Jamie O'Brien solidified his title as "Mr. Pipeline" by winning the Volcom Pipeline Pro yesterday. This is the third-time the 26-year-old, North Shore native won this 5-star Qualifying Series event. Thus, adding another trophy to an already-full mantle that includes Da Hui Backdoor Shootout and Pipeline Masters titles. While O'Brien added another Pipe contest victory to a long list of Pipeline conquests, he admits that this win yesterday was very difficult.

Willi Edwards"Mr. Pipeline" naviates the sticky spot.

"I've been squeaking heats the whole contest except for one heat," said O'Brien who faced tough competition every round of the Volcom Pipeline Pro. "I knew my time was coming I just didn't know if it was (yesterday) or next week."

Willi EdwardsWe normally don't run podium shots, but for some reason this one got our attention.

O'Brien was challenged by fellow Pipe Specialist Danny Fuller, and Australian chargers, Mark Mathews and Anthony Walsh, in the 45-minute final heat. Wave face heights in the 12-to 16-foot range produced long, barreling rides at Pipe and Backdoor.

"In the beginning of the heat I knew there were good lefts and I really like going left," said O'Brien of his pre-final assessment of the conditions yesterday. "I knew there were good rights and I really like going right." (His point being, he really likes Pipe and Backdoor.

At the start of the final, O'Brien's found himself searching for a combination of scores. His fellow finalists jumped out to an early lead, leaving O'Brien looking to rally.

"In the begging of the heat I was just worried that theses guys were going to get really good scores early and I was going to have to play catch up, which is a nightmare," admitted O'Brien.

Seasoned Pipeline competitors, like O'Brien, know it only takes one ride at the world's most dangerous wave to take the lead. In a 3-minute span, O'Brien got totally shacked twice at Backdoor to claim the lead over Anthony Walsh. The 26-year-old Australian has made a name for himself at Pipeline the past four winter seasons and was a wave catching machine in the final. Walsh was in a good rhythm the entire heat until wiping out on a Backdoor barrel that had "high-score" written all over it.

"I love Pipe. I pretty much spend the whole winter here," said Walsh, who finished runner-up, "To get second out here is a dream come true. Jamie O'Brien is the best surfer ever out here (at Pipeline)."

Willi EdwardsAnthony Walsh got deep into O'Brien's game

Toward the end of the final, O'Brien found another incredible tube at Pipeline to bolster his two-wave total to 17 out of a possible 20-points. O'Brien's wave selection was on-point the whole event, showing his deep understanding of the famed break. He held the lead for the last 5-minutes of the final, and luckily for O'Brien, the ocean went flat at the end of the contest.

"It's funny because Mark (Matthews) looked at me and said, 'I bet you're hoping it goes dead flat.' And, I said, 'yup,'" said O'Brien after following Matthews around the lineup in the waning minutes. "Mark could have done it really easy so I had to sit on him."

Along with the final placings of the 5-Star QS Volcom Pipeline Pro, the Todd Chesser Memorial Award went to Honolulu City & County Lifeguard Dave Wassel. Wassel competed from the first round to the quarter final of the Pipeline Pro and demonstrated the heart and sportsmanship of late-great, pro surfer Todd Chesser.

"For me this is like a lifetime achievement award. It means more to me then winning this contest," said Wassel who was visibly choked-up and honored by the award. "The best contest, hands down, in a decade."

Willi EdwardsDave Wassel took the Todd Chesser award, a real honor on the North Shore

Volcom Pipeline Pro Final Results

1) Jamie O'Brien $16,000
2) Anthony Walsh $9,000
3) Mark Matthews $4,600
4) Danny Fuller $4,200

Todd Chesser Memorial Award: Dave Wassel