Triple Crown Of Surfing 2011
The Triple Crown of Surfing 2011 will run from November 12 through December 20, on the North Shore of Oahu. This is the most prestigious surfing series in the world, featuring the top rated surfers in some of the largest waves on the planet.
Reef Hawaiian Pro
November 12 to 23 (on the 4 best days of surf in the period)
Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park
Defending Champion: Joel Parkinson, Australia
Vans World Cup of Surfing
November 25 to December 6 (on the 4 best days of surf in the period)
Sunset Beach
Defending Champion: Raoni Monteiro, Brazil
Billabong Pipe Masters
December 8 to 20 (on the 3 best days of surf in the period)
Banzai Pipeline
Defending Champion: Jeremy Flores, France
While there is no women’s series this year, Hawaii’s newly crowned ASP women’s world champion Carissa Moore will be the only woman to line up against the world class field of more than 200 male athletes. Moore has been granted the ASP Hawaii wildcard into both the Reef Hawaiian Pro and the Vans World Cup. Her performances in extra large surf at Sunset Beach over the past two years earmarked her as a worthy recipient of the wildcard.
Eddie Invitees 2011
The Quiksilver In Memory of Eddie Aikau is the most venerated big wave surfing event on Earth, held at Waimea Bay, Oahu, on a single day during the Hawaiian winter when, and if, waves exceed the 20-foot minimum requirement. The official holding period for this year is December 1, 2011 through February 29, 2012. This event gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe for the ultimate challenge, employing unassisted manpower to physically paddle into and ride giant waves. It began in 1984 as a local tribute to one of Hawaii’s favorite surfing sons Eddie Aikau, who has come to personify all of the human qualities we honor today: respect, humility, passion, and a love for fellow man.
Invitees:
Brock Little – Hawaii
Bruce Irons – Hawaii
Clyde Aikau – Hawaii
Dave Wassel – Hawaii
Greg Long – USA
Jamie O’Brien – Hawaii
Jamie Sterling – Hawaii
Kala Alexander – Hawaii
Kelly Slater – USA
Keone Downing – Hawaii
Kohl Christensen – Hawaii
Makua Rothman – Hawaii
Mark Healey – Hawaii
Michael Ho – Hawaii
Nathan Fletcher – USA
Noah Johnson – Hawaii
Peter Mel – USA
Ramon Navarro – Chile
Reef McIntosh – Hawaii
Ross Clarke – Jones – Austrailia
Rusty Keaulana – Hawaii
Shane Dorian – Hawaii
Sunny Garcia – Hawaii
Tom Carroll – Hawaii
Carlos Burle – Brazil
Grant Baker – South Africa
Jeremy Flores – Europe
Takayuki Wakita – Japan
Alternates:
Kalani Chapman, Garrett McNamara, Ian Walsh, Kahea Hart, Alex Gray, Chris Bertish, Mark Mathews, Shawn Dollar, John John Florence, Danilo Couto, Jamie Mitchell, Evan Valiere, Gabriel Villaran, Danny Fuller, Keoni Watson, Ben Wilkinson, Diego Medina, Rusty Long, Derek Dunfee, Anthony Tashnick, Ken Collins, Kealii Mamala, Ross Williams, Tav Hannemann.
Jeremy Flores Wins Pipe Masters
Jeremy Flores wins the Billabong Pipe Masters in memory of Andy Irons. In a come-from-behind victory in the last minute over Kieren Perrow, he mkes his first career ASP World Tour victory. Jeremy also had an impressive come-from-behind win over reigning 10-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater in the dying minutes of their semifinals match-up.
Perrow dominated the tricky Backdoor Pipeline conditions throughout the event’s entirety, weaving through several tight barrels to drop some of the event’s top scores including a 9.90 a 9.83 and a 9.70, However the hard-charging Australian saw his Billabong Pipe Masters title slip from his grasp in the final minutes of his match up against Flores.
In the finals, with four-to-six foot backdoor barrels, Jeremy was in need of a solid 8.60 single-wave score in the dying moments, and threaded the needle on a beautiful righthand barrel to earn a 9.37.
“This is such a dream,” Jeremy said. “I’ve been coming to Hawaii for so long and this is my favorite place in the world, the waves, the people, everything. I just knew I couldn’t give up in the Final even though I was behind. It’s the Pipe Masters and it’s everything. I’m so stoked.”
