“A Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title is considered by many to be the sport’s most coveted title,” said Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Executive Director Randy Rarick. “This year’s crown is even more special in light of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters’ 35th anniversary. It represents the opportunity to achieve greatness and a permanent place in pro surfing history.”

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series was borne on the strength and prestige of the Pipeline Masters in 1983: three separate events staged at three distinct locations along the most notorious seven-mile stretch of surf on earth. Dominated in recent years by Hawaiian Sunny Garcia, a six-time champion, the Series quickly evolved to become the ultimate proving ground for professional surfers. Each stop requires different equipment, unique strategy and incredible mental toughness. And virtually everything that matters in the sport culminates at Pipeline—the World and Vans Triple Crown Series championships.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Series begins at Haleiwa, a break that features a fast ride that peels off over coral reef, allowing a full spectrum of maneuvers. In contrast to Haleiwa, the break at Sunset Beach is almost a half-mile out to sea and in very deep waters. Subsequently, the waves can be up to 20 feet thick and up to four stories high.

Pipeline rears up 50 feet from shore and showcases waves of up to five stories high that march shoreward before exploding upon a barely submerged coral reef. Hitting with speed and power, these swells launch abruptly, ‘jacking up’ from just a few feet in height to 15 or 20 feet in a matter of seconds. The effect of this is a hollow, barreling wave that has made the name "Banzai Pipeline" famous around the world.

The first documented ride at Pipeline was in December of 1961 by Californian Phil Edwards (on an ill-suited longboard) and captured on film by legendary filmmaker Bruce Brown. Californian shaper Mike Diffenderfer called it “Pipeline” after large concrete pipes being laid in nearby Kamehameha Highway. Locals called the beach “Banzai” after the small beachside nursery of Bonsai trees. A name that, coincidently, reflected the suicidal commitment it took to drop into one of these monsters that break with a tremendous, driving force over a barely submerged coral reef.

In 1971, long before anyone had heard of Todos Santos, Cortez Bank or Mavericks – snowboarding, BMX, FMX or wakeboarding for that matter – the Pipeline Masters was founded by Hawaiian Fred Hemmings. Although Jeff Hakman won the inaugural competition that year, fellow Hawaiian Gerry Lopez was riding the wave with such a casual elegance that the contest was later named after him (ironically Lopez was not present in 1971 having been duped by the crafty Corky Carroll into thinking the event had been cancelled). In 1972 and 1973 Lopez won the Pipe Masters with a display of surfing so beautiful that is caused Jim McKay, the legendary ABC announcer, to wipe tears from his eyes…on air.

The Pipeline Masters quickly grew in stature. The NY Times declared a huge day in the early years as “A day of days on earth”. Sports Illustrated published a cover story in 1982 called Thunder from the Seas. ABC’s Wide World of Sports featured the event for nearly a decade. A popularity poll ranked the event fourth, right behind Olympic figure skating and ski jumping. The annual migration to the sport’s Mecca became a right of passage for aspiring pro surfers. Major airlines were forced to add additional flights to accommodate growing numbers of spectators.

To the surfing world, a Pipeline Masters title is the pinnacle of the sport; surfing’s version of Valhalla. The fraternity of winners is an elite group: Lopez, Rory Russell, Michael and Derek Ho, Dane Kealoha, Tom Carroll, Mark Occhilupo, Kelly Slater, the Irons brothers and the newest member to the group, 21 year-old Hawaiian Jamie O’Brien. All brought their own individual style and personality in approaching Pipe. But all are inextricably linked. All are Pipeline champions.

The entire 2005 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing will be broadcast live on the internet at www.triplecrownofsurfing.com. The O’Neill World Cup of Surfing is the season-ending WQS event and determines which surfers advance to World Championship Tour for a shot at the world title in 2006. The Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters will be the climax of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and the 2005 ASP World Tour—the sport’s two most coveted titles.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title for women showcases the world’s top pro female surfers in their own back-to-back WCT events that run concurrently with the men’s Series. The $65,000 Roxy Pro at Haleiwa (Nov. 12 – 23) is the penultimate event on the World Tour while the final WCT event for 2005, the $65,000 Billabong Pro is held at Maui’s Honolua Bay (Dec. 8-19). Collectively these events determine the women’s ASP World Champion and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing champion, as well as the WCT lineups for the 2006 circuit.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is made possible through the support of a partnership of the world's leading brands and media companies including: Rip Curl, O'Neill, G-Shock, Surfing Magazine, Oahu's Turtle Bay Resort and Road Runner.


