2013 BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS: THE FINAL DAY

POSTED ON 15 DECEMBER 2013 BY CLAIRE BUTLER

Attending the Billabong Pipe Masters has always been a bucket list item for me. This year, I have been lucky enough to make that dream a reality. I flew over 30 hours to attend the final event of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and yesterday I joined 1000's of other photographers and spectators on the shoreline of Banzai Pipeline to watch some of the greatest contest surfing that 2013 has had to offer. Being there for the final day was an unbelievable experience and truly a highlight of my career as a surf photographer. Blessed with maxing waves, beautiful weather and phenomenal surfing, it's a day I don't think anybody could forget. View my photo story below. Enjoy!

PURCHASE ANY OF THESE IMAGES IN DIGITAL OR PRINT FORMAT. CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © CLAIRE BUTLER.

THIS IS NOT DISNEYLAND

POSTED ON 13 DECEMBER 2013 BY CLAIRE BUTLER

Second reef is breaking. No wait, third reef is breaking. This is going to be one helluva set. My anticipation is interrupted by the voice of a Hawaiian lifeguard booming from a megaphone: "if you have any small children playing near the shoreline we ask you to please get them back away from the beach. We advise you to move now. This is a very large set, please move back now. Guys with the cameras, move, now! This is not Disneyland!".

Despite the tough shooting conditions, what I witnessed tonight was undoubtedly one of the highlights of my career as a surf photographer. Maxing Pipeline on the eve of what will be an epic final day of the 2013 Billabong Pipe Masters here in Hawaii. We'll have to see what the morning brings because by sunset this eve, it was actually too big. Perhaps they'll run the Eddie instead! Here's hoping...

PURCHASE ANY OF THESE IMAGES IN DIGITAL OR PRINT FORMAT. CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION. 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © CLAIRE BUTLER.