Mimi chaired up the hallowed sands of the Banzai Pipeline by Yannick Beven and Raimana van Bastolaer. Slats wants in on some high 5 love, while the winning Christiaan Bradley sled shimmers in glorious Oahu afternoon sunshine. Photo: ASP

Jeremy Flores made history this afternoon on the North Shore, becoming the first ever European to win a WCT event, and choosing a pretty decent one to do so in, the Billabong Pipemasters in Memory of Andy Irons, the most prestigious event in the universe. Jeremy picks up a massive 75 large for his travails, and finishes 2010 once again ranked inside the Top 10.

I had couple a shreds earlier this week with Mimi out at Monster Mush/Stone Zone, and had a little chat with him, but had no idea I was shredding and chatting with a soon-to-be Pipemaster. Out surfing most morning there with Patrick Beven, Jeremy told me he was planning on staying in Hawaii until February. And while he’s known as one of the more self confident competitors on tour, even he probably wasn’t putting his mortgage on winning the Pipe.

Yet today, after organizers decided to run with a moderate north swell in the water and not much on the charts for the rest of the waiting period, Mimi took down Slater in his semi before ultimately mugging Aussie veteran Kieren Perrow of a maiden tour win with a crazy barrel with under two minutes to go to take out the event. “It’s a dream come true,” an elated Jeremy admitted afterwards, “I want to dedicate to Andy Irons. The guy was my hero growing up.”

jeremy pipemaster champion 2010 from nicolas dazet on Vimeo.

Final ASP Men’s Top 10 looks like this:

1. Kelly Slater (USA);
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF);
3. Mick Fanning (AUS);
4. Taj Burrow (AUS);
5. Dane Reynolds (USA);
6. Bede Durbidge (AUS);
7. Adrian Buchan (AUS);
8. Owen Wright (AUS);
9. Jeremy Flores (FRA);
10. Adriano De Souza (BRA)