HALEIWA, Hawaii — All eyes were on the 22-year-old North Shore phenom Moana Jones Wong Sunday at Pipeline during an unforgettable all-Hawaiian final, where the “Queen of the North Shore” beat out Olympian and five-time world champion Carissa Moore to make history and win the Billabong Pipeline Pro.
“I can’t believe it, I’m just losing it right now,” Wong said to World Surf League in a news release. “This is the best moment of my life and I’m so baffled. I never thought I was ever going to accomplish this. Carissa Moore is my favorite surfer and my hero. I always wanted to have a Final at Pipeline with her."
Wong is the first wild card entry to win a championship event since 2010 when Australia-born Tyler Wright won it at Sunset Beach.
Wong led the final with two back-to-back rides that had her ahead of Moore by 12 points. The crowds responded to her determination to defeat her “Goliath,” cheering her each time she got up, and as time ran out, she took on a super pipe bomp, and exited flawlessly for a 7.67 out of a possible 10.
“I feel like I’m constantly learning,” Moore said to the World Surf League. “Today was a little bit outside of my comfort zone. There was a lot of water moving and for me, it was just about putting in some more time with only another surfer out. Congratulations Moana, there’s no one more deserving, she’s put in years and years out here and you could tell she did a great job.”
Now Wong, ranking at No. 1, will head to the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach next week in the wildcard slot.
Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Final Results:
1. Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 14.34
2. Carissa Moore (HAW) 3.73
Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s Semifinals Results:
HEAT 1: Moana Jones Wong (HAW) 14.00 def. Tyler Wright (AUS) 9.76
HEAT 2: Carissa Moore (HAW) 7.84 def. Lakey Peterson (USA) 1.26
The 2022 Championship Tour Continues in Hawaii
The holding period for the Hurley Pro Sunset Beach presented by SHISEIDO, the second stop of the 2022 Championship Tour, runs from Feb. 11 to Feb. 23, 2022. Catch the competition live on Spectrum Sports Surf Channel 1020 in Hawaii.
For more information, please visit WorldSurfLeague.com.