XBOX GERRY LOPEZ PIPELINE MASTERS

FORMER CHAMPION ROB MACHADO WINS TRIALS EVENT
MACHADO & BRIAN PACHECO WIN WILDCARDS INTO MAIN EVENT

Wednesday, December 11 2002 - (Pipeline, Hawaii) 2000 Xbox Pipeline Masters champion and former world number two Rob Machado (California) returned to Banzai Pipeline in full glory today, taking first place in the 32-man trials event to win a wildcard into the first round of the main event of this, the 32nd annual Xbox Pipeline Masters. Machado was brilliant in the 4-man, 30 minute final, defeating Hawaiian pair Brian Pacheco and Jamie O'Brien, as well as Indonesian tube-rider Rizal Tandjung in six-to-10 feet waves. Pacheco, who finished runner-up to Machado in the final, also earned a wildcard berth into the main event.

Machado, 30, was incredibly relaxed and stylish on his way to first place today, casually stalling his board to slow himself down in order to maximize his depth and length of tube-ride. His form was flawless and his timing superb. His results exceeded his best expectations.

"That was some really good Pipe out there today," said Machado. "I didn't really have any hopes coming into the Trials and I just figured I'd go out and try my best. I had a lot of patience today.

"Often the Trials are harder than the main event, especially here. You've got all the best surfers from Hawaii and actually from all over the world, and the Pipe specialists. This is huge for me."

2001 Xbox Pipeline Masters finalist O'Brien came so close to advancing to the main event today, finishing third in the final. But despite taking off on the biggest waves and pulling into the most cavernous of tubes, it was his inability to make it out of his tube-rides that would count against him.

Pacheco, who posted the first perfect 10 score of the event in his earlier trials heat, played it smart in the final, picking and choosing his waves at both Pipeline and Backdoor and exiting his tube-rides to advance. Tandjung perhaps peaked a little too early in the day, eliminating the likes of Rocky Canon (Hawaii), Richard Sills (South Africa), defending Vans Triple Crown champion Myles Padaca (Hawaii), Manoa Drollet (Tahiti) and Dider Piter (France) with outstanding surfing en-route to the final.

Looking forward to the opening round of the main event, Pacheco has the most foreboding lineup, drawn against world champion elect Andy Irons (Hawaii) and five-time Pipe Master Kelly Slater (Florida). Machado will face world number two Luke Egan (Australia) and Brazilian Neco Padaratz in his first heat. Defending Xbox Pipeline Master Bruce Irons (Hawaii) is seeded directly into the main event and is drawn against Australian pair Richard Lovett and Joel Parkinson, who won last week's Rip Curl Cup at Sunset Beach.