PIPELINE — A Peter King Film
If you’re a surfer there is something almost mystical about the Banzai Pipeline.
For generations it has stood as surfing’s ultimate proving ground—a shallow reef where reputations are made, sometimes broken, and where every surfer who paddles out understands exactly what is at stake. When Pipeline is breaking, the best surfers in the world show up. They always have.
During the winter of 2024–2025, the wave delivered a run that will be talked about for years. Swell after swell arrived from the right direction, the winds cooperated, and for weeks the reef stayed alive. The lineup filled with the world’s best surfers answering the call of the most consequential wave in surfing.
From the deck of the A New Earth Project house overlooking the break, photographer Peter King was there for all of it.
PK has spent decades documenting the North Shore. He understands the rhythm of the place and the people who orbit it. Positioned directly in front of the peak at Pipeline, the house became a natural vantage point—part gathering place, part staging area, and the front row to one of the most remarkable runs of surf in recent memory.
The result is PIPELINE — A Peter King Film.
It is not a highlight reel. It is a document of a moment in time—of the surfers who paddled into those waves, and of the rare filmmaker who had both the access and the instinct to keep the camera rolling while it all unfolded.
Ahead of the film’s global streaming premiere on April 15, 2026, we sat down with Peter King to talk about the season, the wave, and what it means to watch Pipeline from the front row.
Q&A with Peter King
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1. The Origin
Q (A New Earth Project): You’ve been documenting the North Shore for years. What made the 2024–2025 winter season feel like the right moment to make PIPELINE?
A (Peter King):It was the most consistent season of large surf and perfect swell direction in over 30 years. Being positioned directly in front of the wave at Pipeline at the A New Earth Project house put us on literally the 50‑yard line of the greatest show on earth.
A season at Pipeline is about four months—from November through February—usually with four or five good days mixed in. This season provided over 40 great days. The waves stayed pumping through March.
The house became a focal point for the best surfers in the world entering the lineup, and I knew we had to try to capture that amazing energy the ocean was providing.
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2. The Wave
Q: For people who may not understand surfing, how would you describe Pipeline—and why it’s considered the most iconic and dangerous wave in the world?
Peter: Pipeline is a crazy mix of extreme wave height and shallow reef, combining to make a very steep drop to enter the wave. One poorly timed moment and you’re a wipeout highlight reel—yes, there are many in the film—and possibly dealing with a broken board, a trip to the ER from bouncing off the reef…or worse.
But with the right swell and wind direction, those same factors create the magic: perfect cylindrical tubes. Heavy crowds descend on the lineup, with everyone hoping for surf glory—a clip, a photo, a moment standing tall under the death crest. That crowd factor leads to dangerous near misses and crashes, escalating the risk.
It’s truly a risk versus reward situation at Pipeline.
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3. The Season
Q: You watched the entire winter unfold from the front row. What moment from this season still gives you chills?
Peter: The best wave in the film is the ride by Moana Jones Wong. An absolutely perfect wave for the ages. Her backstory on that wave is the stuff of legends.
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4. The Access
Q: Much of the film was shot from the A New Earth Project house overlooking Pipeline. What does that vantage point allow you to capture that most people never see?
Peter: The house is the focal point of the film. It sits directly in front of the peak at Pipeline.
It became our movie set, triage center, and staging area for the best surfers in the world to launch into the surf. It’s truly the most amazing vantage point—to sit there and be completely mesmerized by the wave.
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5. The Fear Factor
Q: Pipeline has a reputation for being incredibly dangerous. When surfers paddle out, what’s actually going through their minds?
Peter: We asked a lot of them that question. Regardless of talent, age, or experience, everyone out there carries a healthy respect for what can go wrong at Pipeline.
One of the recent changes is surfers wearing helmets—a great precaution. Many brands are now making specialized surf helmets specifically for this wave.
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6. The Filmmaker
Q: Your camera is always rolling in this film. Why was it important to capture the entire rhythm of the season, not just the highlight waves?
Peter: All of it is required to truly tell the story. Winter is long, and since I’m always filming, it was a natural progression through the season.
The interviews help remind us how good it really was—and they offer special insight into what makes the best surfers in the world so addicted to this wave.
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7. The Meaning
Q: After documenting this wave and this community for so many years, what does Pipeline mean to you personally?
Peter: I first surfed Pipeline at 15 years old while chasing a career as a pro surfer. Showing you can handle this wave is required to earn respect in the surf world.
I’ve had both good and bad experiences out there, and I’m forever in awe of what it offers. I feel incredibly blessed to make this film and to present insider views from the best to ever do it—during the greatest winter.
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Watch PIPELINE — A Peter King Film
Premiering globally on April 15, 2026 across multiple platforms including: