O'Neill World Cup of Surfing 2005 - WQS Sunset Beach, Hawaii

SUNSET BEACH DISHES UP GREAT SURF FOR O'NEILL WORLD CUP OF SURFING

Haleiwa, HAWAII - (Friday, November 25, 2005) - Even the local contingency of professional surfers thought today was a good day of surf by Sunset Beach standards for the opening rounds of the $125,000 O'Neill World Cup of Surfing. Consistent six- to eight-foot waves were fanned to perfection by light off-shore winds, offering 162 competitors from 17 nations plenty of room to score top points in this, the second event of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

Local knowledge still offered the upper-hand, however, with nine of the top 10 heat scores and all 10 of the top 10 individual wave scores of the day being posted by Hawaii surfers. Twenty-one year-old Makua Rothman, who learned to surf out here as soon as he was sea-worthy, enjoyed one of his greatest competitive days today. Responsible for two of the top 10 heat scores, Rothman claimed the day's highest heat score of 17.16 out of a possible 20. Surfing through a total of three rounds of competition, the high point of his day came in the second round.

Against a tough international field - Bernardo Pigmeu (Brazil), Mike Todd (USA), Jihad Kohdr (Brazil), Corey Ziems (Australia), and Josh Kerr (Australia), Rothman caught a total of seven waves, three of them in the excellent range with a 9.33 point ride being his top. Best known as one who charges when the waves are above 20 feet, Rothman was a polished act in today's mid-sized surf.

"I don't know... maybe the stars are lining up right for me," said Rothman. "I never did win three of my heats in one day before. It felt good to advance to the next day. Especially after Haleiwa - the waves down there were just too good for me to lose on the first day.

"Midday today it was perfect, clear water - I surf out here a lot and I don't get to see the reef much out there. But it was sunny, light winds, barreling. So I guess it was just one good day for me - I hope there's at least one more."

While many of the well-known locals powered through the international heats today, there were a few surprises. Pipeline Master Jamie O'Brien scratched through round one after incurring an interference, but was road-blocked in round two, relegated to fifth place out of six in a tough all-Hawaii clash with O'Neill team rider Nathan Carroll, former Triple Crown champion Myles Padaca, Hank Gaskell, Mikala Jones, and Tonino Benson. Carroll, Padaka and Gaskell advanced.

Also eliminated today were Eneko Acero (Spain), Kieran Horn (USA), Carlos Cabrero (Puerto Rico), and Hawaii surfers Kahea Hart, Jason Shibata, and Rainos Hayes.

Nations represented in this year's O'Neill World Cup of Surfing are Japan, Australia, Mainland USA, Spain, Indonesia, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Reunion Island, Great Britain, South Africa, France, Germany, New Zealand, Tahiti, Canary Islands, Portugal, and Hawaii. The top seeds will start to enter the fray on the next day of competition.

With a slight decline in wave height forecast for tomorrow, chances are high that the inaugural women's O'Neill World Cup of Surfing "Sunset Challenge" will take place tomorrow. Out of the lineup is six-time world champion Layne Beachley, who is here on the North Shore enjoying life as a spectator for the first time in her life after being side-lined with a neck injury. But Beachley is convinced it's safer to surf the giant waves of the North Shore than it is to hang out, sporting bandages over most of her joints today after a bike accident two days ago. Beachley hit a speed bump while riding at night and was thrown over the handle bars. She's recovering well.

Among those set to surf in the "Sunset Challenge" are reigning world champion Sofia Mulanovich (Peru), winner of the first women's Triple Crown competition Chelsea Georgeson (Australia), and Hawaii's Rochelle Ballard and Bethany Hamilton.

For live coverage and a complete list of results: www.triplecrownofsurfing.com For up-to-the-minute surf forecasting: www.surfline.com . Surfline is the official surf forecaster for the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is made possible through the support of Op, Roxy, O’Neill, Rip Curl, Billabong, Surfing, Oahu’s Turtle Bay Beach Resort, Hawaiian Airlines, G-Shock, the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, Fox Sports Net and Road Runner High Speed Online.