Triple Crown of Surfing full of plots, subplots

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing may start as early as Wednesday as a modest swell is expected along Oahu's North Shore.

The format is the same, with six-star qualifiers, the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa and O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, followed by the season-ending ASP World Tour event, the Billabong Pipeline Masters at Pipeline.

Also typically, the six-star events will decide the fates of many aspiring World Tour surfers, and the Pipeline Masters will weed a few hangers-on from the ranks of the elite circuit.

Already known: Kelly Slater, pictured above at Pipeline, is the world champion. He clinched his ninth title a month ago but he's scheduled to compete in the Pipeline Masters and fans probably will witness an incredible show at surfing's grandest arena.

Also known: Oxnard's Nathaniel Curran will qualify for next year's World Tour, as he sits comfortably atop the WQS standings. (To view some video of Curran in action click here.)

 

Unknown: Whether any other Southern Californian will qualify, though Patrick Gudauskas of San Clemente is in good shape, ranked 11th on the WQS; and Brett Simpson of Huntington Beach has to be successful during the  Triple Crown as he sits at No. 27. The World Tour accepts only the top 15 from the WQS.

However, that number could rise as at least one World Tour surfer, Kauai's Bruce Irons, is retiring from tour competition after this season, and his brother, Andy, a three-time world champion, no longer possesses the desire and drive he once had.

As for Southern California World Tour surfers, only one is likely to fail to reach the magic number of 27 or better in the final rankings. That's Ben Bourgeois of Carlsbad, who is ranked No. 32.

Chris Ward of San Clemente is No. 23, while Timmy Reyes of Huntington Beach and Taylor Knox of Carlsbad are tied at No. 20, and probably safe.

-- Pete Thomas

Comments

[Bret Lunsford]

Good summary but you failed to mention Bobby Martinez from Santa Barbara, who sits at number 9 in the world and is the highest ranking Californian on the World Tour.

[sam birenbaum]

And also omitted was the pathetic amounts of money paid to the best athletes on earth, who risk the most in the highest demanding conditions imaginable (hurricane-force-moving-mountains of water, containing man-eating predators, ridden over razor sharp reefs) compared to a walk in the park, like golf. When will sponsors realize that the most magnificent sport on earth spawns the greatest athletes competing today, and $30,000 for first place on the highest prized WCT event is sorry compared to golfers who earn $1M when they win a major. The triple crown is mo' major, by a long shot. Add-in the real-time internet shows with water shots, instant replay, and world-wide connectivity...baseball, basketball, and football are simply boring by comparison.

[karen pacheco]

I agree with sam, although...you have to consider that these guy would be doing it regardless. Pennies for Passion should be the headline! Getting out there and riding is payment enough. It's not about the prize. It's like eating, only your feeding your hungry soul!