HELLO KITTY® BOARDFEST MARKS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. – Hello Kitty BoardfestSM is returning to the Huntington Beach Pier on Labor Day weekend—September 2-5, 2005—adding a carnival theme to its already unique format. The surf-inspired festival features a family-oriented beach exposition showcasing free attractions and games, surf clinics, skateboarding demonstrations and live music all set against the backdrop of a top-rated professional women’s surfing competition. Hello Kitty herself will join along with more than 100,000 kids, ‘tweens, teens and young adults expected to attend over four days.

“We’re really excited that the City of Huntington Beach has asked us to bring this year’s Hello Kitty Boardfest to such an important summer weekend,” says Sanrio Marketing Director Bill Hensley. “Hello Kitty appeals to girls and women of all ages and we’re honored to be able to create an event that reaches everyone from the women pro surfers to the families on the beach.”

With a first-of-its-kind atmosphere of carnival-like games, booths and prizes, family members of all ages can enjoy numerous attractions (free-of-charge) like a rock climbing wall, mechanical surfboard, a moon bounce house, beach obstacle course and more. Fun-filled activities include sand castle building, hula-hoop, limbo and tug-of-war contests along with crab walk races and the popular “beach ball waddle”. Live music and DJ Kool Kat will keep the crowds entertained and informed throughout each day.

The young (and young at heart) can pose for photos with Hello Kitty and have their faces “temporarily tattooed” by the talented Hello Kitty designers at the “must-see” Hello Kitty booth. Beach-goers can enter a drawing to win a limited-edition Hello Kitty surfboard, purchase limited-edition Hello Kitty surf accessories or just peruse the dozens of ultra-cool Hello Kitty products on display.

The action is non-stop all four days as pro surfing fans can watch 48 of the world’s top women battle for $20,000 in prizes at a four-star World Qualifying Series (WQS) rated event. Longboarding returns to the famed pier as will a new twist in ’05, the addition of an unusual team format with a first of its kind, “winning-team-take-all prize purse!” Hello Kitty Boardfest is the next-to-last stop on the 2005 Surfing America Tour and plays a critical role in determining the sport’s national champion.

Top pros like Holly Beck and Siri Cota headline the daily surf clinics, playing hands-on roles, educating and instructing girls of all ages on how to take their surfing skills to the next level. Each paid clinic participant receives an incredible Hello Kitty goody bag loaded with gear, event T-shirt, lunch, refreshments and “quality” time with Hello Kitty. Each clinic day ends with an exciting “tag team” challenge using the same judges, announcers and venue as the pros.

“Hello Kitty Boardfest is the culmination of years of hard work by several talented individuals in support of women athletes,” said Mike Kingsbury, Boardfest’s executive producer. “Hello Kitty is really the perfect partner and the Huntington Beach Pier the best possible venue. To be able to grow Boardfest and stage it over

Tsunami Surf Relief day – Working together, the surf community made a difference

April 9th 2005 was truly an exceptional day for the Surf industry in the United Kingdom. Three months of planning by the umbrella organisation Tsunami Surf Relief UK, culminated in a day of co-ordinated fundraising.

Whilst much of the attention was focussed on the great day of events at Fistral beach, Newquay, they were a number of supporting events which all raised valuable cash.

Christian Surfers UK were co-ordinating four events in the South, which drew together a great bunch of volunteers and participants.

At South Devon’s Bantham Beach the Christian Surfers Plymouth crew organised the inaugural ‘Dawn to Dusk Fancy dress marathon contest’. In bright sunshine 14 teams of 4 dressed in an amazingly imaginative array of costumes and surfed for 1 hour each, starting just after 7am. The waves on the day were very small, but in their place numerous games were played out in the shallows, including costume swapping.

Prizes, which had generously been donated by Flatspot of
Plymouth; Domino Threads of St Merryn; South Coast Surf, nr Liskeard; Boardwalk of Newquay; and Sharkbite of Bristol.
The winners in each category were: Ed Bird for Best Individual Costume, The Wembury Boys, for Best Group Costumes, Lawrence Bird for Best Move On A Wave, The Flintstones for Most Number Of People On A Board, Miriam Ginnings for Best In Character Move and the Hula Boys And Girls For Best Efforts At Flat Day Fun.

The prize giving and a minutes silence, with a prayer for the Tsunami affected areas took place in the early evening, and amazingly through the entrants sponsorship, and cake and coffee cakes over £1500 was raised.

A second very important event took place in Windsor on Royal wedding day, it saw the completion of the first ever Paddleathon ( Long distance surf board paddle ) on the river Thames between Maidenhead and Windsor.

