The North Shore. Oahu.  “Pipeline.”  According to experts, it’s the world’s most photographed and filmed wave by far.  Perhaps that’s also because of a well-earned reputation as the world’s premier tube – and most dangerous surf spot.  Once called Banzai Beach, a pretty good moniker for the towering sets crashing onto an uber shallow reef of lava caves, in the early Sixties it was boardmaker Mike Diffenderfer who noticed the spot’s waves resembled the giant concrete pipes being used in a nearby road project. Before long, the “Banzai Pipeline” became known as the sport’s ultimate break and, many would claim, the ultimate test of a surfer’s courage, skill and luck.

Today it is simply called “Pipe,” but there is nothing simple about mastering its beguiling and bedeviling barrels.  In an attempt to provide a tutorial to surfers aspiring to conquer Pipe, one website offers this astute observation; “It’s not a matter of if you will wipeout, but rather when and how bad.”  According to the Encyclopedia of Surfing, on one December day in 1998 there were 30 injuries at Pipeline, including a near fatality.  But the photos? – they looked marvelous.

A roster of Pipeline masters would read like a who’s who of big wave barrel riders, from the likes of the early days’ Butch Van Artsdalen and Jock Sutherland, to contemporary tubists like Kelly Slater and the late Andy Irons.  And the annual Pipe Masters surfing classic today dangles a total purse of $425,000.  That’ll pay for a lot of stitches.  Unless, of course, you lose.

Surf Ohio salutes “Pipeline” and the legacy of the famous barrel riders who have mastered it with this Longboard Legends Collection limited-edition of 100 hand-crafted 23” surfboards.  Each is numbered and signed by Ron Kaplan and arrives ready-to-hang in your tiki bar, beach house, office, or wherever you hang ten.  Only $45 per board.    Buy any two boards for $80 (savings of $10), or all three styles with matching edition numbers for only $110 (savings of $25).  Priority Mail shipping is $12 for one board, or $16 for two-three boards.