Every December the world’s best surfers come to compete at Pipe Masters, the last stop on the World Surf League’s Championship Tour.

“It’s an amazing wave, you can get the best wave of your life or the biggest wipeout of your life,” said professional surfer Filipe Toledo.

“It’s definitely the most challenging wave on the tour,” he said.

A permit issue earlier this year put the contest in question for 2019.

The contest has been running since 1971. Now, in it’s 48th year, many people couldn’t imagine a year without Pipe Masters being held.

“The Pipe Masters is the most famous surfing competition in the world,” said Marty Thomas, World Surf League Hawaii tour manager. “Banzai Pipeline is the most well-known surf break in the world and for the surfers, this is their dream to surf the Pipeline Masters.”

The City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Parks and Recreation came up with a new rule this summer. They created a triennial, or 3-year, calendar covering all North Shore surf events from June 2019 to 2021.

“We’ve applied for three years of all of our winter events,” said Jodi Wilmott, General Manager for WSL Hawaii. “If those permits are granted around Dec. 31, which is when the city will typically grant those, you’ll see us at the same place, at the same time, for the next three years which would be great.”

The WSL is keeping Pipe Masters in December under the three-year application.

“You’ll continue to see the Volcom Pipe Pro in late January, early February, and that will go on for the next three years as well if we get all those permits secured,” Wilmott said.

Although the WSL’s 2019 schedule shows Pipe Masters will be held next December, it’s still not official.

As Wilmott said, they still need to get the permits secured.

The city says the triennial schedule has not been completed.

We’ll find out what contests will be included when the list is released next year.