Billabong Pipe Masters Eyes Larger Swell for Finish

FUEL TV SET TO AIR FINAL DAY OF VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING LIVE, ACROSS AMERICA, AUSTRALIA & PORTUGAL

PIPELINE, Oahu/Hawaii (Suday, December 13, 2009) – Organizers of the Billabong Pipe Masters opted to call a lay day for competition on the North Shore of Oahu, today. All eyes are on a larger swell forecast for Tuesday that will see the final event of the annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing wrap up with event and series champions crowned.

Eight surfer remain in contention: Kelly Slater, Dane Reynolds, and CJ and Damien Hobgood will be carrying America’s hopes; Australians will be cheering for Bede Durbidge, Dean Morrison and Taj Burrow; and Flynn Novak is the last surfer standing for Hawaii. Slater is the obvious favorite with six Pipe Masters titles to his name. Durbidge won here in 2007.

The winner of this year’s Billabong Pipe Masters will receive a bonus $50,000 purse from Vans, bringing the first place prize to $90,000.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series champion will also receive a $50,000 bonus as well as a $10,000 custom Nixon watch. Two surfers remain in contention for that prize: Joel Parkinson (Australia) and CJ Hobgood (Florida). Joel leads the points score at this time, despite being eliminated from the Pipe Masters yesterday. CJ Hobgood must reach the final to claim the crown.

Pictured: Kelly Slater (USA), 37, former nine-time ASP World Champion and past six-time Pipe Masters winner, will look to add an unprecedented seventh to his mantle at the Billabong Pipe Masters.
Credit: © ASP/ CI/ SCHOLTZ via GETTY IMAGES

he action of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing will be broadcast live in HD on the web with the support of our HD partner FUEL TV at triplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250.

For Billabong Pipe Masters highlights, videos, photos and more log on to:
www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O’Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On! chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future.