$100K Winning Price Will Go Towards Buying a “Dream” for 19-Year-Old Surfing Phenomenon Molly Picklum

Vance 2022 Pipeline Masters is a salient event in the surfing world. Pipe Masters takes place at the Banzai Pipeline, forming a part of the Seven Mile Miracle on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii.

Usually, Pipeline Masters forms a part of the World Surfer’s League’s Champion Tour. However, not this year. This year it was a stand-alone invitation-only event that focused on Hawaii’s male and female surfers.

19-year-old Australian surfer Molly Picklum won the Women’s event. The top man in the men’s event was Balaram Stack. The prize money was $100k along with the prestigious Pipe Master title. The $100k made a lot of dreams come true.

Molly Picklum won her dream house as a prize

Picklum has been surfing since she was a small kid three years of age. She started catching waves as a toddler but never thought she would become a professional Pipe Master one day. She got so good at it, that she received a Tier 1 Scholarship within the 2021 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.

Read more: “Just a Dream!”: Winning Over the Menacing but Admirable Lure of Pipeline Pained This Young Surfer Since Childhood

Molly Picklum won the women’s event after defeating Bettylou Sakura-Johnson, Caity Simmers, and Carissa Moore. She said, “This is the greatest moment of my career so far. Although I was holding the trophy, I feel like we won by pushing women’s surfing. I’m honored to have done this alongside such a strong, inspirational, cool class of women!”

When asked what she would do with the prize money, the teenage phenomenon had a sweet albeit practical answer. She said, “I’ll put it towards a house deposit hopefully, and go live the dream somewhere.” It’s just the beginning of Picklum’s surfing career, and she has already garnered a plethora of trophies for her trophy case.

Balaram Stack celebrates with his mother

Stack went on to defeat Griffin Colapinto, Kaulana Apo, and João Chianca and finally won the men’s finals. He said, “I’m shocked. I don’t really know what to think. I need a minute to settle in. I’m stoked my mother is here. I’ll be thankful and shocked for a while.” 

The New-York based surfer then proceeded to celebrate with his mother and even invited her up to the winner’s dais to share the spotlight with him.

For Stack, Pipeline is the most unique wave out there, with unmatched potential and “raw power and immense energy. Along with the most desired barrels on the planet”. He once said, “Winning an event at pipe has been a lifelong dream of mine.” 

Watch this story: A huge shock for surfing fans before Vans Pipeline from Kelly Slater and John John Florence

Looks like this year’s Pipeline Masters was all about dreams coming true. What did you think about the changes this year? Let us know in the comments.