2nd Annual 2012-2013 Nathan Florence and Tony Heff Win Steep and Deep Pipeline Challenge
2nd Annual 2012-2013 Steep and Deep Pipeline Challenge
Press Release April 24, 2013
Another awesome season for the Steep and Deep Pipeline Challenge. The boys were out charging steep and deep and the photographers were out in the line up getting their fair share shooting sick images. Professional Surfer Nathan Florence and Water Photographer Tony Heff honored the legacy of Sion Milosky by winning the 2012-13 Steep and Deep Pipeline Photo Challenge.
This years winner is Surfer Nathan Florence and Photographer Tony Heff
The winning surfer and Photographer each take home $2,500 plus a custom engraved frame with winning image. Also, Nathan Florence (John John Florence younger bro) gets a custom made board by Will Scovel. Tony Heff wins a prize package by Aqua Tech who manufactures camera essentials worth $3,000. The other finalists walk home with a handsome prize package by GoPro, Oakley and Kicker audio gear. We received hundreds of sick submissions. The judges had their work cut out for them and did a great job narrowing the images down from the final 15 to the final top 5 images. The scores were close and we have a tie for 5th place.
Nathan Florence and Tony Heff’s well deserved, epic backside, body drag, drop-in to pipe on what seemed to be a not so good day at pipe according to them, proved to be the winner of this years Steep and Deep Pipeline Photo Challenge. This wave came out of nowhere and Nathan was on it and Heff was at the right place and right time to shoot it. Both Nathan and Tony feel that winning the event goes deeper than bragging rights, cash and prizes but more meaningful because this event is held in memory of Big Wave, Pipeline Legend Sion Milosky. Both winners respected and looked up to Si for the man he was in and out of the water.
The winning surfer and Photographer each take home $2,500 plus a custom engraved frame with winning image. Also, Nathan Florence (John John Florence younger bro) gets a custom made board by Will Scovel. Tony Heff wins a prize package by Aqua Tech who manufactures camera essentials worth $3,000. The other finalists walk home with a handsome prize package by GoPro, Oakley and Kicker audio gear. We received hundreds of sick submissions. The judges had their work cut out for them and did a great job narrowing the images down from the final 15 to the final top 5 images. The scores were close and we have a tie for 5th place.
Nathan Florence and Tony Heff’s well deserved, epic backside, body drag, drop-in to pipe on what seemed to be a not so good day at pipe according to them, proved to be the winner of this years Steep and Deep Pipeline Photo Challenge. This wave came out of nowhere and Nathan was on it and Heff was at the right place and right time to shoot it. Both Nathan and Tony feel that winning the event goes deeper than bragging rights, cash and prizes but more meaningful because this event is held in memory of Big Wave, Pipeline Legend Sion Milosky. Both winners respected and looked up to Si for the man he was in and out of the water.
Ecstatic Tony says, “Si was a huge inspiration and hero of mine, not only because of how he charged in the lineup but how he was as a family man- a straight up good guy”.
“Pipe was pretty good that day and then the evening was a little tricky with not as many good waves coming through [compared to the morning],” explained Heff. “I went down to the beach thinking it was going to be really good and perfectly backlit evening session at Pipe, but it was not looking good at all. There was absolutely nobody shooting from the water, but I was there with all my stuff so I decided to swim out and see what I could get anyway. There was a lot of current and all over the place. I swam out and that was the only wave that came through and I shot. It was the only photo I got from the whole swim that evening. It just all came together. Like I said, it was all over the place so being in the right spot was little trickier than some days out there.”
We are stoked on the turnout and images this year. More importantly we know Si is stoked!
Final Results:
2nd pl. Ricardo Dos Santos and Paulo Barcellos
3rd pl. Koa Rothman and Brent Beilmann
4th pl. John John Florence and Zak Noyle
5th pl. *tied with Evan Valiere and Brent Beilmann and JD Irons and Juan Munoz
“We had more participants than the first year with more surfers and
photographers alike,” said Suzi Milosky, Sion’s wife and contest director of the
Steep and Deep Pipeline Photo Challenge. “I’d like to especially thank Vans for
being our main sponsor again this year. The respect they continue to show Si,
his family and our community is amazing and to Volcom, Surfing magazine, Oakley
and Kicker who continue to give their continued support in the cause, we are so
grateful as without our sponsors support, this contest would not be what it is
today. And to the camera company, Aqua Tech, for hopping on board this year and
taking notice from the photography side. It’s just awesome! Everyone has been
helping put the word out on this contest and we are hoping this contest just
gets better and betteras we get more organized. This is just a great event for
the boys who charge and shoot Pipe while perpetuating Sion Milosky’s
extraordinary legacy. We are all stoked to put this together to showcase all
the sick images that come from Pipe and we would like to thank all the sponsors,
judges and participants who made this happen. This contest is a collaborative
effort and we are stoked to see what’s in store in the years ahead.”
Thank you very much for all the sponsors, judges, participants and supporters of this seasons Steep and Deep Pipeline Challenge. See you all again next season. A Hui Hou!
Special thanks to Volcom, Vans, Surfing magazine, AquaTech, Kicker, Chris Kalima, Will Scovel Boards, Oakley and Go Pro. Mahalo Nui Loa!!
*Official press release from our media sponsor Surfing is here surfingmagazine.com. Check back here soon to www.livelikesion.com to view more epic photos from the contest. For sponsorship and participation inquiries contact steepanddeeppipeline@gmail.com.
