Newcastle duo Morgan Cibilic and Jackson Baker will take to the water this weekend for the first stop on the World Surf League (WSL) 2022 Championship Tour (CT).

The Billabong Pro Pipeline opens at the world-renowned Banzai Pipeline, with a promising forecast of eight-to-10-feet swells.

Following a breakout season in 2021, Merewether’s Cibilic faces fellow Aussie Connor O’Leary and Brazilian Caio Ibelli in heat three.

Young gun Baker lines up against Portugal’s Frederico Morais and Brazil’s Miguel Pupo in the eighth match-up.

The 20-year-old is just one of a number of newcomers stepping onto the CT circuit this year after experiencing near-misses in previous attempts.

He and Carlos Munoz (CRI) will be joined by a hungry cast of competitors ready to show their talents.

Peru’s 2021 Olympian Lucca Mesinas, Southern California’s Jake Marshall, Brazil’s Samuel Pupo and João Chianca, as well as Australians Liam O’Brien and Callum Robson, round out a dynamic rookie class that could provide a generational shift in the sport.

Meanwhile, Hawaiian John John Florence is in undeniable form ahead of the season’s start, after winning the Michelob ULTRA Pure Gold Haleiwa Challenger and HIC Pipe Pro QS 1,000.

“My goal this year is to win a World Title,” he said.

“I learned a lot from my injuries these past couple of years.

“I’ve been putting a ton of effort and work into my recovery and coming into this year with no injuries and a lot of training feels pretty good.

“I’ve learned so much about being more optimistic about my situation.”

Billabong Pro Pipeline Women’s opening round match-ups:

• Heat 1: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Courtney Conlogue (USA), Molly Picklum (AUS)
• Heat 2: Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA), Gabriela Bryan (HAW), Malia Manuel (HAW)
• Heat 3: Carissa Moore (HAW), Brisa Hennessy (CRI), Moana Jones Wong (HAW)
• Heat 4: Johanne Defay (FRA), Isabella Nichols (AUS), Luana Silva (HAW)
• Heat 5: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Tyler Wright (AUS), India Robinson (AUS)
• Heat 6: Caroline Marks (USA), Lakey Peterson (USA), Bettylou Sakura Johnson (HAW)

Billabong Pro Pipeline Men’s opening round match-ups:

• Heat 1: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Ezekiel Lau (HAW), Owen Wright (AUS)
• Heat 2: Griffin Colapinto (USA), Liam O’Brien (AUS), Matthew McGillivray (ZAF)
• Heat 3: Morgan Cibilic (AUS), Connor O’Leary (AUS), Caio Ibelli (BRA)
• Heat 4: Conner Coffin (USA), Jake Marshall (USA), Barron Mamiya (HAW)
• Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Callum Robson (AUS), Miguel Tudela (PER)
• Heat 6: Filipe Toledo (BRA), Samuel Pupo (BRA), Ivan Florence (HAW)
• Heat 7: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN), Seth Moniz (HAW), Carlos Munoz (CRI)
• Heat 8: Frederico Morais (PRT), Miguel Pupo (BRA), Jackson Baker (AUS)
• Heat 9: John John Florence (HAW), Jadson Andre (BRA), Joao Chianca (BRA)
• Heat 10: Jack Robinson (AUS), Kelly Slater (USA), Lucca Mesinas (PER)
• Heat 11: Kolohe Andino (USA), Ethan Ewing (AUS), Imaikalani deVault (HAW)
• Heat 12:  Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA), Deivid Silva (BRA), Nat Young (USA)

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