After a full one-year hiatus, welcome back to PostScript. Brief but thorough recaps of the World

Surf League's Championship Tour events.

My name is David Scales for Surf Splendor, and today's episode covers the 2020 Billabong Pipe

Masters, presented by Hydroflask and the Maui Pro presented by Roxy.

The 2020 Billabong Pipe Masters was always destined to be a historic event.

And as we now survey the results and the way that the event unfolded, there are many historical markers for which it will be remembered, some good, some ugly,

and all of which are likely to

overshadow the actual surfing itself. This was the 50th Pipe Masters. The event has run

consecutively since its inaugural event in 1971, which was won by Jeff Hackman. But this year

was threatened to be canceled due to COVID-19.

The entire World Championship Tour for 2020 was, in fact, canceled by the WSL.

But they also had adjusted the tour schedule prior to COVID and moved pipeline to the first event of 2021 rather than the final event of the season.

And likewise on the women's side, the usual final stop, Honolua Bay in Maui, would now be the first stop of their new tour schedule,

which notably also includes Sunset Beach and Chopu for both the men and the women this year.

But despite this shuffle in schedule, there were no guarantees

that these events would actually run as scheduled. COVID-19 had not been quelled by December. World

travel still had significant restrictions and the local Hawaiian community remained divided

about welcoming 60 international athletes,

WLSL staffers, and contractors, and any potential tourists that it would inevitably attract

into their narrow seven-mile stretch of vulnerable ecosystem.

And to further complicate matters, the local government had a moratorium on live

event permits. But the WSL was able to secure a film permit, same as what a television or movie crew

...