9 Surfers and 2 canoeists and a rescue boat from Christian Surfers in the London area paddled for 2.5 hours between the 2 towns. Organiser Andi Swift said “It was a hard working but fun event on behalf of those whose livelihoods had been destroyed in Sri Lanka, and between us we raised over £1500 for the Tsunami Surf Relief”. The event was originally threatened by the re-arranged date of the Royal Wedding but thankfully after discussions with the authorities a compromise was reached.

The third of the events took place at Croyde Bay, in North Devon, Michael and Michelle Cotton opened up their home overlooking the Bay for the day. After gaining support from many of the local surf shops they organised an auction in the afternoon, with a BBQ, cream teas and live music.

The sun shone and thanks to numerous helpers from Christian Surfers and the Croyde community over £1200 was raised.

Finally back in Newquay an under 18’s night was laid on at the Source Café on Marcus Hill, to supplement the main parties. This involved Surf movies, music and a pool competition. Slides and a DVD of TSRUK’s Sri Lanka visit were shown and around £100 was donated by the youngsters.

The money raised from these events will be presented to Tsunami Surf Relief UK, which Christian Surfers UK are fully backing. Phil Williams, National Director of Christian Surfers said “It was brilliant to see so many people from these events working together to make a difference to peoples life’s, a huge thanks must go to the surf community involved, as every pound raised will help”

Events organised by Tsunami Surf Relief UK, will continue throughout the year, for more information log on to www.tsunamisurfrelief.co.uk or for more on Christian Surfers UK check out www.christiansurfers.org

BRITISH SURFING HISTORY - UK TOUR

An exhibition of British surfing history will tour the UK from May 2005.

First stop will be Brighton on the south coast, followed by Cornwall, the north east of England and Scotland.

The show features British surfboards dating back to the late 1800s through to the present day. Names from the 1960s like Atlantic, Bilbo and Groves-Davies, rub shoulders with classic 70s creations from Creamed Honey and Tris, plus hollow wooden monsters your grandfather might have ridden.

"We've got probably most complete collection of British surfboards in the country, and it's fantastic to be able to take it to surfing communities around the country," says director Pete Robinson, a 44 year old ITV News reporter. "The touring exhibition is part of our project to open the UK's first permanent surfing museum on Brighton beach in May 2006."

Among the classic boards on display will be a solid balsa longboard from the late 1950s, an Hawaiian koa plank from the late 1800s and experimental 1970s and 80s designs. Vintage surf clothing, wetsuits and even early surf wax join the line up for a glide through surfing's classic eras.

May 7 to September 4 2005 - Brighton
July 1 & August 31 2005 - The Eden Project, Cornwall
October 21 2005 to March 19 2006 - The Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, Middlesborough
June 2006 - September 2006 - Aberdeen Maritime Museum

More information about the museum & exhibitions can be found on the website www.thesurfingmuseum.co.uk

Photos show last September's exhibition in Brighton, and Pip Staffieri on Great Western beach c1937 with his 13 foot longboard

Peter Robinson
Director
The Surfing Museum Ltd

http://www.thesurfingmuseum.co.uk - check out our new onlline shop and help support the British Surfing Museum

info@thesurfingmuseum.co.uk

Tel: 07887 758324

"We are a not for profit organisation dedicated to preserving the rich heritage of British surfing."

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN 2005 BILLABONG XXL BIG WAVE AWARDS
It's Jaws vs. Ghost Trees, Waimea vs. Maverick's in Classic Hawaii/California Showdown

NEWPORT BEACH, CA -- (April 2, 2005) -- The finalists for the 2005 Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards presented by Monster Energy were announced today and the annual event is shaping up as a face-off between surfers at a world renown break off Maui, Hawaii and those at a recently discovered spot off Pebble Beach, California.

The winner will be announced at an invitation-only show before 1500 surf world VIPs on April 22 at the Grove Theater in Anaheim, California. The night's full schedule of activities will be carried on a free live webcast at www.BillabongXXL.com.

Three of the nominees for the XXL prize for the biggest wave ridden anywhere in the world in the last year were from Peahi (commonly known as Jaws) near Haiku, Maui. Well-known big wave stalwarts Shane Dorian, Garrett McNamara and Dan Moore were towed by jet-powered watercraft into XXL status amid the wild action on two huge and crowded days in December and January.

The other two Billabong XXL contenders were ridden by a pair of respected yet less celebrated surfers at a largely unheard-of break located on the southern flank of the Monterey Peninsula -- right off the 18th fairway of the famed Pebble Beach Golf Links. It was just over three weeks ago that a group of bold pioneers challenged some of the biggest waves ever seen in California in a landmark session at the spot dubbed "Ghost Trees" off Pescadero Point. Carmel local Don Curry and Santa Cruz's Tyler Smith both streaked across high walls of water deemed well worthy of XXL contention.

