The 2010 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing officially kicked off on Friday, November 12 at Hale'iwa's Ali'i Beach on Oahu's North Shore with actual surfing expected to begin on Monday, November 15 following a scheduled day off on Sunday, November 14 to allow surfers to attend a memorial service at Hanalei Bay on Kauai for former world champion Andy Irons who died on November 2, 2010.
This year will mark the 28th year for what is generally accepted as the World Series of surfing for both men and women. The Series of three men's and three women's Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) sanctioned events will run through December 20, 2010.
The events in the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing are:
Men:
(events will run on the best four days of surf during the period)
- November 12-23, 2010 - $145,000 Reef Hawaiian Pro at Hale'iwa's Ali'i Beach Park
- November 24-December 6, 2010 - $145,000 O'Neil World Cup of Surfing at Sunset Beach
- December 8-20, 2010 - $400,000 Billabong Pipe Masters at Banzai Pipeline
Women:
(events will run on the best two days of surf during the period)
- November 12-23, 2010 - $35,000 Women's Cholo's Hawaiian Pro at Hale'iwa's Ali'i Beach Park
- November 24-December 6, 2010 - $130,000 Gidget Women's Pro at Sunset Beach
- December 8-20, 2010 - $55,000 Vans Women's Duel For The Jewel at Banzai Pipeline
In order to in the overall Vans title, surfers must compete in all three events. The male Vans Triple Crown champion for 2010 will receive a $50,000 bonus. The victorious female surfer will take home an added bonus of $25,000. In addition the ASP Men's World Champion will receive $50,000 and the winner of the Billabong Pipe Masters will receive an additonal $50,000. This brings the total purse for 2010 to $1,000,000.
The Field
Returning to defend his 2008 and 2009 title is Australian Joel 'Parko' Parkinson. Among those who will be battling Parkinson are the newly crowned ASP World Champion Kelly Slater, 2007 Vans Triple Crown champion Bede Durbidge (Australia) and defending Billabong Pipe Masters champion Taj Burrow (USA).
Defending her 2008 and 2009 title is Australian Stephanie Gilmore. Among those who will be challenging Gilmore are Stephanie Gilmore (Australia), Silvana Lima (Brazil), Sofia Mulanovich (Peru), Melanie Bartels (Hawaii), and Coco Ho (Hawaii).
Reef Clash of the Legends
In addition to six main events, Reef will also sponsor the "Clash of the Legends" at Haleiwa, bringing four of professional surfing's most iconic world champions back to the contest arena: Mark Occhilupo (Australia), Tom Carroll (Aus), Tom Curren (USA), and Sunny Garcia (Hawaii). These four champions will compete three times during the course of the Reef Hawaiian Pro, with a best-of-three champion to be crowned on the final day. This special event is dedicated to three-time world champion Andy Irons.Free Vans Live App for iPad, iPhone, iTouch - 3G & Wifi
You can download the free "Vans Live" application for your iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. The application features video highlights, photo galleries, results and live coverage from the North Shore of Oahu, via 3G or WiFi.Web and TV Coverage
You can watch the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing live online at vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com. Tune in each morning at 7:45 a.m. Hawaiian time for "The Call," Vans' Live Morning Show that will bring you up to speed on all the latest news, highlights and happenings. On competition days, you can watch the competition live online.
For those lucky enough to be in Hawaii, but unable to see the events in person, Oceanic Time Warner Digital Cable will be covering all three events of the the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing live on channels 250 and HD1250.
