THE VANS G-SHOCK TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING SERIES

The $433,000 VANS G-SHOCK Triple Crown of Surfing series is the world's foremost multi-event surf series and features the world's best surfers in the world's best waves. The competition is actually seven different professional big wave surf contests, with one women's contest held on Maui and the rest of the men's and women's events held at three different venues on Oahu's North Shore. The record $433,000 Triple Crown marks the conclusion of the year-long Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour and determines the prestigious Triple Crown and, quite often, the world professional surfing titles.

Holding periods, usually 13 days, are scheduled for each individual competition. Surfing may or may not take place on a daily basis, depending upon wave conditions.

The 2000 Vans G-Shock Triple Crown of Surfing contests are:

MEN'S COMPETITIONS

G-Shock Hawaiian Pro
A men's $80,000, 5-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) competition plus a 32-man $20,000 Longboard Invitational event. This is the first men's event in the Vans G-Shock Triple Crown of Surfing.

Rip Curl Cup
A $100,000, 6-star WQS. This is the 26th annual World Cup of Surfing and the final WQS event of the 2000 Association of Surfing Professionals World Tour.

Mountain Dew Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters
The $135,600 men's final 2000 World Championship Tour contest. This 30th annual event is the longest running professional surfing competition in the United States and will determine the Triple Crown Champion and ASP men's world championship title.

WOMEN'S EVENTS

Billabong Girls
A women's $32,500 World Championship Tour event and the first women's competition in the Vans G-Shock Triple Crown of Surfing.

G-Shock Hawaiian Pro
A women's $20,000, 5-star WQS event held in conjunction with the men's Hawaiian Pro and Bear Longboard Invitational.

Quiksilver Roxy Pro
The final $32,500 women's 2000 WCT event. Will determine the Triple Crown and 2000 ASP women's world champion..

Along with individual winner's titles in each of the men's and women's contests, a fourth title is bestowed - that of the Triple Crown of Surfing Champion.

The men's competition was inaugurated in 1983 as a contest-within-a-contest that would take place during the three men's events in the series with the winner determined by points accumulated through placement in all three contests. The women's competition was added in 1997 and history was made when Australia's Layne Beachley won it that year and then again in 1998.

Throughout the series surfers are awarded points based on placement in each of the three contests: First equals 1000 points, Second=860, Third=730. At the end of the final contest the male and female surfer with the most points are named Triple Crown Champions and each receives a winner-take-all cash prize. In addition, this year the men's champion will receive "The Edge" - a limited edition Ford Ranger truck.

It isn't easy -- as has been proven in the men's division over the past 17 years. Since its inauguration, only an elite eight men have won the title. By country, they are: Hawaiians Michael Ho (the first to win), Derek Ho, Sunny Garcia (the defending Triple Crown champion), and Kaipo Jaquias; Australians Tom Carroll, Gary Elkerton, and Mike Rommelse; and USA-East Coast representative Kelly Slater.

As always, standout world-class stars will once again tackle the events this year along with local Hawaiian standouts. While tour veterans and local Hawaiians may have an edge, a new breed of rookies including Australians Danny Wills, Taj Burrow and Michael Campbell, along with America's Tim Curran and Hawaiian Andy Irons, will attempt to make their mark and surprise surfing's elder statesmen.

Triple Crown executive director Randy Rarick summarizes the enduring nature and important place in surfing's history which the Triple Crown holds: "Surfing greats have come and gone, surfboard designs have undergone radical changes and the bearing on the world title has ebbed and flowed, but one thing has remained constant," said executive director Randy Rarick. "The Triple Crown of Surfing and subsequent quest for the Championship title have generated some of the most spectacular moments in pro surfing history."

MEN'S TRIPLE CROWN CHAMPIONS