BY JODI WILMOTT — Overhead waves at Haleiwa could well see the $900,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, kick off at 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. The first jewel of the Crown is the men’s Reef Hawaiian Pro and the Cholo’s Women’s Pro, at Haleiwa Ali’i Beach Park. The official website for the series is www.vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com.
Organizers will be looking for the present swell size to hold for a start tomorrow. Beyond that, the forecast for Haleiwa looks very good with an above-warning-level WNW swell expected to arrive some time Sunday and persist into the new week with reinforcements. The complete holding period for the Reef Hawaiian Pro & Cholo’s Women’s Pro is November 12 through 23.
While Saturday may be the smaller day of surf in the immediate window, the action continues on the beach with the crowning of World Miss Reef at 4 p.m. This event will feature 2010 Miss Reef winners from Panama, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Aregentina, Chile and the USA, and will be broadcast live on the internet.
Live internet coverage happens every day this winter, starting at 7:45 a.m. with “THE CALL” – the Triple Crown’s live daily morning show that features all the latest news, highlights and happenings. The series will also be broadcast live on television around Hawaii on Oceanic Time Warner Digital Cable channels 250 and HD1250.
The free VANS LIVE app can now be downloaded for iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch. The app features video highlights, photo galleries, results and live coverage from the North Shore of Oahu, via 3G or WiFi.
The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing consists of three men’s and three women’s professional surfing events that are the final stop on the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour. In its 28th year, the Vans Triple Crown is considered the most prestigious title in surfing next to the ASP World Title.
Each event has an extended holding period with competition taking place on the biggest and best days of surf at each venue. In honor of former world and Vans Triple Crown champion Andy Irons, there will be no competition on Sunday, November 14, regardless of surf conditions, so that competitors can attend Andy’s memorial service on Kauai that day.