carries critical points towards
qualification for the elite World Championship Tour. While the Monster Energy Pro event is highly attended by international competitors, it is even more valuable for local surfers given that it is a rare opportunity for them to compete at home.

All surfers will also be vying for a handful of “golden tickets” into the prestigious Billabong Pipeline Masters that wraps up the world tour here in December.