Billabong Pipe Masters Final Results:
1 – Jeremy Flores (France) 14.54
2 – Kieren Perrow (Austrailia) 13.77
Stephanie Gilmore Wins Duel For The Jewel
Stephanie Gilmore Wins Duel For The Jewel battling against Hawaiian powerhouse Coco Ho, Tyler Wright, and Alana Blanchard in classic Pipeline conditions. Gilmore posted an outstanding 8.5 on a perfect Backdoor Pipe barrel, and was able to come out on top over fellow Aussie Tyler Wright.
Stephanie navigated the treacherous conditions to earn her third Vans Triple Crown title.
“We had such a long wait in between the Sunset event and this heat so it’s kind of like the nerves were building and building.”
“This is what I love about surfing. It’s the best feeling in the world getting barrelled in front of all these people.”
Vans Duel for the Jewel Final Results:
1 – Stephanie Gilmore (Austrailia) 14.50
2 – Tyler Wright (Austrailia) 7.50
3 – Coco Ho (Hawaii) 6.86
4 – Alana Blanchard (Hawaii) 1.50
Surfer Poll Awards 2010
The Surfer Poll Awards took place on the North Shore of Oahu to allow the public to vote the surfers and movies that made the most impact on the global surf community over the past year. Kelly Slater and Stephanie Gilmore were voted the number one male and female in the poll.
This was the first time the Surfer Poll Awards in a decade that three-time ASP World Champ Andy Irons was not present. His presence was felt throughout the evening, as he won the Best Barrel of the Year award for his tube riding in “High 5.” His brother Bruce accepted his sixth place Surfer Poll prize, and had to choke back emotions during his brief stint on stage.
1. Kelly Slater
2. Dane Reynolds
3. Jordy Smith
4. Mick Fanning
5. Taj Burrow
6. Andy Irons
7. Rob Machado
8. Joel Parkinson
9. Julian Wright
10. Owen Wright
1. Stephanie Gilmore
2. Carissa Moore
3. Coco Ho
4. Sofia Mulanovich
5. Alana Blanchard
Heavy Water Award: Jamie O’Brien (Who Is J.O.B.)
Cinematography Award: Taylor Steele (Castles In the Sky)
Worst Wipeout Award: Derek Dunfee
Best Maneuver: Jordy Smith (Modern Collective)
Best Performance: Jamie O’Brien (Who Is JOB)
Digital Short of the Year: Mickey Smith and Allen Wilson (Dark Side of the Lens)
Breakthrough Performer: Craig Anderson
Best Barrel: Andy Irons (High 5)
Agents of Change Award: Mauli Ola Foundation
Documentary of the Year: Sea of Darkness
Movie of the Year: Modern Collective
The Eddie Opening Ceremony 2010
The world’s most celebrated big wave riders gathered at Waimea Bay for the opening ceremony of the In Memory of Eddie Aikau. December of every year the world’s longest running and most prestigious big-wave invitational asks a list of 28 surfers to ride mammoth waves at Waimea like Eddie did in his time. Among those gathered were defending event champion Greg Long, and former Eddie winners Kelly Slater, Bruce Irons, Ross Clarke-Jones, Clyde Aikau, Noah Johnson, and Keone Downing.
Held in honor of the legendary Hawaiian waterman, Eddie Aikau, The Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau gathers the most skillful and dynamic big-wave surfers from around the globe. The Eddie is a surfer’s ultimate challenge, employing unassisted manpower to physically paddle into and ride giant waves. The Eddie will be held on one day between December 1, 2010 and February 28, 2011, when waves exceed the 20-foot minimum threshold.
Eddie Aikau has come to personify all of the human qualities we honor today: respect, humility, passion, and a love for fellow man. But this year it is the fresh loss of former invitees Andy Irons and Marvin Foster, both from Hawaii, that has the surfing world reflecting upon the importance of gatherings like these and the role they play in honoring the past, respecting the present and looking forward to the future.
“It is the passing of these brothers that once again reminds us of the life and loss of Eddie,” said Hawaiian Kahu Billy Mitchell, flanked by the Aikau family. “But as we stand in this circle, we realize that this circle, like life, is a continuum of those who have gone on already, those who are here, and those young brave surfers yet to come.”
