Payne sent to Pipe Masters second round
First photo: Dusty Payne of Lahaina competes during the first round of the Billabong Pipe Masters on Monday at the Banzai Pipeline on Oahu’s North Shore. The World Surf League championship tour season finale — which is also the third and final stop on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing — got underway after three lay days. Payne, a wild-card entry, placed second in his opening heat with a two-wave score of 6.83. Defending world champion and current points leader John John Florence of Oahu won the heat with a 13.50, and Brazil’s Wiggolly Dantas (5.63) was third. Florence advanced through to the third round, while Payne was sent to the second round, where he will face Brazil’s Gabriel Medina in an elimination heat — Medina is second in the points standings. Second photo: Florence competes in the first round.
World Surf League Damien Poullenot photos