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Pipeline, O`ahu, Hawai`i (Sunday, December 10, 2000) -- Hawaii's world surfing
champion elect, Sunny Garcia, claimed a record fifth Vans Triple Crown of
Surfing title today without getting his feet wet. Holding a giant lead on the
Vans Triple Crown ratings coming into the Mountain Dew Pipe Masters, the only
person mathematically capable of overtaking Garcia was Kaipo Jaquias (Haw).
However, Jaquias' elimination in the pre-trials today put the win beyond doubt
for Garcia. The only question mark remaining for Garcia now is can he win one
more event to become the first surfer to ever win all three Triple Crown
tournaments during the same winter?
A lag in the arrival of a large, new swell resulted in a late start and early finish to today's pre-trial rounds. Forecast to build to 10-12 feet, the swell did not eventuate and the average 4-6 foot conditions were further aggravated by a light onshore breeze. Round one and the quarter finals of the pre-trials were run to completion with many of the "big name" barrel riders failing to advance. Among them, John Gomes (1997 Pipe Masters champion, Haw.), Vans Triple Crown title contender Kaipo Jaquias (Haw), Liam MacNamara (Haw), California's Joey Buran (1984 Pipe Masters champion), and world Masters champion Michael Ho (Haw). Advancing to the semi-finals were Tiago Pires (Portugal), Carlos Cabrero (Puerto Rico), Roy Powers (Hawaii), Pancho Sullivan (Hawaii), Joel Tudor (California), Braden Dias (Hawaii), Derek Ho (Hawaii), and defending pre-trials champion Tamayo Perry (Hawaii). The semi-finals and final of the pre-trials will run on the next day of competition. The goal of the remaining competitors is to finish in the top two spots of the final, thereby earning a wildcard berth into the main event of the 30th Mountain Dew Gerry Lopez Pipe Masters. Two wildcard berths have already been awarded to six-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (Florida), and 1999 Pipe Masters runner-up Shane Wehner (Australia). Deteriorating surf conditions may cause a postponement of competition tomorrow, however, it is looking good for Tuesday. The Mountain Dew Pipe Masters is the third and final stop of the 2000 Vans Triple Crown. The full waiting period for the event is December 9-21. As the final stop on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour (WCT) for 2000, the Mountain Dew Pipe Masters will determine the elite WCT Top 44 competitor lineup for 2001. The Vans G-Shock Triple Crown of Surfing is made possible through the proud support of major sponsors Vans, Mountain Dew, G-Shock, Rip Curl, Quiksilver Roxy, Billabong, as well as PlayStation, Ford Ranger, Right Guard Xtreme Sport (Gilette), Rolling Stone, ESPN/ESPN2, Surfrider Foundation, the Hawaii Visitors Bureau, and the ASP.
PIPE MASTERS TRIALS RESULTS:
Round 1:
Quarter Finals:
Draw for Semi Finals: (first and second from each heat advance to the trials
final) First & Second place from the final will earn a wildcard into the main event of the Mountain Dew Pipe Masters.
For further information:
ESPN AIR DATES
ESPN1
Thursday, 12/14/00, 3pm, G-Shock Hawaiian Pro
ESPN2 |
Last Modified: Monday - 20001211.10:57 EST
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