![](\"http:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/imagesnews\/irons_wins2502pipe05tostee_t.jpg\")
\nAndy Irons last years winner – can he do it again?
\nSee the event LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com or www.ripcurl.com<\/p>\n
Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters
\n(December 8-20)<\/p>\n
\nAndy Irons last years winner – can he do it again?
\nSee the event LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com or www.ripcurl.com<\/p>\n
PIPELINE, Hawaii (Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2006) \u0096 After a sensational finish to the second of the three Vans Triple Crown of Surfing events yesterday where Australian Joel Parkinson stole the show in huge waves at Sunset Beach, anticipation for tomorrow\u0092s potential start of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters is at an all time high.<\/p>\n
The event, the last of 11 on the Foster\u0092s ASP World Tour, is one of surfing\u0092s most prestigious and spectacular as surfers risk life and limb to score some of the biggest tube rides of their lives.And with the world crown having already been in the living room of now eight-time champion Kelly Slater (USA) for some months, his fellow tourers will be fighting like cats and dogs to climb onto the podium and be labelled a Pipe Master \u0096 one of biggest honours in the sport. <\/p>\n
On a roll after claiming victory in the first Vans Triple Crown of Surfing event in Haleiwa, then riding home in third place in yesterday’s O’Neill World Cup Of Surfing behind Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Jordy Smith (ZAF) is Hawaii\u0092s own Andy Irons who is currently sitting in fifth place on the Foster\u0092s ASP World Tour ratings and atop the Vans Triple Crown point score.<\/p>\n
\u0093Coming from Hawaii, everyone always says that the Triple Crown is just as important as the world title,\u0094 said Irons. \u0093I love surfing these three events. It\u0092s home. These are the waves that I grew up surfing and I feel really comfortable out there. Since the ASP world title race finished, my focus has been on doing well in here.\u0094<\/p>\n
The exciting former three-time world champion loves competing at Pipe and always lifts his performance standards when he tackles the typically powerful Hawaiian waves.<\/p>\n
\u0093Pipeline is a really special place for me,\u0094 said Irons. \u0093I\u0092ve won the Rip Curl Pro Pipe Masters three times and I don\u0092t know, I feel like my surfing has lifted just being in Hawaii already. Just being around all my friends and surfing everyday, I feel like I\u0092m more confident.\u0094<\/p>\n
Being the defending champion, Irons knows what it takes to win and over the past few years he\u0092s been a constant force in some incredible battles.<\/p>\n
\u0093The event has always been high-intensity for me,\u0094 said Irons. \u0093It\u0092s where I won the world title over Kelly (Slater) in 2003, and I\u0092ve picked up a few Vans Triple Crowns there.\u0094<\/p>\n
Parkinson, who sits just behind Irons at sixth place on the Foster\u0092s ASP World Tour ratings and now is in second on the Van Triple Crown showdown, has been in brilliant form for most of the year and after his win yesterday he is brimming with confidence. <\/p>\n
\u0093It\u0092s a really special thing for me,\u0094 said Parkinson. \u0093Everyone says winning the Triple Crown is right up there with winning a world title and I think it is. Hopefully I\u0092ll be able to win a world title one day to compare! I\u0092ve come close (to winning the Triple Crown) a few times, but Andy always seems to finish just ahead. It will come down to Pipe again this time around, and he (Irons) always performs there. I\u0092m looking forward to it.\u0094<\/p>\n
In an interesting twist to the event, a host of local Pipeline specialists have been slotted into the draw, which will now expand from 48 to 64 and will have four man heats right through the event. <\/p>\n
The formidable list of local chargers will include last year\u0092s finalist Kalani Chapman, Makua Rothman, Tamayo Perry, Jamie O\u0092Brien and reigning ASP World Junior champion Kekoa Bacalso to name a few. <\/p>\n
\u0093This year is going to be interesting with the 64-man field,\u0094 said Irons. \u0093A lot of the local boys are in it, and they\u0092re going to shake things up for sure.\u0094<\/p>\n
Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters<\/p>\n
Round One<\/p>\n
Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS); Peterson Rosa (BRA); Toby Martin (AUS); Randall Paulson (HAW)
