at one stage counted approx 110-120 surfers out there and one g@y gondolier. Lots paddling for waves, few actually getting onto them. Surprisingly not many dropins, saw it happen 4 or 5 times in a half hour, though there were guys taking off when someone was too deep and going to get axed. very consistent plenty of waves breaking all over the place and the amount of water moving around was crazy, there were guys near the shoreline getting sucked sideways faster than you can run. 
Was lucky enough to spend a few weeks on the north shore last month and that crowd in the pic wouldnt be as bad as it looks. The ten guys furthest to the right would be the photogs and the bodysurfers who catch the tail of a wave after someone eats it. The next ten would be the lids waiting for the standups to eat it on take off and then pinch that wave. The guys in the middle get the peaks that have a more northerly aspect to it. And the dudes to the left are sitting in the true pipe/backdoor peak waiting for a nice west angle swell. The wave doesnt break as perfect as the pics make it look as there are kind of 2 peaks(one in the middle and one on the left). The "classic pipeline" you see are from the dudes on the left who do the big arse bottom turn and slot in, but not many that come thru in the classic fashion. The middle peak to take your tube line straight away. As for the dudes sweeping up the beach, you jump in the water backdoor side and the raging torrent sweeps you so fast north past pipe, if you dont make into the channel you end up way north amongst closeouts. Makes for a pretty safe exit from the impact zone also cos it sweeps you north into the channel. Backdoor and Off the Wall side you cop a hammering getting back out. Sunset is full of the old boys, Ken Bradshaw, Randy Rarick and so on, on their massive longboards catching massive waves. This pic has brought back sweet memories of the place, just gotta get back there. Anyone elso on here been there?
Thanks for that run down Blueballs - a great explanation. I am yet to head over that way but hoping to next year if all goes well. I will be aiming for some late season magic. Did you get loads of waves at all the other spots? A few of my mates have been over in recent yrs and said that there are loads of waves you can surf and that the crowds are nowhere near as bad as you think once most of the pro's have all headed home.
Yeah mate the crowds aren't as bad as you hear about. I was there for the masters and a while after it, so saw huge surf and tiny surf. When it's as big as you see there is basically only Pipe, Waimea, Sunset and Haleiwa that are surfable. Even just a couple of days ago pipe was too big and then its only waimea and the outer reefs, at this stage you just join the peanut gallery on the beach!! When pipe is say 2-6ft then pretty much all the breaks along the 7 mile miracle are surfable and there would be a good 8-10 spots to check, Off the Wall was prob my fav wave at this size(3-4ft..at 6ft its pretty gnarly). When its small Rocky Pt gets crowded as and is full of pro's and i never bothered there. I surfed sunset one time when pipe was the size in that pic and sunset was the same size but not as ferocius if that makes sense? It's more a rolling wave rather than a heaving wave. Nonetheless i still had my biggest ever beating out there and had to come in straight away following it in a tizzle!!! When its under 2ft its basically the euhukai beach park which just out of shot on that pic above to the right, gets mega packed with the pros down to 5 year old kids!! It blows you away how close all the spots are, you can literally paddle from pipe to backdoor to OTW in a minute. From the house i had Pipe and Waimea were a 3 minute bike ride either side. There's plenty of waves to be had, do your dues, sit off from the locals, wait your turn and when it comes they'll hoot you onto it. And you just gotta give bodybashing at waimea bay a go
I was there in '05, not surfing obviously but saw some awesome sessions there!
Il have to dig up some photos! We caught two days of epic swell!
Here's a few of my pics. Took nearly 2000!
1) John John well and truly pitted!!
2) Unridden Monster
3) Slater...yup he made it
4) One big mother!
5) Crowd pleasing style!
Thanks for that rundown and the photos. Great info. I would love to go for the pipe master one time - it would be insane - That would have to be the best live sporting event you could ever attend!
