The Billabong Pipeline pro championship brings a treasure trove of adrenaline rush along with spectacular and scenic wave pinnacles. This year, the spectacle came in the form of the 25-year-old Australian surfer, Jack Robinson, as he clinched the Pro Pipeline trophy and carried the day with a victorious grin. Nevertheless, Robinson took the center of the spotlight hours before he lift the trophy in the finals, as he defeated 2x world champion John John Florence in the quarter-finals of Pro Pipeline.
The Australian claimed the famed Billabong Pipeline Pro by trouncing his Italian rival Leonardo Fioravanti. In the finals, Robinson scored 9.17, while Fioravanti came out of the ocean with 7.47 in his bag. However, before making it to the finals, Robinson caused a stir within the surfing fraternity as he defeated the American surfing star, John John Florence. While some fans applauded Robinson for his momentous triumph, others were rendered sad as Florence didn’t make it to the finals.
The surfing fraternity expressed mixed emotions on Jack Robinson’s quarter-finals victory
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A few hours ago, the World Surf League took to its Youtube channel to share the highlights of Billabong pro-Pipeline’s quarter-final match between Robinson and Florence. Following the heat replay between the Australian and the American, many flocked to the comment section to express their outlooks on the surfing match between the two stars.
Fans commented..
“I just don’t get how John air dropped into the barrel did 2 solid turns and got a 7.17, then Jack gets pretty much the same barrel without the insane drop then does a foam climb and gets a 7.17?!?! John was robbed again but realistically this was hardly contestable pipe. Someone needs to make a new tour already please and thanks”
“Absolutely no way Jack’s 7.17 was equal to JJF’s 7.17. Poor form judges”
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“Could’ve went either way. Bummer that John got beat. Hoping he can stay healthy for the whole season. It’d be great to see him and Robbo battle for a tittle at the end of the year”
“I’d love to see john in the final but this how it goes”
“Are these judges smoking crack? JJF was better overall !!“
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“John John absolutely robbed! Much respect for Jack he’s one of my favorites…. BUT, definitely not deserving of the scores he got at the end. Over all from a technical and critical perspective each one of John’s waves were exactly that. Jack got covered for a second while going mach ten. Not the same. End of rant”
“These are two of my favourite surfers to watch, and I thought the heat was as entertaining as I’d hoped
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While others are rooting for JJ Florence, others backed Jack Robinson. One fan penned, ” JJF’s 7.17 didn’t have flow and power. Yes he got a late drop but watch it again he was late on both his 2nd and 3rd hits. That’s where his flow let him down and judges penalize for this and it doesn’t look great either. Jacks 7.17 was a better barrel and that is Pipe scoring. Jacks power and flow and longer barrels won the heat. He 100% deserved the win albeit a narrow win so the judges got that right also”.
Clearly, while many are praising the Australian for bagging the victory at WSL’s Billabong pro-Pipeline, others are not happy with the final judgment.