\nHeat 2: Phil MacDonald (AUS); Darren O\u0092Rafferty (AUS); Pedro Henrique (BRA); Kalani Chapman (HAW)
\nHeat 3: Tom Whitaker (AUS); Victor Ribas (BRA); Davey Weare (ZAF); Tory Baron (HAW)
\nHeat 4: Bobby Martinez (USA); Shaun Cansdell (AUS); Adrian Buchan (AUS); Evan Valiere (HAW)
\nHeat 5: Damien Hobgood (USA); Adriano de Souza (BRA); Yuri Sodre (BRA); Makua Rothman (HAW)
\nHeat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS); Mark Occhilupo (AUS); Ben Dunn (AUS); Hank Gaskell (HAW)
\nHeat 7: Taj Burrow (AUS); Travis Logie (ZAF); Kekoa Bacalso (HAW); Dustin Barca (HAW)
\nHeat 8: Kelly Slater (USA); Trent Munro (AUS); Heiarii Williams (PYF); Jamie O\u0092Brien (HAW)
\nHeat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS); Danny Wills (AUS); Rob Machado (USA); Bruno Santos (BRA)
\nHeat 10: Andy Irons (HAW); Greg Emslie (ZAF); Ian Walsh (HAW); Nathan Carroll (HAW)
\nHeat 11: Taylor Knox (AUS); Mick Lowe (AUS); Jarrad Howse (AUS); Tamayo Perry (HAW)
\nHeat 12: Bruce Irons (HAW); Jake Paterson (AUS); Roy Powers (HAW); Solomon Ortiz (HAW)
\nHeat 13: CJ Hobgood (USA); Chris Ward (USA); Mikael Picon (FRA); Aamion Goodwin (HAW)
\nHeat 14: Bede Durbidge (AUS); Pancho Sullivan (HAW); Paulo Moura (BRA); Jamie Sterling (HAW)
\nHeat 15: Fred Patacchia (HAW); Luke Stedman (AUS); Marcelo Nunes (BRA); Reef Mcintosh (HAW)
\nHeat 16: Cory Lopez (USA); Nathan Hedge (AUS); Troy Brooks (AUS); Owen Wright (AUS)<\/p>\n
Rip Curl and ASP will be hosting a live webcast of the entire event, which will include action replays and commentary from some of the sports most notable characters. <\/p>\n
Stay tuned to www.ripcurl.com and www.aspworldtour.com for all the details.<\/p>\n
For further information about the Vans Triple Crown Of Surfing go to www.triplecrownofsurfing.com <\/p>\n
Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Master\u0092s Past Champions<\/p>\n
Year\t\tChampion\t\tHome Country<\/p>\n
2005\tAndy Irons\tHawaii
\n2004\t\tJamie O\u0092Brien\tHawaii
\n2003\t\tAndy Irons\tHawaii
\n2002\t\tAndy Irons\tHawaii
\n2001\tBruce Irons\tHawaii
\n2000\t\tRob Machado\t\tCalifornia
\n1999\t\tKelly Slater\t\tFlorida
\n1998\t\tJake Paterson\t\tAustralia
\n1997\t\tJohn Gomes\t\tHawaii
\n1996\t\tKelly Slater\t\tFlorida
\n1995\t\tKelly Slater\t\tFlorida
\n1994\t\tKelly Slater\t\tFlorida
\n1993\t\tDerek Ho\t\t\tHawaii
\n1992\t\tKelly Slater\t\tFlorida
\n1991\t\tTom Carroll\t\tAustralia
\n1990\t\tTom Carroll\t\tAustralia
\n1989\t\tGary Elkerton\t\tAustralia
\n1988\t\tRobby Page\t\tAustralia
\n1987\t\tTom Carroll\t\tAustralia
\n1986\t\tDerek Ho\t\t\tHawaii
\n1985\t\tMark Occhilupo\t\tAustralia
\n1984\t\tJoey Buran\t\tUSA
\n1983\t\tDane Kealoha\t\tHawaii
\n1982\t\tMichael Ho\t\tHawaii
\n1981\t\tSimon Anderson\tAustralia
\n1980\t\tMark Richards\t\tAustralia
\n1979\t\tLarry Blair\t\t\tAustralia
\n1978\t\tLarry Blair\t\t\tAustralia
\n1977\t\tRory Russel\t\tHawaii
\n1976\t\tRory Russel\t\tHawaii
\n1975\t\tShaun Tomson\t\tSouth Africa
\n1974\t\tJeff Crawford\t\tUSA
\n1973\t\tGerry Lopez\t\tHawaii
\n1972\t\tGerry Lopez\t\tHawaii
\n1971\t\tJeff Hakman\t\tHawaii<\/p>\n
Current Foster\u0092s ASP World Tour Top 10 Ratings After Event #10 The Nova Schin Festival Brazil<\/p>\n
1. Kelly Slater (USA)\t\t\t7824
\n2. Mick Fanning (AUS)\t\t6638
\n3. Taj Burrow (AUS)\t\t\t6480
\n4 Bobby Martinez (USA) \t6350
\n5. Andy Irons (HAW)\t\t\t6348
\n6. Joel Parkinson (AUS) \t6240
\n7. Damien Hobgood (USA) 5774
\n8. Tom Whitaker (AUS)\t\t5138
\n9. Taylor Knox (USA)\t\t4880
\n10. Dean Morrison (AUS) \t4856<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters (December 8-20) Andy Irons last years winner – can he do it again? See the event LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com or www.ripcurl.com PIPELINE, Hawaii (Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2006) \u0096 After a sensational finish to the second of the three Vans Triple Crown of Surfing events yesterday where Australian Joel Parkinson stole … Continue reading “ANDY IRONS IN HOT FORM FOR RIP CURL PRO PIPELINE MASTERS”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-13542","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asp-surfing-news","tag-surfing-news-archive"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13542","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13542"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13542\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13542"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13542"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13542"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}