The Spartan . When I first heard of his "moniker" through a surf publication... all I thought was okay ; His home break is basically T'eahupoo (Tahiti), the only other wave comparable to Pipeline and in some ways even scarier ...you would be completely right to be called a gladiator or The Spartan... but as we've come to know Michel, he's also what embodies the best in Tahitians . Knowing them as deep, humble , passionate & strong, with pure joy : without excuse . It's just something about Tahiti. It's infectious too. I miss that energy I used to feel from my Tahitian friend , and today when Michel won, I felt it all over again. Michel said this was the greatest winning feeling since 2008 , that it has been his dream to win the Pipe Masters ... at 30yrs of age, he's achieved something truly amazing today and to me, long overdue . He surfed in some of the most diverse conditions but it's also his heart that carried him . He was cool as a cucumber , hot as a pistol, strong as The Spartan. Félicitations et Iaorana Michel! @bourezmichel @wsl @surfline @firewiresurfboards #michelbourez #firewiresurfboards #thespartan #pipeline #pipelinemasters #northshore #oahu #tahiti #frenchpolynesia #instasurf #wsl #surfing #Tahitian #pipelineoahu #surfing (at North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii)