*** Official Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Contest Thread ***

teeroi

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Oct 21, 2007
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Went into HIC yesterday to pick up a payment for some work I did.

I asked what’s the deal with the HIC Pipe Pro? Leigh said it’s a QS 1000 qualifier. 96 entrants with preference given to the Hawaii and Tahiti regional qs surfers and any CT pros. Hawaii and Tahiti hasn’t had any qs events cause of Covid and itll go into who will qualify out of Tahiti and Hawaii to get onto the Challenger Series events. I think he said top finishers will get a wild card into either the Pipe Masters or the trials.
 
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sponge

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Just announced: Men and women winners of the digital Vans Pipe Masters and overall Vans Triple Crown Champions will earn seeds into the inaugural Pipe Masters Invitational event in 2022!
 

sponge

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Still lots more time before waiting period begins (Dec 21st) and this thread gets "sticky" again. It is once again a virtual/digital event with "free surf" video clips being used to determine the winners. In the meantime, here are some Triple Crown photos from years past, starting with 2011 (a decade ago!).

Reef Hawaiian Pro: Corey Lopez, Haleiwa's Ali'i Beach, 11/22/11
111122_01.jpg

Vans World Cup of Surfing: Brent Dorrington, Sunset Beach, 11/27/11
111127_01.jpg

Billabong Pipe Masters: Jamie O'Brien, Pipeline, 12/8/11
111208_22.jpg
 
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sponge

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The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, Explained (Surfline, 12/18/21)

Most interesting new rule:
"What’s with this progressive craft thing, again? One of six official submissions MUST be a wave ridden on “progressive” craft. Or, “alternative” if that helps you picture it. Basically, progressive craft is any surfboard that is NOT a thruster or quad traditional surfboard shape. Nope, not a Hypto Krypto, more like an asymm or mid-length single-fin…something different, hand-shaped, and would be extremely difficult to pull a full-rotation air on..."
 

sponge

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Waiting period starts tomorrow; Dec 21, 2021 - Jan 21, 2022. Near-term forecast doesn't look great. Again all virtual so lots of wannabes at Haleiwa, Pipeline and Sunset, with lots of videographers in tow.

In the meantime, here are some photos from Triple Crown of Surfings past. These are from 2012, when I was fortunate to shoot from the water three times at each of the three venues.

John John Florence, Reef Hawaiian Pro, Haleiwa, 11/17/12.
121117_06.jpg

Evan Geiselman, Vans World Cup of Surfing, Sunset Beach, 11/30/12.
121130_01.jpg

CJ Hobgood I think, Billabong Pipe Masters, Pipeline, 12/8/12.
121208_36.jpg