Michel Bourez has taken out the 2016 Billabong Pipe Masters, at Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii.
The Tahitian surfer defeated Kanoa Igarashi in the final and secured the third Championship Tour (CT) event win of his career. With this result, Bourez finishes sixth in the season's rankings.
"I still don't believe it. Last year I got injured, and it was really tricky and tough for me to come back. I almost dropped off tour. I worked really hard at home and tried to stay positive the whole time. I had my baby after Portugal, so I had to travel back and forth during Europe, which was tough," explained Michel Bourez.
Despite the tricky conditions, Bourez opened the hostilities with a 5-point wave. Kanoa Igarashi only paddled for his first ride with five minutes on the clock. But it was too late, and the Tahitian had already been crowned a Pipe Master.
The good news is that Igarashi's result at Pipeline opened a spot on the 2017 CT for his friend Ezekiel Lau.
John John Florence was knocked out by Michel Bourez in the quarterfinals, but the Hawaiian collected enough points to raise the Triple Crown of Surfing trophy, the third of his career.
"It's been the best year of my life and thank you to everyone that has supported me. I have had an amazing year, and it was a little unfortunate that in that heat I made a couple of mistakes. It has been a long year. Now I can just go surfing and take a break for a while," concluded Florence.
Billabong Pipe Masters 2016 | Final
1. Michel Bourez (PYF) 7.53
2. Kanoa Igarashi (USA) 6.17
World Surf League 2016 | Leaderboard
1. John John Florence (HAW) 59,850 pts
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 46,400 pts
3. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 45,450 pts
4. Kolohe Andino (USA) 44,150 pts
5. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 39,500 pts