O'Neill World Cup

ASP 6-Star Prime WQS Mens event
Sunset Beach Oahu, Hawaii
24 November - 6 December 2009

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc 

Former Champ Cairns Pushes New Crew to Take it On

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 2 December, 2009 : - - Sunset Beach -- As new swell lines commence their march towards shore at Sunset Beach, the minds of the world's top ranked surfers are already jumping forward to tomorrow morning, when organizers anticipate hefty waves of around 15-20 feet for the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing. The O'Neill World Cup of Surfing is the second leg of the $1,000,000 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink.

"This new swell is supposed to peak during the day tomorrow and, coupled with the morning high tide, bring some major wash-through sets, producing some very challenging conditions" says Vans Triple Crown Executive Director Randy Rarick. "Definitely not for the feint-hearted."

Ian Cairns, the 1976 and 1980 champion of this event is currently here coaching a group of rising Southern California surf stars - the likes of Nate Yeomans, Brett Simpson, and Gabe Kling. His infectious confidence and injection of bravado are perfect ingredients for Sunset Beach and his team riders are going to need a shot of that when they take it on tomorrow.

Cairns dominated at Sunset during the 'Bustin' Down the Door' era of the early '70s; a unique combination of self-admitted cockiness, passion, and a determination to transpose Australian hot-dog surfing onto the giant walls that Sunset offers. His ostentatious form on the waves back then proved to be an effective approach to an intimidating venue.

"We actually came here and we were basically small-wave hot-dog surfers," says Cairns. "But big waves are just a big canvas to do hot-dog surfing on. That group of guys - we were all very young and wild and passionate, sort of pretty aggro.

"But the bottom line is, out here you have to be confident. You have to be big and cocky because the wave is just gnarly and if you're not like that then you just get belted."

World title contender Joel Parkinson (Australia) will be in the first heat to hit the water at 8 a.m. Others waxing their boards up for an early start are Jordy Smith (South Africa), Tanner and Dane Gudauskas (CA), Bede Durbidge (AUS), and Sunny Garcia (HI). Kling, Yeomans and Simpson will also hit the waves and Cairns will be their caddy in the channel, pushing them hard.

For all of the LIVE action log on to triplecrownofsurfing.com. Find out the call for the day, each day, as soon as it's made by Director Randy Rarick by signing up for mobile text alerts at triplecrownofsurfing.com. When competition resumes, all the action will be broadcast live on the web at triplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250.

Making the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink possible: Reef, O'Neill, Billabong, Gidget Worldwide, Nixon, Turtle Bay Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, JN Automotive Group, Surfing Magazine, Surfline.com, FUEL TV, The Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaiian Springs Water, Road Runner, Climb On! chemical-free skincare, and the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP). The Series is proud to announce that it is working with local company Tr3ees to embark upon a greener, more sustainable future.

Previous reports:
# 1 : O'Neill World Cup wait kicks off: All eyes on new swell..
# 2 : Joel Centeio continues dream run at O'Neill World Cup 
# 3 : Nat Young shines at the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing...
# 4 : Fanning enters the fray at Sunset for O'Neill World Cup 

www.aspworldtour.com
www.triplecrownofsurfing.com 

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Vans Triple Crown of Surfing - Surfersvillage