Hatteras Island is buzzing about 20-year-old Buxton resident Brett Barley, a local surfer who is making pretty big waves in the surfing world. Currently competing in the Volcom Pipeline Pro contest that is being held in O’ahu, Hawaii’s North Shore, Narley has advanced through three heats to earn a spot in the semifinals.
The third round, fourth round and quarterfinals were completed yesterday in treacherous wave-face heights of 15 to 25 feet at the Banzai Pipeline.
“Me and my wife have just been praying before I go out, just saying have fun,” said Barley in a Honolulu Advertiser article. “It’s not about how far I get, or the money or anything. I just want to go out there and surf because I enjoy it.”
Even more amazing, this is Barley’s first contest at the famous Pipeline.
He said he tried to practice on the waves prior to the contest, but admitted struggling due to the massive crowds of surfers at Pipeline on non-contest days. But he surfed into the spotlight during the second day of the contest on Friday, when he scored a perfect 10 for a long barrel ride.
Now Barley is one of just eight surfers remaining in the contest, and surfers around the world who may have never heard of Hatteras Island, have a newfound respect for North Carolina and Outer Banks surfing. A video of Barley in action at the Pipeline Pro is featured below.
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