Event Overview

The Hawaiʻi Pipeline Bodyboarding Championship (HPBC) is universally recognized as the most prestigious bodyboarding event in the world. Run in one form or another since its original inception by the City & County of Honolulu in 1971, the event has crowned more world champions than any other competition and remains the ultimate proving ground for the sport at the legendary Banzai Pipeline on Oʻahu’s North Shore.

Pipeline is where champions are made. The HPBC brings together the world’s elite athletes to perform in one of the most powerful and technically demanding waves on the planet, setting the global performance standard for bodyboarding. The event features Professional Men’s and Professional Women’s divisions with equal prize money, demonstrating a strong and ongoing commitment to gender equity and the future growth of the sport. The Junior Men’s and Junior Women’s divisions provide a clear development pathway for the next generation, ensuring that emerging talent has the opportunity to compete at the sport’s most iconic venue.

Daily Event Call:
The official go/no-go call will be made each morning at 7:00 AM, with the first heat starting at 8:00 AM. Competitors scheduled in the opening heats should be on site and ready to suit up immediately once the contest is called ON.

All heats operate under a 50% advancement format and are scored by a panel of expert professional bodyboarding judges, delivering a credible, world-class competitive structure that reflects the highest international standards.

The championship runs within a 14-day holding period from February 20 – March 5, 2026, with competition called on for the best three days of wave conditions to ensure optimal performance and athlete safety at Pipeline. A daily go/no-go decision is announced by 7:00 AM, with athletes, media, and fans able to follow @HPBC2026 for official updates, heat schedules, and event information.

Beyond competition, the HPBC plays a vital role in the global Olympic pathway for bodyboarding, showcasing the sport at its highest level in Hawaiʻi — the birthplace of modern wave-riding — and demonstrating the professionalism, gender equality, youth development, judging standards, and international participation required for Olympic recognition. By providing a world-class platform for elite performance and emerging talent alike, the event helps position bodyboarding for future inclusion on the Olympic stage.

Deeply rooted in place, the championship is guided by a commitment to cultural stewardship and mālama ʻāina. The event honors Hawaiʻi’s surfing heritage, respects the legacy of the North Shore community, and integrates educational and environmental initiatives that give back to the land and shoreline that make the competition possible. Through community engagement, athlete outreach, and mālama-based service projects, the HPBC ensures that the impact of the event extends far beyond the contest site.

More than a competition, the Hawaiʻi Pipeline Bodyboarding Championship is a living legacy event — one that connects generations of champions, elevates the global progression of the sport, and perpetuates Hawaiʻi’s central role in bodyboarding’s past, present, and future.