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Billy Kemper and Imaikalani deVault Claim Wildcard Spots in Pipe Masters

Billy Kemper and Imaikalani deVault Claim Wildcard Spots in Pipe Masters

Date: 2019-12-13

BANZAI PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii where locals Hawaiian Billy Kemper and Imaikalani deVault earned first and second place, respectively, at the Pipe Invitational to clinch wildcard spots into theBillabong Pipe Masters in Memory of Andy Irons, the final stop on the 2019 World Surf League (WSL) Men's Championship Tour (CT) and third gem of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

2019 will mark Kemper's second appearance in the Billabong Pipe Masters, his first being in 2012 where he was defeated by eleven-time World Champion and seven-time Pipe Master Kelly Slater (USA) in Round 3. Today, he went against an all-Hawaii Final that included runner-up deVault, Keanu Asing (HAW) and Koa Smith (HAW) and put on a powerful performance that included a 7.67 in the Final for a set wave at Backdoor and a 5.50 for a technical, late drop into a Pipe barrel that he wrangled to remain on his feet.

"This is everything I worked for, I gotta thank Kahea Hart for getting me ready for this kind of stuff," said Kemper following the Final. "At the end of the day this is what we plan for. Be ready for battle and be ready for a marathon. I'm excited, I'm so grateful to get in this main event," he said adding "Really excited, I hope I draw one of the Title guys and mess some guys up and have fun. I think we have a great forecast ahead of us, looks like some really good waves."

DeVault, the 22-year-old from Maui, finished runner up behind Kemper and is set to compete in his very first CT event once the Billabong Pipe Masters begins. His stylish brand of surfing was a great match to the building swell and as deVault made his way through the rounds, he passed Pipeline specialists and past trials winners along the way. Although he claims he isn't a Pipeline afficionado quite yet, his surfing made a different statement today as he successfully navigated multiple barrels and tallied good scores throughout the competition.

"I can't believe it, long day but so stoked, dream come true," said deVault. "It will be my first CT ever, so I'm excited. Looks like we have good waves coming so it should be fun. I'm going to have a gnarly heat, I'm not sure who I'm going to draw but I know it will be one of the top seeds. It will be fun, hopefully I get a couple sick waves."

As the Pipe Invitational wildcards, deVault and Kemper will have the opportunity to play spoiler to the World Title once the Billabong Pipe Masters is called on. DeVault will compete in Heat 5 against two-time World Champion and current No. 2 Gabriel Medina (BRA) and Willian Cardoso (BRA), while Kemper will match up with World No. 1 Italo Ferreira (BRA) and Michael Rodrigues (BRA).

Watch the exciting action of the Billabong Pipe Masters broadcast LIVE onWorldSurfLeague.com, the free WSL app, and VansTripleCrownofSurfing.com.