A panel of big wave experts will analyze the many photos and video clips of the nominees and determine the largest face size of the year -- which will earn a prize of $1000 a foot with a minimum payout of $60,000. Last year Hawaii's Pete Cabrinha earned $70,000 for his world record 70-foot wave.

Also announced were the nominees for the Monster Paddle Award for the largest wave of the year caught using arm-power alone. Three contenders were tackled during the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest at Oahu's Waimea Bay by Shane Dorian and the brother team of Andy and Bruce Irons. The other Monsters were ridden during another competition -- the Mavericks Surf Contest -- at that notorious Northern California break. Making the cut for the top five was Greg Long of San Clemente, CA and Shane Desmond of Santa Cruz.

"While advances in tow-in surfing have captured much of the attention in the last several years, this season saw a distinct focus on the traditional paddle-in achievements by the sport's top watermen," said Graham Stapelberg, Billabong USA's Vice President of Marketing. "We fully support this as one of surfing's purest experiences, and to further raise the profile of the category are expanding the number of finalists from three to five. Today we are also announcing a doubling of the Monster Paddle Award prize to $10,000."

Five nominees for the Monster Tube Award were also released today honoring great rides deep in the curl. Again, three contenders come from the Jaws sessions, including in-and-out moments from Brazilians Danilo Couto and Eraldo Gueiros and Maui lifeguard legend Archie Kalepa. Joining the fray from further afield are hefty barrels by Raimana Van Bastolaer at his home break of Teahupoo, Tahiti, and Australian Dylan Longbottom at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania. The Monster Tube Award carries a prize of $5000.

Billabong XXL event director Bill Sharp expects the surf community to once again engage in spirited debate about all key categories in the three weeks leading up the Billabong XXL Awards presentation.

"Surfers and surfing fans around the world really get into the analysis of each wave," said Sharp. "You have to look all the photos and video from all the different angles because no one image tells the entire story about a particular ride. Yet you can find yourself going back and forth and round and round in your opinions of which is biggest...they all look giant."

The event website at www.BillabongXXL.com features a preview of each of the finalist rides including multiple angles of each captured by many of the world's best surfing photographers. The lensmen are also up for prizes up to $5000 honoring their ability to nail the definitive moment.

The finalists, in alphabetical order:

Billabong XXL Biggest Wave Award Nominees:
Don Curry (Carmel, CA) at Ghost Trees, Pebble Beach, California on March 9, 2005
Shane Dorian (Kona, HI) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on January 17, 2005
Garrett McNamara (Pupukea, HI) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Dan Moore (Sunset Beach, HI) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Tyler Smith (Santa Cruz, CA) at Ghost Trees, Pebble Beach, California on March 9, 2005

Monster Biggest Paddle Wave Award Nominees
Shane Desmond (Santa Cruz, CA) at Maverick's, California on March 2, 2005 [during the Maverick's Surf Contest]
Shane Dorian (Kona, HI) at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii on December 15, 2004 [during the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest]
Andy Irons (Hanalei, HI) at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii on December 15, 2004 [during the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest]
Bruce Irons (Hanalei, HI) at Waimea Bay, Oahu, Hawaii on December 15, 2004 [during the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau contest]
Greg Long (San Clemente, CA) at Maverick's, California on March 2, 2005 [during the Maverick's Surf Contest]

Monster Tube Award Nominees:
Danilo Couto (Brazil) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Eraldo Gueiros (Brazil) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Archie Kalepa (Maui) at Peahi/Jaws, Maui, Hawaii on December 15, 2004
Dylan Longbottom (Australia) at Shipstern Bluff, Tasmania, Australia on February 19, 2005
Raimana Van Bastolaer (Tahiti) at Teahupoo, Tahiti on April 22, 2004

Finalists in the new Female division of the Monster Paddle Award will be announced next week.

The Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards are presented by Monster Energy, Honda watercraft and Surfing Magazine. Surfline is the official Surf Forecaster.

WORLD’S MOST INFAMOUS PRO SURFING EVENT CELEBRATES 35TH ANNIVERSARY, ANCHORS PRESTIGIOUS VANS TRIPLE CROWN OF SURFING

HELLO KITTY® BOARDFEST MARKS TRIUMPHANT RETURN TO THE HUNTINGTON BEACH PIER ON LABOR DAY WEEKEND

Tsunami Surf Relief day – Working together, the surf community made a difference - Christian Surfers UK

BRITISH SURFING HISTORY - UK TOUR

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN 2005 BILLABONG XXL BIG WAVE AWARDS