Special coverage of the Billabong Pro Pipe preview is brought to you by Billabong Argentina - Billabong Chile - Billabong Peru - Chivipizza - Capi Bar - Cover photo: Jordy Smith by WSL/Heff

The biggest event of the year, the Billabong Pro Pipe, which brings together the queen of the waves with the best surfers in the world, will begin its waiting period on January 29.

Below are some keys to be considered when following it:

1: The best CT event of the entire year

January and February are usually the best months of the year for Pipe because the swells have a strong westerly component, which is what suits the waves best. This, combined with the best surfers in the world in the organized CT format and the weight of the points at stake, make for an unbeatable championship in the CT.

Kelly, John John, Medina, Italo, Filipe, Griffin, Moana and Carissa will be in attendance and will face off against the best rookies.

Entertainment guaranteed.

2: Second Billabong Pro Pipe

This is the second edition of the event since it was no longer called the Pipe Masters; the third to mark the start of the competitive year since the WSL changed the order of the stages (previously it started in Australia and ended in Hawaii).

The interesting thing is the strong start with the best stage of the year, the bad thing is that afterwards it is difficult for a stage to match the vibe of such a heavy event.

The other important factor is that several rookies get injured early on and miss the year, as happened to Carlos Muñoz and Liam O'Brien. Lucca Messinas himself cut his jaw but managed to continue competing.

3: The series of the year and the year has not yet started: John John vs Medina vs Fioravanti

The three stand out in Pipe, with an advantage for John John and Medina, but Fioravanti is not far behind.

The classic of world surfing is in that series: John John versus Medina, the two surfers who shared five of the last 10 world titles.

It will be a good point to see who is more eager to win the world title between the two of them.

 

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4: Moana Jones is the favorite if Pipe is pumping

Last year the Pipe local made it clear that if her wave pumps, she wins. This year, she continued her dominance at Pipe by surfing what many called the best wave ever surfed by a woman at Pipe after the final horn sounded on day one of the Backdoor Shootout.

Her main rival is Carissa Moore, who will take advantage if conditions are more favorable for Backdoor.

5: Other series to consider:

MENS:
S2: Kanoa Igarashi vs. Jake Marshall vs. Joao Chianca
S3: Ethan Ewing vs Kolohe Andino vs Liam O'Brien
S4: Jack Robinson vs Jadson André vs Ezekiel Lau
S5: Italo Ferreira vs. Seth Moniz vs. Imaikalani Devault
S6: Kelly Slater vs. Caio Ibelli vs. Ramzi Boukhiam

LADIES:
S1: Tatiana Weston-Webb vs Caroline Marks vs Teresa Bonvalot
S5: Lakey Peterson vs. Gabriela Bryan vs. Caitlin Simmers

All series below:

MENS: 

WOMEN: