Triple Crown 25 Years

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is a unique combination of sport, culture, history, lifestyle and travel in the birthplace of surfing: Hawaii. Revered around the world as the premier professional surfing Series, the Vans Triple Crown is staged annually in the giant winter waves of Oahu’s North Shore, from November 12 through December 20. Once a year, surfing’s top-ranked men and women arrive in Hawaii to take on the world’s most challenging waves in the final battle for world titles, prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing titles, $760,000 in prize-money, and all-important seeding for the following season. The Triple Crown of Surfing is considered to professional surfing what Wimbledon is to tennis, the Masters to golf, and the Indianapolis 500 to auto racing. Celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2007, the Triple Crown is the final stop on the Association of Surfing Professionals world tour and offers a series of three back-to-back men’s and women’s events. For the men: the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, the O’Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, and the Billabong Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline. For the ladies: the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa, the Roxy Pro at Sunset Beach, and the Billabong Pro at Honolua Bay, Maui – the only outer-island event of the series. Each event has an extended holding period of more than 10 days, allowing competitors and organizers to pick and choose the biggest and best days within the allotted time. Each competition will run a total of four days within its specified holding period, with heats scheduled from 8 am to 4 pm on days of competition. Daily updates can be found on these official websites:

MEN’S VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING: Reef Hawaiian Pro

Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park November 12-22, 2007 A 6-star World Qualifying Series Event Prize Purse: $125,000

O’Neill World Cup of Surfing

Sunset Beach November 24 to December 6, 2007 A 6-star World Qualifying Series Event Prize Purse: $125,000

Billabong Pipeline Masters

Banzai Pipeline December 8-20, 2007 Elite World Championship Tour event Prize Purse: $300,000

Andy Irons won his second cons

ecutive Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title in 2006 and hie fourth title ove rall.

www.triplecrownofsurfing.com www.aspworldtour.com www.surfline.com Or on the local telephone hotline:

WOMEN’S VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING:

Surf News Network - (808) 596-SURF (596-7873)

Reef Hawaiian Pro

Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park November 12-22, 2007 A 6-star World Qualifying Series Event Prize Purse: $30,000

Roxy Pro

of Surfing. Mark Richards, 1984 World Cup

rd five Vans Triple Crown Hawaiian Sunny Garcia won a reco es. titl fing of Sur Peruvian Sofia Mulan

ovich won her first Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title in 2006.

Carol Cunningham

ASP World Tour

Triple Crown of Srufing

Sunset Beach November 24 to December 6, 2007 Elite World Championship Tour Event Prize Purse: $80,000

Billabong Pro

Honolua Bay, Maui (the only outer-island event) December 8-20, 2007 Elite World Championship Tour Event

Cameron Nelson

WELCOME! TO THE 25th ANNIVERSARY VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS!

25 YEARS OF THE TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING Just as the sport of surfing grew from humble roots in Hawaii to become a global industry, so too the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing has evolved from a series of local events to become the holy grail of professional surfing. What started off as a local Hawaiian-based championship has transformed into the most prestigious title-within-a-title that surfing has to offer. The first international surfing contest in Hawaii, the Makaha International Surfing Championship, was held on the west side of Oahu in the early ‘50’s. While Makaha introduced the competitive surfing world to Hawaii, the major recognition of Oahu’s potential came when events began on the North Shore. In 1971, the first Pipeline Masters event was staged by former world champion surfer and eventual founder of the of the Triple Crown of Surfing Series Fred Hemmings. This year, the Billabong Pipeline Masters celebrates 37 years. In 1983, Hemmings decided to create a title that would better showcase the three existing Hawaiian events - the Pipeline Masters, World Cup of Surfing and the Hawaiian Pro. With their world recognition already secure he linked the three contests into a series collectively known as ‘The Triple Crown of Surfing.’ “The concept was to focus attention on three of the world’s most prominent surfing competitions held in unquestionably the most competitive and awesome surfing venue anywhere,” Hemmings said. “The whole idea behind the Triple Crown Series was to have a champion emerge from the three major surf sites on Oahu’s North Shore. Catching an eight– to–ten–foot wave at the Pipeline certainly demands different skills than riding a 15-foot wave at Sunset.” “It grew out of a need to have something to acknowledge the results of the Hawaiian events,” explains Randy Rarick, Executive Director of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. “Rather than just have rated events that were part of a world tour, the Triple Crown title was formed to recognize the best male surfer in the big waves of the North Shore – a location that has come to be known as the proving ground of every surfer. In 1997, we added the women’s Triple Crown to equally feature the women.” Rarick summarizes the enduring nature and important place in surfing’s history which the Triple Crown holds: “Surfing greats have come and gone, surfboard d e s i g n s h a v e u n d e rg o n e r a d i c a l changes and the bearing on the world title has ebbed and flowed, but one thing has remained constant: the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the quest for the Triple Crown title have generated some of the most spectacular moments in pro surfing history.”

HISTORY:

Hawaii is the birthplace of the original Core/Extreme/Action Sport.

LIFESTYLE:

Born in California on the Feet of Duke Kahanamoku.

Surfing, the original extreme sport, was born centuries ago in the Hawaiian Islands. Long before landlocked surfers created skateboarding in the ‘60’s, snowboarding in the ‘80’s and more recently wakeboarding, ancient Hawaiian men and women surfed on boards crafted from wood of the wiliwili tree or of koa. Known as the sport of kings, surfing thrived until the early 1800s when New England missionaries arrived and preached against the pastime. Virtually abandoned until the beginning of the 20th century, the sport was revitalized by a young Hawaiian – and future Olympic swimming champion – Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. Surfing is today recognized as the official sport of Hawaii.

Vans shoe company was born in Orange, California, and given flight on the feet of Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku. It was during the Duke Invitational at Huntington Beach Pier in 1965, that Mr. Paul Van Doren boasted to Kahanamoku that he could make him a pair of shoes out of any fabric he liked and have them on his feet by morning. The Duke looked around and instructed friend Fred Hemmings (who later went on to found the Triple Crown of Surfing) to take off his Hawaiian print shirt. The rest is history. Vans is now a public company and spans three generations of Van Dorens since Duke first wore his traditional print shoes.

TOURISM & BUSINESS:

North Shore is one of Oahu’s Top Visitor Destinations. Surf Industry Brings in $9 Million in 2006.

It used to be that the sleepy North Shore of Oahu only came to life during the winter months of November through January. Affectionately known as “the country” for it’s minimal development, vast expanses of crop fields and lengthy stretch of white-sand beaches, it was surfing – specifically big-wave riding and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series – that put the North Shore on the map. But today, this country surf town is on the must-see list of visitors to Hawaii 365 days a year. Thankfully, it hasn’t lost any of its charm, largely due to strong local efforts to “keep the country, country”. Known as the outer-island experience that you don’t need to travel outer-island for, the North Shore is a true experience – particularly during winter surf season. Home to around 15,000 residents, surfing is the lifeblood of this country-living community, directly injecting more than $9million into the economy during Triple Crown surf season (November and December) alone.

BUSINESS:

Southern California Surf Industry Makes Pilgrimage to Sport’s Mecca.

Carol Cunningham

Considered the worldwide headquarters to the sport and lifestyle industry, the booming Southern California surf industry traces its roots to Hawaii. Many companies pay homeage to the sport’s Mecca with an annual winter pilgrimage to the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. Vans (Santa Fe Springs), Quiksilver/Roxy (Huntington Beach), O’Neill (Irvine), Reef (San Diego), and Billabong (Irvine) – among others – rent oceanfront homes and shuttle company executives, team riders and photographers to the competition. The Series’ official surf report and forecaster, Surfline.com, is based in Huntington Beach and the industry’s major magazines – Surfing (San Clemente), Surfer (San Juan Capistrano) and TransWorld Surf (Oceanside) – set up shop on the North Shore and produce entire issues devoted to the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

surfer of all time, has claimed two Kelly Slater, perhaps the most heralded his career. Vans Triple Crown of Surfing titles in

SPORT:

PRESTIGE:

North Shore is World’s Most Unique Athletic Competition Venue.

No other sport on the planet boasts a playing surface that is as ever-changing as the ocean on Oahu’s North Shore. The huge winter swells that descend upon the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing have traveled thousands of miles through open ocean – driven by massive storms and typhoons – only to unleash their fury on the shallow reefs of the North Shore. Titanic volumes of water are hurled shoreward with tremendous force. The Triple Crown features three of the world’s most demanding and distinct big-wave venues: Haleiwa – a high performance wave; Sunset Beach – a location known for its vast, shifting peaks and wide open playing field; and Pipeline – the world’s most renowned wave. Pipeline features huge, death-defying barrels breaking over a shallow reef just a stone’s throw from the shoreline’s viewing gallery.

SPORT:

Pipeline Masters is the World’s Most Revered Pro Surfing Competition.

Pipeline rears up 50 feet from shore and showcases waves of up to five stories high that march shoreward before exploding upon a barely submerged coral reef. Hitting with speed and power, these swells launch abruptly, ‘jacking up’ from just a few feet in height to 15 or 20 feet in a matter of seconds. The effect of this is a hollow, barreling wave that has made the name Banzai Pipeline famous around the world.

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The Pipeline Masters was founded in 1971, by Hawaii’s Fred Hemmings. Although Jef f Hakman won the inaugural competition, fellow Hawaii surfer Gerry Lopez was riding the wave with such a casual elegance that the contest was later named after him. In 1972 and 1973, Lopez won the Pipe Masters with a display of surfing so beautiful that it caused Jim McKay, the legendary ABC announcer, to wipe tears from his eyes… on air.

After the ASP world title, the Vans Triple Crown title has long been regarded the sport’s most prestigious honor, based upon the phenomenal talent it takes to perform consistently in the size and quality of waves on offer through the series. The waves at Haleiwa, Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline are three of the world’s most challenging, dangerous and demanding venues in the world. The Vans Triple Crown title has long been regarded a harbinger of world titles, with more than half of the Vans Triple champions going on to become world champions. To win a Triple Crown title is a sure way to make one’s mark in the annuls of surfing history.

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The first documented ride at Pipeline was in December of 1961, by Californian Phil Edwards, captured on film by legendary filmmaker Bruce Brown. Californian shaper Mike Diffenderfer called it “Pipeline” after large concrete pipes being laid in nearby Kamehameha Highway. Locals called the beach “Banzai” after the small beachside nursery of Bonsai trees; a name that coincidently reflected the suicidal commitment it takes to drop into one of these monsters that explode over shallow reef.

Title Within a Title for Men and Women

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing offers a title within a title – not only are the world’s best pro surfers competing for glory at each of the three venues that make up the series, but the top performing male and top performing female across the three events will each receive a bonus $10,000 purse and the highly coveted Vans Triple Crown Champion title.

Layne Beachley, here completing in 2006

To the surfing world, a Pipeline Masters title is the pinnacle of the sport; surfing’s version of Valhalla. The fraternity of winners is an elite group, each winner bringing their own individual style and personality to the Pipe, yet all inextricably linked. This year, Vans would like to welcome Billabong as the new sponsor of the Billabong Pipeline Masters.

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The Pipeline Masters quickly grew in stature. The NY Times More than 7,000 visitor’s declared a huge day in the early years as “A Day of Days on per day make the pilgrimmage s to the North Earth.” Sports Illustrated published a cover story in 1982 Shore during the Vans Tri ple Crown of Surfing. called Thunder from the Seas. ABC’s Wide World of Sports featured the event for nearly a decade. A popularity poll ranked the event fourth, right behind Olympic figure skating and ski jumping. The annual migration to the sport’s Mecca became a right of passage for aspiring pro surfers. Major airlines were forced to add flights to accommodate growing numbers of spectators.

ers trophy alongside Cory champ Andy Irons hoists his pipline mast 2006 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing ado. and Rob Mach Lopez and past winners Kelly Slater

, won the first two Vans Triple Crown of Surfing titles.

THE 23rd REEF HAWAIIAN PRO

MEN’S TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS

(Men’s & Women’s) 1st Event – A 6-star WQS event $125,000 for Men & $30,000 for Women November 12 to 22, 2007

The Reef Hawaiian Pro is the first contest of the 2007 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series for both men and women. It is the final WQS event on the women’s ASP tour and is the penultimate WQS event on the men’s ASP tour. Its results will help determine the WCT lineup for the 2008 World Tour.

Location:

Haleiwa’s Ali’i Beach Park. Located on the left-hand side of Haleiwa small boat harbor, when facing the ocean, Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park is at the very end of Haleiwa Main Street, close to the center of the North Shore’s town. When the swell is up, Haleiwa can be a very heavy, fast-breaking wave that offers every kind of maneuver. The main peak is about 100 yards out to sea and the wave sections off across the reef to a very heavy, shallow inside section of reef close to shore that is known as the Toilet Bowl.

Andy Irons will be gunning

for a 3 rd consecutive title

Dates:

in 2007.

WOMEN’S TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS

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Sofia Mulanovich, Peru Chelsea Georgeson, Australia Chelsea Georgeson, Australia Keala Kennelly, Hawaii Neridah Falconer, Australia (Not held) Heather Clarke, South Africa Trudy Todd, Australia Layne Beachley, Australia Layne Beachley, Australia

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2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997

Holding period – November 12 through 22, 2007. This event requires four full days of competition and will be held on the days when the surf is biggest and best as determined by the contest director. Men’s Past Champions: Women’s Champions: 2006 – Andy Irons, Hi. 2006 – Sofia Mulanovich, Peru 2005 – Pancho Sullivan, Hi. 2004 – Sunny Garcia, Hi. 2003 – Troy Brooks, Australia 2002 – Sunny Garcia 2001 – Andy Irons, Hi. 2000 – Sunny Garcia, Hi. 1999 – Conan Hayes, Hi. 1998 – Kaipo Jaquias, Hi. 1997 – Tony Ray, Aus. 1996 – Kaipo Jaquias, Hi 1995 – Richard Lovett, Aus. 1994 – Chris Brown, USA 1993 – Sunny Garcia, Hi. 1992 – Sunny Garcia, Hi. 1991 – Tom Curren, USA 1990 – Nicky Wood, Aus. 1989 – Cheyne Horan, Aus. 1988 – Barton Lynch, Aus. Sofia Mulanovich started her 2006 Triple Crown March with a win out of the 1987 – Gary Elkerton, Aus. Hawaiian Pro. 1986 – Mark Richards, Aus. 1985 – Mark Richards, Aus. coveredimages.com

Andy Irons, Hawaii Andy Irons, Hawaii Sunny Garcia, Hawaii Andy Irons, Hawaii Andy Irons, Hawaii Myles Padaca, Hawaii Sunny Garcia, Hawaii Sunny Garcia, Hawaii Kelly Slater, Florida Mike Rommelse,Australia Kaipo Jaquias, Hawaii Kelly Slater, Florida Sunny Garcia, Hawaii Sunny Garcia, Hawaii Sunny Garcia, Hawaii Tom Carroll, Australia Derek Ho, Hawaii Gary Elkerton, Australia Derek Ho, Hawaii Gary Elkerton, Australia Derek Ho, Hawaii Michael Ho, Hawaii Derek Ho, Hawaii Michael Ho, Hawaii

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2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983

eson to Chelsea Georg

ok home titles

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nd Andy Irons captured his 2 Hawaiian Pro title in 2006.

THE 33rd ANNUAL O’NEILL WORLD CUP OF SURFING

THE $80,000 ROXY PRO

The O’Neill World Cup of Surfing is the second men’s contest of the 2007 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and is the final WQS event on the 2007 ASP World Qualifying Series Tour schedule. Its results will help determine the WCT lineup for the 2008 World Tour. Location: Sunset Beach. Easily picking up swell from a variety of directions, the surf break of Sunset is a deep-water spot several hundred yards out to sea, so it’s best to bring your binoculars for this event to get truly close to the action. The main peak features a heaving, jacked-up take-off that reshapes itself into a hollow, sucky and THICK wall of water. Not for the feint-hearted, Sunset Beach is notorious for hideous wipeouts and long hold-downs underwater for those who haven’t yet mastered the break! Dates: Holding Period November 24 to December 6, 2007. The event requires four full days of competition and will be held on the days when the surf is biggest and best, as determined by the contest director.

The 13th annual women’s Roxy Pro Surfing Championship is an ASP sanctioned World Championship Tour event and is the penultimate contest of the 2007 women’s ASP World Tour. The Roxy Pro will play a critical role in deciding this year’s world champion as well as the WCT women’s lineup for 2008.

2nd Men’s Event $125,000 6-star WQS November 24 to December 6, 2007

– – – – –

Mark Richards (Australia) Buzzy Kerbox (Hawaii) Shaun Tomson (South Africa) Ian Cairns (Australia) Mark Richards (Australia)

Sunset Beach. Easily picking up swell from a variety of directions, the surf break of Sunset is a deep-water spot several hundred yards out to sea, so it’s best to bring your binoculars for this event to get truly close to the action. The main peak features a heaving, jacked-up take-off that reshapes itself into a hollow, sucky and THICK wall of water. Not for the feint-hearted, Sunset Beach is notorious for hideous wipeouts and long hold-downs underwater for those who haven’t yet mastered the break! Dates: Holding period – November 24 to December 6, 2007. The event requires two days of competition and will be held on the days when the surf is at its best, as determined by the contest director.

Past Champions: 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

– – – – – – – – – – – –

Melanie Bartels, Hawaii Chelsea Georgeson, Australia Layne Beachley, Australia Sofia Mulanovich, Peru Neridah Falconer, Australia Jacqueline Silva, Brazil Layne Beachley, Australia Layne Beachley, Australia Sandie Ryan, Australia Layne Beachley, Australia Layne Beachley, Australia Pauline Menczer, Australia

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Joel Parkinson (Australia) 1979 Jake Paterson (Australia) 1978 Andy Irons (Hawaii) 1977 Jake Paterson (Australia) 1976 Joel Parkinson (Australia) 1975 Myles Padaca (Hawaii) Sunny Garcia (Hawaii) Zane Harrison (Australia) Shane Dorian (Hawaii) Michael Rommelse (Australia) Paul Paterson (Australia) Shane Powell (Australia) Sunny Garcia (Hawaii) John Gomes (Hawaii) Martin Potter (UK) Fabio Gouveia (Brazil) Derek Ho (Hawaii) Hans Hedemann (Hawaii) Tom Carroll (Australia) Gary Elkerton (Australia) Hans Hedemann (Hawaii) Michael Ho (Hawaii) Michael Ho (Hawaii) Michael Ho (Hawaii) Tom Carroll (Australia) Dane Kealoha (Hawaii) Ian Cairns (Australia)

Location:

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– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

2006 winner Joel Parkinson tackles one of the

Sunset Beach.

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Past Champions:

2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980

2nd Women’s Event of the Series A World Championship Tour Event November 24 – December 6, 2007

heaviest breaks in the world at

most of her wil Bartels made the pro title. Oahu local Melanie

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THE 37thANNUAL $300,000 BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS

THE $80,000 BILLABONG PRO MAUI

The Billabong Pipeline Masters is the final contest of the 2007 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and ASP World Championship Tour. Its results will determine the 2007 Triple Crown and World Champion. This pioneer event is the longest running professional surfing competition in the world, celebrating 37 years this winter.

