Blue-Collar Journeymen Make Huge Rankings Leap at Firing Pipeline 

Today was a great day for professional surfing. Whether you’re a fan of impactful, meaningful waves, heartwarming stories or gorgeous backdrops, there was something to rivet your attention span at Pipeline on Thursday, where the men’s field at the Lexus Pipe Challenger concluded in criminally good fashion. 

The day’s most memorable storyline belonged to Callum Robson, a journeyman Aussie who went from beloved blue collar battler on the Championship Tour to beloved blue collar battler on the Challenger Series, who won the men’s final in pumping surf over Eli Hanneman, Griffin Colapinto and Morgan Cibilic. 

Callum put his head down with the best of them, and as the waves deteriorated in the final, he separated himself with a solid full rotation air. The win vaulted him up 23 places to eleventh on the CS rankings, one spot away from qualifying for the CT with one event remaining on the season, the Newcastle SURFEST in March.

“It’s pretty crazy, to be honest. It’s not classic Pipeline in that final, but to be out there with Morgs, Griffin, and Eli, they're obviously really good surfers in that heat,” Callum said. “I just can’t believe I’ve just won this competition. From the start of this week and believing you’re going to win the event is pretty crazy. I don’t really know how to feel right now, but I’m tripping.

“It hasn’t obviously been my best year on the Challenger Series, but being 11th is way better than 30-something that I was coming in here,” he continued. “I just refocused on that little bit of time off, and I was just stoked to come surf Pipeline. I surfed it on the CT, and I just love this place, I love this wave.”

Morgan deserves serious kudos for his runner-up finish. Like his mate Callum, Morgan showed promise early on in his CT career in 2021, then got snipped by the mid-year cut the following season. He’s struggled competitively ever since. But his ability throughout this contest proved he can excel when the waves get serious. His 9-point ride in his first heat of the day, taken just in front of and eliminating Barron Mamiya, was as terrifying as it was beautiful. He flat-out charged all event long, and posted a 17.50 in the semis. He climbed seven to sit seventh on CS rankings. The season concludes at his home break of Merewether Beach in Newcastle. 

“I just felt in the zone,” he said. “It felt real nice to put up that Quarterfinal performance even though I was a bit nervous at the start. The 9 felt really good. I just faded off the takeoff, and I’m just so stoked to be here and lapping it all up. Surfing Pipe with no one else, and it was pretty cooking. Thanks to the locals and the Hawaiian water patrol for getting me back.”

Another great storyline: By making the semis, Maui’s Eli Hanneman officially requalified for the CT. He’s the first man on CS to clinch this season. He’s dealt with a few rough injuries since he fell off the tour as a rookie in 2024, but it’s clear he’s leveled up his surfing, particularly at Pipeline and Backdoor.

“This is crazy,” he said. “In Brazil, I needed to win the event, and got second, and I just knew it was going to happen here at home. “This is better than I could ever imagine. All my friends and family on the beach to congratulate me was so special. It’s weird right now because I’m still in the event, and it doesn’t feel real because I’m still working toward something, which I am. Just looking back on the last few years feels like such a wild ride, but it feels so good to be back.”

If the videos and photos didn’t say it loud and clear, let’s not have any doubts. The waves were proper firing today, 8-foot plus sets unloading onto the reef. The number of spitting, gaping barrels was laughable. George Pittar threaded a double-chambered bomb for a 9.77, the best score of the event. Liam O’Brien, Xavier Huxtable, Griffin Colapinto, Ian Gentil, Jackson Bunch, Charly Quivront, Joey Johnston and Benji Brand all deserve a tip of the cap for what they did today. 

The women should start their Round of 32 and finish up tomorrow, February 6. The conditions look mint: A touch smaller, but still packing North Shore punch.

Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Men’s Final Results:

1 - Callum Robson (AUS) 14.00 

2 - Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 13.37

3 - Griffin Colapinto (USA) 12.17

4 - Eli Hanneman (HAW) 3.07

Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Men's Semifinal Results:

HEAT 1: Griffin Colapinto (USA) 13.10 DEF. Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 10.83, Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 8.27, Joey Johnston (HAW) 2.26

HEAT 2: Eli Hanneman (HAW) 12.67 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 5.80, Liam O'Brien (AUS) 5.43, Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 2.53

Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Men's Quarterfinal Results:

HEAT 1: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) vs. Ryan Huckabee (USA) vs. Jackson Bunch (HAW) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)

HEAT 2: Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) vs. Joey Johnston (HAW) vs. Charly Quivront (FRA) vs. Kauli Vaast (FRA)

HEAT 3: Benji Brand (HAW) vs. Xavier Huxtable (AUS) vs. Eli Hanneman (HAW) vs. George Pittar (AUS)

HEAT 4: Riaru Ito (JPN) vs. Callum Robson (AUS) vs. Liam O'Brien (AUS) vs. Jacob Willcox (AUS)

Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Men's Round of 32 Results:

HEAT 1: Morgan Cibilic (AUS) 15.33 DEF. Joey Johnston (HAW) 11.16, Barron Mamiya (HAW) 5.77, Carlos Munoz (CRC) 3.33

HEAT 2: Jackson Bunch (HAW) 14.77 DEF. Kauli Vaast (FRA) 12.83, Cole Houshmand (USA) 12.83, Lucas Silveira (BRA) 8.83

HEAT 3: Jorgann Couzinet (FRA) 10.00 DEF. Ryan Huckabee (USA) 9.80, Lucas Vicente (BRA) 8.66, Taro Watanabe (USA) 6.66

HEAT 4: Charly Quivront (FRA) 12.10 DEF. Griffin Colapinto (USA) 9.93, Ian Gentil (HAW) 9.77, Winter Vincent (AUS) 9.00

HEAT 5: Benji Brand (HAW) 16.80 DEF. Callum Robson (AUS) 11.00, Mikey McDonagh (AUS) 9.77, Luke Thompson (RSA) 6.53

HEAT 6: Eli Hanneman (HAW) 14.14 DEF. Jacob Willcox (AUS) 10.17, Nolan Rapoza (USA) 9.10, Jackson Baker (AUS) 2.14

HEAT 7: Riaru Ito (JPN) 13.50 DEF. Xavier Huxtable (AUS) 11.73, Adur Amatriain (EUK) 9.94, Shohei Kato (JPN) 3.17

HEAT 8: Liam O'Brien (AUS) 15.93 DEF. George Pittar (AUS) 14.87, Seth Moniz (HAW) 14.67, Shion Crawford (HAW) 6.06

Lexus Pipe Challenger Presented by Billabong Women's Round of 32 (Heat 2-8)

HEAT 2: Yolanda Hopkins (POR) vs. Tya Zebrowski (FRA) vs. Anat Lelior (ISR) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA)

HEAT 3: Isabella Nichols (AUS) vs. Nadia Erostarbe (EUK) vs. Arena Rodriguez (PER) vs. Sanoa Dempfle-Olin (CAN)

HEAT 4: Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW) vs. Annette Gonzalez Etxabarri (EUK) vs. Vaihitimahana Inso (HAW) vs. Moana Jones Wong (HAW)

HEAT 5: Gabriela Bryan (HAW) vs. Amuro Tsuzuki (JPN) vs. Zoe McDougall (HAW) vs. Eweleiula Wong (HAW)

HEAT 6: Luana Silva (BRA) vs. Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Sophie McCulloch (AUS) vs. Alyssa Spencer (USA)

HEAT 7: Erin Brooks (CAN) vs. Francisca Veselko (POR) vs. Anon Matsuoka (JPN) vs. Teresa Bonvalot (POR)

HEAT 8: Caitlin Simmers (USA) vs. India Robinson (AUS) vs. Sierra Kerr (AUS) vs. Sophia Medina (BRA)