A quick word with Pipe Champ Ryan Hardy.

RYAN HARDY 2009 IBA PIPELINE PRO GRANDLSAM CHAMPION

Hardy takes the win

It has always been recognized amongst his peers that Ryan Hardy is one
of the best wave rides of any form to surf the world famous Banzai
Pipeline in Hawaii. But now he has officially conquered Pipeline in an
amazing display of elite bodyboarding during the IBA Pipeline Pro Grand
Slam event. It has been quite a whirlwind since he rode his final wave
in with the buzzer being drowned out by the roar the Aussie supporters
on the beach, but whilst in transit on the way back to Sydney for top
shelf photographer and friend Phil Gallagher’s wedding, Ryan answered a
couple of questions that we at VS were keen to get an insight on. Here’s
what tha passionate super star he had to say.

*       Is there a sense of relief to nail a pipe title?
The biggest feeling for me in winning the pipe comp is the feeling of
being triumphant. The first year I came to Hawaii I watched my idol
Bullet win the Pipe comp in the biggest heaviest waves I’d ever seen
against all the best guys in the world and it the was the craziest
stuff I have ever seen.  Witnessing Bullet’s win planted a desire in me
that that has built up over 13 years of coming to Hawaii and now having
raised my own Pipe trophy above my head, it’s definitely one of the best
things that’s ever happened to me.  Right now it is a relief knowing
that yes, I’ve finally done it, but yesterday was just absolutely
phenomenal, a blurred memory of stress and utter panic, maximum effort
and total elation. I’m so stoked man, you cannot believe it, the
stress and pressure that it takes to push through and get to
that point where the siren goes and you’re number 1, the
Pipe champ… wwwooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

Hardy celebrates

*       How did you find the level of competing?
The level of competing was, as you’d expect, world class.  Watching the
first couple of days while it was 8-10ft was amazing, so many guys were