The 9 th annual Billabong Pro Maui women’s competition is the final World Championship Tour(WCT) event on the 2007 Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour and will crown the 2007 world champion and women’s Triple Crown champion. Location: Honolua Bay, Maui. Located on the northwestern tip of Maui, Honolua Bay is an incredible, peeling right-hander that winds off over a rocky reef/point, offering considerable tube-riding potential as well as multiple maneuvers. Because the break requires a large swell just to get started, it rarely gets stormy and unrideable – either too small to surf, or absolutely perfect if a solid swell is running. The headland above offers excellent spectator viewing and the area is quite undeveloped and picturesque. Dates: Holding period December 8-20, 2007. Competition is held on one to two days within the holding period when the surf is deemed to be best, as determined by the contest director.

Location:

The famous and dangerous Banzai Pipeline break at Ehukai Beach Park. A lot of factors must come together for Pipeline to work well: sand movement off the beach and off the reef, the right direction and size of swell, and favorable winds. Yet amazingly, during the holding period of this event, year after year, at least four epic days usually present themselves. Pipeline is a series of reefs lining up from way outside to the beach – first reef, second reef, third reef (furthest out), as well as Backdoor Pipe (the right-breaking wave) off the peak closest to shore. In a nutshell, Pipeline focuses tons of water onto a barely submerged reef, jacking up and doubling over in an instant to provide a cavernous, tubular wave that competitors disappear inside and hopefully re-emerge from. Dates: December 8–20, 2007. This event requires four full days of competition and will be held on the days the surf is biggest and best as determined by the contest director. 2006 – Andy Irons (Hawaii) 1978 – Larry Blair (Australia) 2005 – Andy Irons (Hawaii) 1977 – Rory Russell (Hawaii) 2004 – Jamie O’Brien (Hawaii) 1976 – Rory Russell (Hawaii) 2003 – Andy Irons (Hawaii) 1975 – Shaun Tomson (South Africa) 2002 – Andy Irons (Hawaii) 1974 – Jeff Crawford (USA) 2001 – Bruce Irons (Hawaii) 1973 – Gerry Lopez (Hawaii) 2000 – Rob Machado (USA) 1972 – Gerry Lopez (Hawaii) 1999 – Kelly Slater (USA) 1971 – Jeff Hakman (Hawaii) 1998 – Jake Paterson (Australia) 1997 – John Gomes (Hawaii) 1996 – Kelly Slater (USA) 1995 – Kelly Slater (USA) 1994 – Kelly Slater (USA) 1993 – Derek Ho (Hawaii) 1992 – Kelly Slater (USA) 1991 – Tom Carroll (Australia) 1990 – Tom Carroll (Australia) 1989 – Gary Elkerton (Australia) 1988 – Rob Page (Australia) 1987 – Tom Carroll (Australia) 1986 – Derek Ho (Hawaii) 1985 – Mark Occhilupo (Australia) 1984 – Joey Buran (USA) 1983 – Dane Kealoha (Hawaii) 1982 – Michael Ho (Hawaii) 1981 – Simon Anderson (Australia) 1980 – Mark Richards (Australia) 1979 – Larry Blair (Australia)

Two past champs, one wave. Kelly Slater takes

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Past Champions:

“back door” while Jamie O’Brien charges Pipe.

3rd and final Women’s WCT Event December 8-20, 2007

Past Champions: 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998

– Jessi Miley-Dyer (Australia) – Chelsea Georgeson (Australia) – Chelsea Georgeson (Australia) – Samantha Cornish (Australia) – Jacqueline Silva (Brazil) - Neridah Falconer (Australia) - Neridah Falconer (Australia) - Trudy Todd (Australia) - Melanie Redman (Australia)

Then WCT Rookie Jessi Miley-Dyer Claimed her

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Final Event Vans Triple Crown of Surfing December 8-20, 2007

first WCT victory at the Billabong Pro Maui in

2006.

SURFING’S ALPHABET SOUP SPELLED OUT ASP Association of Surfing Professionals

WCT

World Championship Tour – only the top echelon of professional surfers are able to compete in this elite series of events that determine the world champion of surfing each year and provide guaranteed prize money. For the men, each and every WCT event contains the same 45 seeded surfers along with three variable wildcards. The 45 surfers are determined at the close of each year for the upcoming year by taking the top bracket of surfers from the WCT ratings, along with the top bracket from the WQS ratings. For the women, it is the top 17 surfers plus one wildcard in each event.

