BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu, Hawaii (Thursday, January 18, 2024) - Today, the World Surf League (WSL) announced the 2024 Lexus Pipe Pro presented by YETI, Stop No. 1 on the 2024 Championship Tour (CT), wildcard selections. Former Pipe Pro winner Moana Jones Wong (HAW), 2023/2024 Hawaii/Tahiti Regional Qualifying Series (QS) victor Shion Crawford (HAW), and recent SAMBAZON World Junior Championships runner-up Jackson Bunch (HAW) will join the world's best beginning January 29 - February 10. Crawford and Bunch were selected based on the current Challenger Series rankings, as they were the highest-ranked Hawaii competitors not yet in the competition, No. 23 and 34, respectively.
Arguably one of the best to ever take on the world-renowned reef of Pipeline, Moana Jones Wong (HAW), returns for an opportunity to claim a second Pipe Pro victory. Jones Wong's fearlessness at one of the world's heaviest waves has earned her the title of "Queen of Pipeline" with some of the previous winters' best rides. Also, a back-to-back Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Regional QS victor in the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 seasons, Jones Wong has shown her competitive prowess and now looks to bring it back to the world's best.
"To be able to surf Pipeline with the greatest women surfers in the world is amazing," said Jones Wong. "I am excited to surf an empty lineup at my favorite wave in the world. Hopefully, we score some epic Pipeline during the window and see what it can do."
Hawaii's Top-Ranked Challenger Series Contenders Crawford and Bunch Ready for Wildcard Opportunity
Shion Crawford (HAW) and Jackson Bunch (HAW) were selected based on the current Challenger Series rankings, as they were the highest-ranked Hawaii competitors not yet in the competition, No. 23 and 34, respectively.
Haleiwa, Oahu's newest emerging contender, Crawford, made his presence known in 2023 with big Challenger Series performances and claimed the 2023/2024 Hawaii/Tahiti Nui Regional QS title. Crawford, 18, has his ambitions set to join the world's best in 2025 and will get a glimpse of what it takes at the Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI.
"I was very speechless about getting that call up," said Crawford. "I looked at my phone then looked at my friend Jackson [Bunch] and just couldn't say anything, just thinking no way. I'm stoked to surf against the top guys, put my head down, and send it on a couple. I know I can beat anyone, I just need to put my mind in the right place and let my surfing do the talking."
Rounding out the list of potential spoilers, recent SAMBAZON World Junior Championships runner-up, 2023/2024 Hawaii/Tahiti QS No. 2, Bunch returns to the world stage. This time, however, it will be Bunch's first glimpse at the world's best, and the 20-year-old will look to take his current momentum to a big showing against some of his competitive idols.
"My dad got the text and called me while I was in the car with my friend Shion [Crawford] and I was, and we both started freaking out," said Bunch. "Three other guys out at Pipe, even one other guy out at Pipe, that's all you can ask for since it's so hard to catch a wave out there. I just really hope the waves are pretty fun and if it's good I'm just going to give it my all."
Watch LIVE The Lexus Pipe Pro Presented by YETI holds a competition window from January 29 through February 10, 2024 at the iconic Banzai Pipeline, Oahu, Hawaii. Once called ON, the event will be streamed LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and the free WSL app. United States viewers can witness the live action on ESPN+, while fans worldwide can follow the coverage through WSL's broadcast partners, such as Globo Play in Brazil; 7 Plus, Fox Sports, and Kayo in Australia; as well as Discovery+ in Europe.