...too much wave

Surfer Today "Waves hitting the 15-to-20 foot range hit the 2012 Volcom Pipe Pro, in the first day of competition at Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii."

'In three hours of big wave surfing, there were injuries, wipeouts and hairball rides to be registered.

'Kauai's Stephen Koehne, the top-scorer of the day, ended up with a gruesome gash to the knee that could well see him out of the water for weeks. Regular Pipeline chargers Mark Healey and Tom Dosland took the wipeout beatings of the day, and Pipe specialist Dave Wassel was the overall standout.

'"I pulled into the barrel and next thing I knew I just got shot in the knee by my board," said Koehne. Resident Doctor Leiland Dao said it was a serious injury that required 20 stitches or more to three layers: muscle, fascia and skin.

'"I was in his heat but I didn't see it happen," said Wassel. "But I saw his leg afterwards. It doesn't look like he'll be walking for a few weeks, let alone surfing. The hole is huge. Lucky it was his leg and not his head.'