WQS

World Qualifying Series tour – this is the starting point for every aspiring pro surfer and hundreds of surfers enter and compete on this tour. It is from the WQS tour that a surfer looks to gain a high enough ranking to springboard onto the elite WCT tour and have a shot at guaranteed prize money and the world title. Events are given a rating from 1-star up to 6-star – 6-stars offering the most prize money and ratings points. WCT surfers are able to compete in both WQS and WCT events, but until a surfer reaches the top bracket of the WQS to qualify as one of the top 45 surfers in the world, he cannot enter a WCT event. WCT surfers will generally compete in the higher rated WQS events as well, to give them a fall-back plan of requalifying should they have a less than stellar year on the WCT. Below are the Top 45 men and Top 17 women of the 2007 WCT tours, in seeding order:

MEN:

1. Kelly Slater, USA 2. Andy Irons, Hawaii 3. Mick Fanning, Australia 4. Taj Burrow, Australia 5. Bobby Martinez, USA 6. Joel Parkinson, Australia 7. Damien Hobgood, USA 8. Tom Whitaker, Australia 9. Taylor Knox, USA 10. Dean Morrison, Australia 11. Tim Reyes, USA 12. Phillip MacDonald, Australia 13. Cory Lopez, USA 14. Bruce Irons, Hawaii 15. Bede Durbidge, , Australia 16. C.J. Hobgood, USA 17. Fredrick Patacchia, Hawaii 18. Daniel Wills, Australia 19. Greg Emslie, South Africa 20. Adriano Souza, Brazil 21. Chris Ward, USA 22. Shaun Cansdell, Australia

23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45.

Travis Logie, South Africa Michael Lowe, Australia Luke Stedman, Australia Mark Occhilupo, Australia Pancho Sullivan, Hawaii Jeremy Flores, France Michael Campbell, Australia Ricky Basnett, South Africa Royden Bryson, South Africa Dayyan Neve, Australia Troy Brooks, Australia Neco Padaratz, Brazil Josh Kerr, Australia Ben Dunn, Australia Bernardo Miranda, Brazil Gabe Kling, USA Victor Ribas, Brazil Leonardo Neves, Brazil Kai Otton, Australia Rodrigo Dornelles, Brazil Adrian Buchan, Australia Raoni Monteiro, Brazil Luke Munro, Brazil

WOMEN:

1. Layne Beachley, Australia 2. Melanie Redman-Carr, Australia 3. Chelsea Hedges, Australia 4. Jessi Miley-Dyer, Australia 5. Sofia Mulanovich, Peru 6. Rebecca Woods, Australia 7. Claire Bevilacqua, Australia 8. Silvana Lima, Brazil 9. Megan Abubo, Hawaii 10. Rochelle Ballard, Hawaii 11. Stephanie Gilmore, Australia 12. Melanie Bartels, Hawaii 13. Amee Donohoe, Australia 14. Caroline Sarran, France 15. Jacqueline Silva, Brazil 16. Roseanne Hodge, South Africa 17. Samantha Cornish, Australia

EVENT CONTACTS Event Hotline Information:

On Oahu, Hawaii, telephone (808) 596-SURF or 596-7873 for the daily status of competition. This is a recorded message that will provide event details by 7am each morning.

For International Media Information & On Site in Hawaii: Jodi Wilmott, Ocean Promotion, at (808) 258-8533 Email: [email protected]

Vans Media Contact:

Chris Overholser: (714) 889-6185 Email: [email protected] All events are free to spectators & the public.

Each morning during the competition, the executive director and contest director evaluate wave conditions. If the waves are considered to be both large and of good quality, the event will be called on - if the waves are not acceptable the contest is called off for that day. Sometimes a contest can be put on standby on an hourly basis if wave conditions are expected to improve. competition is available from the hotline phone numbers and on the official Vans Triple Crown of Surfing website:

www.triplecrownofsurfing.com