Road to the Crown The 26th Annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Preview

By Kevin Whitton 

On the North Shore, some things are inevitable come November and December: swells rolling in from the northwest, trade winds, the rain, the rainbows, the traffic, the tourists and the annual Mecca of professional surfing to the already bustling seven-mile stretch of prime surfing real estate, both in the water and on the beach. Some people are sick of it; they loathe it in fact, the influx of outsiders, the ignorance and disrespect in the lineups and on the highway and the overflowing trashcans on the beach paths.    

The reality is that professional surfing has thrust this once sleepy agricultural hamlet into the surf world spotlight and parlayed to property values skyrocketing like surfing’s competitive world champions in the mainstream media and consumer eye. On a local scale, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presents an opportunity for Hawai‘i’s pros and upstarts a crack at the world’s best surfers right on our doorstep, the ultimate in home court advantage. The surf industry provides jobs and salaries to Hawai‘i surfers and others who participate in the behind-the-scenes goings on of the six world-class events, from media to entrepreneurial recyclers and T-shirt vendors, and infuses local business with a straight shot of income and revenue.    

For Hawai‘i surfers, and internationals competitors alike, winning the Triple Crown is right up there with a world title. It proves surf prowess and superiority in all types of conditions, from massive, jacking Sunset bowls to rippable Hale‘iwa rights. Ask any competitor and they’re likely to run on about the prestige and honor of having your name up on that list with the likes of Jeff Hakman, Gerry Lopez, Rory Russell, Derek and Michael Ho, Dane Kealoha, Johnny Boy Gomes, Bruce and Andy Irons, Jamie O’Brien and most recently, Megan Abubo. The North Shore is famous for making careers and breaking egos, limbs and even taking lives. It is the place where reputations are forged, for better or worse.    

People will continue to bite the hand that feeds, it’s human nature, but the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing remains the Holy Grail of competitive power surfing, the venue the ultimate proving ground. For those that call the North Shore home or are already respected as true watermen, they know that while the international surf circus might congest the beaches for a few weeks, once it gets over 10-foot, the show is still all theirs.    

Last year’s contest saw some huge waves and heavy conditions and was toted as the biggest surf in the event’s history. The treadmill current was ripping through the lineup, even the most season veterans were getting stuck inside on clean-up sets while the boys in the competition tent were hooting for their mates and enjoying burgers fresh off the grill. The ladies portion of the event was privy to incoming swell and Megan Abubo dominated the lineup. On the men’s side, CJ Hobgood went straight up off the lip on a ten-foot monster only to freefall to the bottom, minus his board, while Sean Moody and Roy Powers used their local knowledge to nab the best waves in scary conditions.    

If the waves are small during this 24th Hawaiian Pro (third for the ladies), look for the young progressive surfers to unleash fins-free turns, power gouges and flipping airs in an all out, nothing-to-lose show of force against the ‘CT surfers who have to surf the event for qualifying points and to win the Triple Crown.    

If it’s big, local knowledge has to be the key. It’s all about being in the right spot without getting too deep and an Aussie on his six-week pilgrimage to the North Shore might not quite have it down.    

The O’Neill World Cup of Surfing has enjoyed a contest history and notoriety for over thirty years, mainly because of its venue, the infamous Sunset Beach. The Roxy Pro celebrates its 14th year and carries the same anticipation and awe for the ladies, the most successful of which are able to utilize the wave’s speed and power to crank some stylish carves.    

The kicker for this event is of course, the waves. Hands down, Sunset is heavy and unpredictable, requiring an intimate knowledge and relationship with the set up to get comfortable among the rolling and pitching swells, a sensation very few people actually find, pros included. The hold downs are long and well documented and the heaving barrels are prone to pinch closed without warning. It takes a tough breed of surfer to dominate at Sunset, someone with the combined skill to put it on rail with power and know when to pull in high in the pocket.    

For the men, last year’s event saw near hurricane weather conditions, with gale force sideshore winds over several days of the competition, along with good size swell. Hopefully this year the event catches the swell without the wind.    

Of course, best-case scenario for the fans and spectators of the sport is that the World Title comes down to this event, the final ASP World Championship Tour Event, and all the way to final heat itself. It’s happened before, the Andy/Kelly rivalry created great tension and suspense for World Title drama, a scenario that had surf journalists, pundits and industry leaders drooling.    

The reality is that not every year is golden and we watched a classic example of that last year, as the finals went down with two-footers breaking randomly in between Pipe and Off The Wall. I’m sure though that if you ask Bede, having his name on that list of winners is a prestigious milestone, two-foot or ten-foot. But if Pipe is on during this 38th annual showdown, so are the boys that put in their time.    

Honolua Bay is the last stop on the Women’s ASP World Tour and has the same propensity for a World Champion to be named along its hallowed point. In fact, elite tour rookie Stephanie Gilmore did just that last year. The 10th annual Billabong Pro Maui is the only neighboring island Triple Crown event, one that the girls take full advantage of. The fast right has several barrel sections, and if conditions are good, which they tend to be, getting tubed is the only way to bring in the highest wave scores. [PAU]