1977 Pipeline Masters
Winner(s):
Rory Russell
Governing Body:
International Professional Surfers (IPS)
"Backsiders Boogie at the Masters," by Peter Townend, Surfing magazine, May 1978
Everyone probably would have agreed that conditions for the first-round eliminations of the 1977 Pipeline Masters were disgusting: five feet, a few six-footers and, after heat number two, a heavy onshore. But in the new pro era, a real professional should be able to surf anything. Well, surf anything was the case; and in the slop the backsiders excelled.
The main question of the day, however, was, “Where's Lope...