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 

O'Neill World Cup win gives Parkinson the Vans Triple Crown lead   |   Finals video highlights

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 6 December, 2009 : - - Sunset Beach -- You couldn't have scripted it any better. The O'Neill World Cup of Surfing reached its highest point in 35 years today in clean 10- to 15-foot surf after riding out the biggest waves in Vans Triple Crown of Surfing history.

When all was said and done, Australian Joel Parkinson was the winner, claiming $20,000 and the lead on the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing ratings presented by Rockstar Energy Drink. More importantly, he gained momentum and psychological ground on close friend Mick Fanning, with whom he will battle for the ASP World Title at Pipeline next week.

But there was even more to the story than that. Joining the Aussie mates was six-time Vans Triple Crown champion Sunny Garcia, 39, who had to finish first or second to win a wildcard into next week's Pipeline Masters and keep his dream of a seventh Vans title alive. He pulled it off as the cameras filming his life story documentary rolled. And then there was Dusty Payne, the 20-year-old from Maui who needed to do well today to become the first Maui surfer in history to qualify for the ASP Dream Tour. He did just that, finishing fourth in the final.

Taylor Knox (Carlsbad) was the highest placed Californian, losing in the semi-finals to Joel and Sunny to place equal 7th.

Joel Parkinson : photo ASP/CI by Kirstin via Getty Images

Sunny started out strongest in the 35-minute final, locking in the deepest barrel of the day, worth 9.47 out of 10, that put his rivals on red alert. Fanning and 'Parko' were having their own preliminary world title match up on the West Bowl. The two traded off small barrel rides for average scores, as Garcia stayed busy but couldn't find a backup for his major score.

Parkinson finally managed to post a 7.0 with a couple of smooth on-rail carves and with only two minutes remaining scored a 6.17 for a late barrel through the inside. Garcia scratched as the Nixon timer counted down, ultimately failing to find the mere 3.7 score he needed for a win.

Parkinson joins Hawaii's legendary Michael Ho as the only three-time winners of the O'Neill World Cup at Sunset Beach. If he can win this year's Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title, he can claim a $50,000 bonus and a $10,000 custom Nixon watch. But Garcia is hot on his heels - only 31 points, or less than a place, behind.

"I couldn't hear the score, but I heard the crowd," said Parkinson of Sunny's 9.47 ride. "I knew I had my work cut out for me... With two minutes to go (Sunny) needed a three and I felt like telling him 'you just gotta go anything... It's a little sweeter because I'm coming off a bit of an injury. Right now it feels really good because I'm back on the podium and back winning going into the biggest battle of my career. I love the Triple Crown."

Sunny Garcia : photo ASP/CI by Kirstin via Getty Images

While the commentators, crowd and media drooled over the Parko/Fanning matchup today and prelude to the world title, Mick was quick to deflect the pressure to Joel. "I'm in the lead and all the pressure is on Joel now," said Fanning. "He has to get third (at Pipe). There's no room for error for him. I'm just concentrating on myself and getting through as many heats as possible and making it as hard as possible for him.

"I just wanted to get some heats under my belt. It's getting back in that rhythm of doing heats again and everything feels real good. I'm excited."

In classic Garcia style, none of his brilliance today ended up being good enough without taking the winner's cup home.  "It's not how it starts, it's how it ends," said Garcia. "It feels good, but I'm still bummed that I lost. I came this far and I wanted to win. I started off with a 9.4 and to need a three at the end of the heat and not get it was a little frustrating. Hopefully, they'll run the Eddie tomorrow, I'll go get some big waves and wash out this loss and get ready for Pipe."

Known for being a last-minute guy, Payne wait until the last event of the year to qualify. "It's a dream to make the WCT," said Dusty Payne. "I'm over the moon right now. It hasn't sunk in yet and I don't think it will until the tour starts next year."

