Gudauskas brothers making a splash at Vans Triple Crown event

If there's a competition within the competition at the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing on Oahu's North Shore, it's between the affable Gudauskas brothers from San Clemente.

Patrick, Dane and Tanner have advanced into the fourth round of the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach, and Patrick and Tanner will compete in the same four-man heat when action resumes as early as Tuesday.

The World Cup is the second jewel of a Triple Crown series that'll culminate with the Billabong Pipeline Masters, which could begin as early as Dec. 8.

There's plenty on the line for Pat Gudauskas, 23, the older twin brother of Dane by three minutes, and the only regular-footer of the trio.

Pat is ranked No. 16 on the ASP World Qualifying Series Tour standings and is aspiring to qualify for the 2009 World Tour.

The World Tour accepts the top 15 from the WQS tour at season's end and the six-star World Cup is the WQS tour's grand finale.

Dane and Tanner, 20, may have to wait till next year to make another run at qualifying for the elite circuit, but they won't stop trying, and neither will hold back during the remaining rounds of the World Cup.

But isn't that to be expected with any legitimate sibling rivalry?

-- Pete Thomas

Photos: The Gudauskas brothers (top photo) are easy to spot on Oahu's North Shore. They're often together, two of them are twins, and all have sun-bleached hair. Credit: ASP Kirstin/Covered Images. Tanner Gudauskas (second photo) in action at Sunset Beach. Credit: ASP Cestari/Covered Images