Staged at three of Hawaii's renowned big wave venues from October 30 through December 21, the Vans G-Shock Triple Crown Series determines the prestigious Triple Crown Championships and the G-Shock Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) world championship titles. The events culminate with the Mountain Dew Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters, now entering its 29th year as the longest running professional surfing competition in the United States.

With the 1999 world title race currently wide open, the Triple Crown will usher in a changing of the guard for professional surfing. Although tour veterans like Shane Beschen (California), Shane Dorian and Sunny Garcia (Hawaii), and Mark Occhilupo (Australia) have an edge, the popularity of junior's circuits around the globe has developed a new breed of Triple Crown challengers. Up-and-comers like Florida's identical twins C.J. and Damien Hobgood, Tim Curran (California) and Hawaiian brothers Bruce and Andy Irons will join with Australians Taj Burrow and Mick Campbell in an attempt to overthrow surfing's elder statesmen.

The men's Triple Crown events consist of two World Qualifying Series (WQS) competitions, starting with the $80,000 five-star G-Shock Hawaiian Pro, November 12-24 at Haleiwa followed by the $100,000 six-star Rip Curl Cup, November 26 to December 8 at Sunset Beach. The $120,600 Mountain Dew Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters is the final jewel in the Triple Crown and concludes the 1999 G-Shock ASP World Championship Tour (WCT). The composition of the Year 2000 WQS and WCT will be determined by these events.

Following 12 events spread across eight countries, the Pipe Masters looms as professional surfing's biggest challenge and will crown the 1999 men's Triple Crown and ASP World Champions. The world's most renowned wave, The Banzai Pipeline features huge, death-defying barrels breaking over a shallow reef.

Now entering its third year, the Women's Triple Crown has been dominated by reigning world champion Layne Beachley (Australia), winner of the 1997 and 1998 Triple Crown titles. Featuring two elite WCT competitions with the world's top 15 women vying for the 1999 Triple Crown and ASP world championship titles, it also determines the composition of the Year 2000 Women's WQS and WCT series.

Starting with the WCT-rated $30,000 Billabong Girls at Honolua Bay, Maui, October 30 to November 10, the Women's Triple Crown then moves to Haleiwa for the $16,000 4-star WQS G-Shock Hawaiian Pro, November 12-24. This is the final WQS on the ASP women's circuit. The women's Triple Crown concludes with the $30,000 WCT Quiksilver Roxy Pro, the final women's WCT event from November 26 to December 8 at famed Sunset Beach, site of some of the most dramatic moments in women's surfing. Hawaiian barrel riding specialist Rochelle Ballard joins with Serena Brooke (Australia) and Megan Abubo (Hawaii) as the early favorites to unseat Beachley.

"After ten months traveling the globe, it all comes down to the most intense six weeks of the world tour," said Triple Crown executive director Randy Rarick. "This is where the pros hit the peak of their career. It is indeed the Mecca that they all strive to reach."

Steeped in rich surfing tradition, the Vans G-Shock Triple Crown of Surfing has been the setting for world title races, epic surf showdowns and the making or breaking of heroes since its inception in 1983. With the legendary North Shore as a backdrop, only eight surfers have won the prestigious Triple Crown title, determined by the number of accumulated points throughout the series. Hawaii's Ho brothers -- Michael and Derek -- led an unprecedented Triple Crown assault during the '80s, only to be followed by the '90s dominance of Sunny Garcia (three straight wins). More recently, six-time world champion Kelly Slater (Florida) has dominated the scene, winning his 2nd Triple Crown title last year (98).

Showcasing the world's most unique athletic competition venue, no other sport on the planet boasts a playing surface as ever-changing as the ocean on Oahu's North Shore. The enormous winter swells that descend upon the Triple Crown travel thousands of miles through open ocean -- driven by massive storms and typhoons -- only to abruptly clash with the shallow reefs of the North Shore. Huge volumes of water hurl shore ward with tremendous force, propelling daring surfers on their face. Mother Nature upped the ante last year with hurricane strength winds, forcing competitors and contest officials alike to undertake drastic measures to complete the events.

For contest information please contact: Randy Rarick