The Surf Window

Pipeline

North Shore, USA

Reef breakExpert

Banzai Pipeline is the most famous and feared wave on earth, a thick, heaving left-hand barrel that detonates over a shallow, razor-sharp reef at Ehukai Beach on Oahu's North Shore.

Typical Conditions

The Surf Window

Swell Window

N
OptimalN (0°)
WindowNNW–ENE (330°–60°)
Size3-8ft

Wind

NE

Offshore

Tide

Mid to high

LowMidHigh

Season

October–March

JFMAMJJASOND

The Wave

Type

Left (Backdoor right breaks from the same peak)

Bottom

Shallow, razor-sharp reef

Shape

Thick, round, pitching barrel, the benchmark tube on earth

Length

75–150m

Skill Level

  • •Who it's for: Expert
  • •Why: The reef is inches deep, the lip is massive, and the hold-downs are life-threatening, only the world's best belong in the line-up at size.

Hazards

  • •Extremely shallow, razor-sharp reef (lacerations and head injuries are common)
  • •Intense localism, one of the most fiercely policed line-ups in the world
  • •Hold-downs of 2–3 waves on big days
  • •Crowds of elite surfers on every good day

Local Tips

  • •Watch from the beach for a full session before entering, understanding the current and peak is essential.
  • •Respect the local hierarchy absolutely; Pipeline is not a wave where you can 'earn your place' as a visitor in a single trip.

Location

Map showing the location of Pipeline in North Shore, USA

21.6643, -158.0523