Note sponsored by Volcom. Photos: WSL

One of the best QSs of the year, the Volcom Pipe Pro, will begin its waiting period this Tuesday, January 29th and will conclude on February 10th. The forecast looks good for the days ahead and there are 144 warriors who are preparing their weapons to go to the battlefield.

These are five that come sharp:

Joaquin del Castillo

He got off the plane and went straight into a cavern in Pipe, a couple of days later he got another barrel. Last year he reached the quarterfinals and was left with  Of course he can make progress on the most prestigious battlefield in the world. He is without a main sponsor and his talent, courage and desire can take him far in Pipe.

In addition, he is staying with his Peruvian friends just a few meters from Pipe, another motivation that is not minor.

Carlos Muñoz

Muñoz has a wealth of experience at Pipe, having shone at the championship on several occasions; in 2012 he won the Todd Chesser award for most boss and from then on there was a love affair with Pipe. Last year he reached the quarter-finals in a performance that included another 10.

He recently lost his sponsor, he just turned 26 and is the father of a beautiful family; he has a lot of motivation behind him and if he knows how to use it, he will be unbeatable.

If you find the rhythm, you win the championship.

Alvaro Malpartida

He's already found a couple of gems in the last few days that Pipe has broken solidly, he has an incredible nose even when there are 300 people in the lineup paddling the same wave; in an event, with three more in the water, he's very difficult to beat.

On the other hand, Alvaro has no problem going backside in Backdoor, a tool that can be very useful in the tournament.

Like Joaquin, he is staying at the Peruvian embassy on the North Shore and has the support of his friends around the clock.

Miguel Tudela

The Peruvian is back in top form after not wearing competition lycra for four months, having undergone surgery and having put in hours and hours of physical therapy.

The “sharpening” is not due to the hours at Pipe these days or this season, but to the desire he has accumulated to obtain a good result there. Two years ago he had one of the best barrels of the event (which incredibly was not a 10) and with several participations in the event, he was never able to improve a 17th, despite having had thousands of incredible performances in the free surfs at Pipe.

 

 

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Gabriel Villaran

This is the second time this season that Gabriel has traveled to Hawaii. He was there during the Triple Crown, then he was tubing as much as he could in Cabo Blanco and now he is back in the islands (after a short stop in the Swiss mountains).

On the 23rd he took a bomb in Pipe that shows him confident and in charge as always. The sea is going to be good for the event and Villarán is very dangerous on those days, pure class and courage. In addition, he is one of the few who knows the key to reach the final of the tournament, which he reached in the 2006 edition.

He is returning from a combination of injuries that have plagued him over the years and he certainly wants to make the most of his time. He is staying at the Peruvian embassy close to Pipe and has the support and admiration of his peers.