Flagler Beach’s Robbie McCormick Among Legends at Vans Pipe Masters in Hawaii

OAHU, Hello – It’s not unprecedented for surfers to get their begin in Flagler Seashore and go on to sniff international competitiveness – but it doesn’t come about every single day. And so it’s unquestionably truthful to say that Flagler nearby Robbie McCormick is the town’s most current surf phenomenon. McCormick, regarded to good friends as ‘Rasta Rob’, is on the entry listing for the 2022 Vans Pipe Masters in Hawaii. He’ll compete towards some of the best surfers in the environment for one of the most prestigious trophies in professional surfing.

The Pipe Masters’ checklist of previous winners is a who’s who of surfing royalty: Kelly Slater, Andy Irons, Tom Carroll, Gabriel Medina, John John Florence…the checklist goes on. A women’s contest can take spot much too, with Carissa Moore successful both decades because it was designed. All these names will be remembered for generations as legends of their craft. Is the identify McCormick established to assert a spot subsequent to them? For now, he’s still just Rob.

Let us back again up a 2nd. How did Rasta Rob get in this article? Or, to re-contextualize, how did a surfer from the tiny city of Flagler Seaside get there? According to an job interview with Stab Journal, he was invited as a final-next entrant to a contest in Costa Rica by Nathan Fletcher, a perfectly-proven global surf existence from San Clemente, California. He competed in that contest both of those in 2021 and 2022, successful the occasion this yr. The 2022 earn skilled him for a put at the Vans Pipe Masters.

Picture by Jimmy Wilson, courtesy of Robbie McCormick on Instagram.

Now, he moves on to a various beast. It is difficult not to experience like a small fish in a large pond as a surfer in Oahu. This is in which massive-wave browsing grew to become not only a risk, but a phenomenon. At any time considering the fact that Phil Edwards bravely pioneered the wave in the early 60’s, it is been a spot for individuals who are courageous sufficient not only to gamble with their life, but to posit that they may well insert anything to its legacy. To surf Pipeline is to be between giants. Rasta Rob is rising to their size by taking factors modest.

“I’ll absolutely trip a thing smaller than all people else out there,” McCormick said in his Stab Journal job interview. “I’ve rode 6’6″ [length boards] and 6’8″s out there but I like the emotion of smaller sized boards. I’ll in all probability conclusion up driving a 5’11” Sabotaj or anything.” It is a determination that is unapologetically Rob. Just after all, it’s gotten him this considerably, hasn’t it?

Using a lesser board will allow McCormick amplified maneuverability on the confront of the wave when compared to a more time one. If he genuinely is driving a shorter board than his competition, it is enjoy to give up stability for radical carves. It’s a risk. But if he feels extra snug performing it, it may possibly be a route to victory.

As of now (Monday afternoon our time, early morning Hawaiian time), McCormick’s are two of quite a few anxious eyes looking at the Oahu north shore surf break, waiting around for the waves to get where by they want to be to hold a contest. The following look at-in on ailments is scheduled for 7:30 am HST, equivalent to 12:30 pm EST. This time a 7 days or so from now there could possibly be a comply with-up to this post conversing about Rasta Rob’s Pipe Masters acquire. He’s surely obtained all 5,000+ Flagler Beach inhabitants pulling for it. But if not, he’ll nevertheless be Rob when following year’s party rolls all over.