Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic

The Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic is a bodysurfing competition held annually during the Winter season at the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

The goals (and historical precedent) for the Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic are based on the original concept of the North Shore Expressive / Paipo bodysurfing event.

The Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic first ran February 1971 (which preceded the Pipe Masters, which ran December 1971). Therefore, the Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic was the first surfing event at Pipeline (Ehukai Beach Park) on the North Shore of Oahu.

The Event was originally hosted by the Honolulu City Parks Department (to promote water safety and wave consciousness), as a multi-division bodysurfing, handboard and skegless paipo board competition open to both men and women.

Eventually, the event was adopted by the North Shore Bodysurfing Club in Haleiwa, Hawaii.

Currently, the Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic (PBC) Started in February 1971; and the Oceanside World Bodysurfing Championship, started in 1977, are the two biggest bodysurfing competitions in the World.The PBC is an event open to all bodysurfers. It is a judged competition specific to Bodysurfing and uses established judging standards.

The Pipeline Bodysurfing Classic was denied contest permits for the surf calendar seasons 2006-2007, 2008-2009, 2009-2010 (ran on World Bodyboarding Championships Permit 1/2 day event), and 2010-2011 (ran on IBA Bodyboarding Championships Permit 1/3 day event), . Exclusive access to Pipeline and other surf breaks is a very scarce resource. The City and County of Honolulu decides which contests will receive permits. In 2010, a half day contest was on February 24th. It was won by Mike Stewart for the 12th time. Mark Cunningham who has won 6th times came in third place. In 2011, a third of a day contest was completed on February 19th 2011. It was won by Mike Stewart for the 13th time.