Mick Fanning : photo ASP/CI by Kirstin via Getty Images

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing now moves to Pipeline for the ultimate showdown: the Billabong Pipeline Masters, where the lion's share of the $1,000,000 Vans Triple Crown prize purse will be doled out. $50,000 will go to the Triple Crown champion; $340,000 is up for grabs in the Pipe Masters and the winner there will receive a total of $90,000. Vans will also award the ASP world champion with a $50,000 bonus.

FUEL TV will be broadcasting the finals of the Pipe Masters live in the United States.

For all the 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.

Dusty Payne : photo ASP/CI by Kirstin via Getty Images

RESULTS:

Final:
1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) - $20,000 - 3,500 points
2. Sunny Garcia (HAW) - $10,000 - 3,063 points
3. Mick Fanning (AUS) - $5,100 - 2,625 points
4. Dusty Payne (HAW) - $4,900 - 2,494 points

Semi-Finals:
1: Mick Fanning (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW), Torrey Meister (HAW), Daniel Ross (AUS)
2: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Sunny Garcia (HAW), Mason Ho (HAW), Taylor Knox (USA)

Quarter Finals:
1: Daniel Ross (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
2: Mick Fanning (AUS), Torrey Meister (HAW), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Glen Hall (IRL)
3: Taylor Knox (USA), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
4: Mason Ho (HAW), Sunny Garcia (HAW), Bede Durbidge (AUS), Kai Otton (AUS)

Check the Full Results

WQS ratings after the final event of the season

1	Ross,Daniel	AUS	15744
2	Gudauskas,Patrick	USA	14876
3	Andre,Jadson	BRA	14813
4	Melling,Adam	AUS	14638
5	Wright,Owen	AUS	14338
6	Munro,Luke	AUS	13713
7	Thompson,Jay	AUS	13638
8	Yeomans,Nathan	USA	13419
9	Payne,Dusty	HAW	13194
10	Simpson,Brett	USA	13150
11	Wilkinson,Matt	AUS	12850
12	Gudauskas,Tanner	USA	12569
13	Logie,Travis	ZAF	12344
14	Polo,Marco	BRA	12331
15	Thornton,Blake	AUS	12325
15	Duru,Joan	FRA	12325
17	Miranda,Bernardo	BRA	12301
18	Courtney,Drew	AUS	12256
19	Dornelles,Rodrigo	BRA	12206
20	Ware,Austin	USA	12075
21	Zubizarreta,Gony	ESP	11725
22	Hall,Glenn	IRL	11719
23	Atkinson,Dion	AUS	11669
24	Jackson,Brandon	ZAF	11431
25	Cardoso,Willian	BRA	11251
26	Muniz,Alejo	BRA	11150
27	Riou,Alain	PYF	11082
28	Padaratz,Neco	BRA	10779
29	Neves,Leonardo	BRA	10750
30	Zietz,Sebastien	HAW	10725
31	Cloitre,Romain	FRA	10700
32	Sedley,Leigh	AUS	10450
33	Howse,Jarrad	AUS	10425
34	Nicol,Yadin	AUS	10288
35	Gossmann,Shaun	AUS	10263
36	Bryson,Royden	ZAF	10213
37	Lopez,Cory	USA	10119
38	Gonzalez,Jonathan	CNY	10025
39	Joske,Heath	AUS	9963
40	Paulino,Pablo	BRA	9813
41	Dantas,Wiggolly	BRA	9700
42	Aranburu,Aritz	EUK	9650
43	Centeio,Joel	HAW	9610
44	Toth,Brian	PRI	9419
45	Garcia,Sunny	HAW	9414
46	Pupo,Miguel	BRA	9366
47	Galvao,Renato	BRA	9294
48	Meister,Torrey	HAW	9189
49	Hedge,Nathan	AUS	9175
50	Collazo,Hodei	EUK	9138

Check the Full Ratings

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
# 5 : O'Neill World Cup waits for building swell to materialize
# 6 : Big surf at O'Neill World Cup sets Triple Crown record

# 7 : From fear to tears: O'Neill World Cup calls lay day Friday
# 8 : O'Neill World Cup of Surfing off Saturday & ON Sunday

www.aspworldtour.com
www.triplecrownofsurfing.com 

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