The world’s first $1,000,000 surf series, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, gets underway on Oahu’s North Shore today with the battle for the record “Triple Threat” prize purse. Haleiwa plays host to the first jewel in the crown: the Reef Hawaiian Pro, an Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Qualifying Series (WQS) 6-Star PRIME event.

Competition will get underway at 8am in the three-to-five-foot (2 – 3 metre) surf and there will be no time for warming up with the action thick and heavy from the starting horn. Round 1 features Dane Gudauskas (CA), Mark Mathews (Aus), and four former Vans Triple Crown champions in Hawaii’s Sunny Garcia, Derek Ho, Myles Padaca and Kaipo Jaquias.

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 www.triplecrownofsurfing.com

For the latest surf updates, stay tuned to Surfline.com, the official surf foreer of the Vans Triple Crown Triple Threat.

All the action will be broad live on the web at www.triplecrownofsurfing.com, as well as on Hawaii television on Oceanic channel 250.

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A great white shark has attacked Eric Geiselman (New Smyrna Beach) while he was surfing off Laguna Road, Santa Cruz.

The 21-year-old pro surfer’s board was broken in half.

When he felt he was under attack, Geiselman paddled fast to shore, as he was 50 yards from the beach.

Later, the O’Neill Cold Water Classic California, held very close to the shark attack, got an alert call from the Floridian, who was also competing in the event.

Eric Geiselman, his brother and some friends were not injured.

TRANSWORLD’S TEXT CORRESPONDENCE:

We first heard about the incident via a text message from Etnies team manager Joey Daroza, here’s that conversation:

From Joey Daroza (Etnies Team Manager) to TransWorld SURF’s Scott ‘Desi’ Desiderio:
Geiselman just texted and said he can’t make dinner. A Great White shark ran into him and broke his board!

Naturally, Desi texts Eric Geiselman…

From Desi to Eric Geiselman:
You OK Buddy? I heard you had a close call!

From EG to Desi:
Yeah, was so nuts!!! The thing came up from underneath me and broke my board in half. So sketchy!!!!!!!

From Desi to EG:
Holy crap! You OK?

EG to Desi:
Luckily!!! Just trippin’ still, thank God!!!!]

video and text from transworld

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing presented by Rockstar Energy Drink (an ASP Specialty Series) makes history today, announcing the TRIPLE CROWN – TRIPLE THREAT bonus purse that makes this prestigious Hawaiian series the first $1,000,000 stop on the Association of Surfing Professionals Dream Tour. More than 150 surfers from 17 nations have a crack at the loot as the series kicks off this Thursday, November 12, at Haleiwa on Oahu’s North Shore.

Vans is very proud to announce that the TRIPLE CROWN – TRIPLE THREAT will award $50,000 to the men’s Triple Crown series champion, an extra $50,000 for the Billabong Pipeline Masters winner, a $50,000 bonus to the ASP World Champion, and a $25,000 bonus to the women’s Triple Crown champion. The $175,000 Triple Threat is in addition to the existing $825,000 in event prize money, making for a $1 million total purse.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing will culminate with the final battle for the 2009 ASP World Title at the Billabong Pipeline Masters, December 8-20. Not since 2006 and the ASP World Title battle between Kelly Slater (Florida) and Andy Irons (Hawaii), has there been such a climax to the showdown. This year it will be between Australians Joel Parkinson and Mick Fanning, and on that final day, it is possible that one surfer could walk away with a record $230,000.

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