How do you know?

you have to have balls.
well. you have to actually know how to surf REAL WELL. be aware of locals, if you show up not knowing NO one and paddle out to pipe, you will get punched in the face. If you really want to surf pipe enter a contest. A. its big. B. dont have to worry about locals. you have to be surfing many years.. and hawaiian waters are rough. strong. be prepared for the worst.

For most people, never! You have to be fearless, yet respect the ocean because it can take your life at any time. The waves at Pipes are heavier, thicker, shallower and more dangerous than most other breaks in the country. You need experience, you need to know your place in the line up and you need to be willing to die every time you drop in.

a while..the waves are pretty rough... :D

Respect
experience
knowlege of the conditions
know who you never drop in on
ALOHA

Two part answer.

First. It is going to taker u some years to acquire the skill to successfully ride a wave like Pipe. You will have to have surfed at other spots with steep drops & heavy lips.

Second & probably most important. It does not matter if u can surf ur ass off. u can not just show up at Pipe & get waves. It will require some time investment to just be there on the North Shore & establish yourself as someone with skills & respect before can get any waves at Pipe. In general u do not take waves there, they r given to you. Pull back on ur wave or blow the drop you're done, no ones gonna give u more.

l dunno, l was good enough to ride them around 16, but l did not try before that. umm ,, l guess it would take a long time

depends on how fast you progress ive been surfing for 10 yrs and call my self a great surfer and my friend started about 5 yrs ago and is an excellent surfer (sponsored, the whole deal) and surfed pipe once and did well

if you're suicidal -- a day or two

That Hollywood film, Blue Crush, was not lying. Pipe is the heaviest wave in the world. You do not just get crushed. You die.

Um .The average person wo not ride pipe.