XBOX GERRY LOPEZ PIPELINE MASTERS

IRON CLAD: THE YEAR OF ANDY (Con't)

For Fanning, all was not lost by his fourth place finish. His performance today saw him awarded the title of ASP Rookie of the Year.

"I wasn't doing that well at the start of the year, but then I had a win at (Jeffrey's) Bay and made final in Brazil," said Fanning. "To finish the year here and make the final at Pipe, I was just so stoked. To see Joel Parkinson win the other week and Sunset and Andy win the world title, it's just been a great year." Equal fifth place today were Cory Lopez (USA) and Damien Hobgood (USA), and equal ninth were Taylor Knox (USA) and Taj Burrow (Australia). These four were eliminated in the semi-finals. The highest placed Brazilian was Flavio Padaratz, eliminated in the quarter finals by Hobgood and Burrow.

Perfect 10 point rides were scored today by Jake Paterson (Australia - round three), Slater (quarters), and Luke Hitchings (Australia) in his quarter final heat with Slater.

A women's Billabong Expression Session was held between the semi-finals and the final, offering a break for the men and a showcase of women's surfing at the Pipeline. Recently crowned five-time consecutive world champion Layne Beachley (Australia) and Rochelle Ballard (Hawaii) paddled out for a 20 minute exhibition. Both scored a handful of tube-rides and got a taste of Pipeline's punishing wipeouts too.

"It's pretty amazing to be able to go out at Pipe with nobody out," said Ballard. "Kind of one of those dream experiences just to be out there with one other girl. The opportunity was unbelievable. I admire the guys so much for what they do and look up to them for everything they do out there."

The Vans Triple Crown Series features the world's top athletes competing in three championship events in each of the following sports: Skateboarding, Wakeboarding, Surfing, Snowboarding, BMX and Freestyle Motocross. The Series is made possible through proud sponsors Vans, Xbox, Mountain Dew, Ford Trucks, Right Guard Xtreme Sport, Fox Sports Net, Surfing Magazine and NBC Sports.

Official results of the Xbox Pipeline Masters

• 1st Andy Irons (Haw) 17.65 - US$30,000
• 2nd Shane Dorian (Haw) 16.1 - US$16,000
• 3rd Kelly Slater (USA) 9.55 - US$11,000
• 4th Mick Fanning (Aus) 9.0 - US$9,000

Semifinals (1st/2nd>Final; 3rd=5th receives US$8,500; 4th=7th receives US$7,500)

• SF1: Andy Irons (Haw) 16.5; Mick Fanning (Aus) 15.75; Damien Hobgood (USA) 12.3; Taj Burrow (Aus) 3.25
• SF2: Kelly Slater (USA) 12.25; Shane Dorian (Haw) 7.6; Cory Lopez (USA) 5.25; Taylor Knox (USA) 1.5

Quarterfinals (1st/2nd>semifinals; 3rd=9th receives US$5,500; 4th=13th receives US$4,500)

• QF1: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.0; Taj Burrow (Aus) 10.15; Flavio Padaratz (Brz) 9.5; Lee Winkler (Aus) 7.7
• QF2: Andy Irons (Haw) 17.0; Mick Fanning (Aus) 14.65; Daniel Wills (Aus) 14.25; Brian Pacheco (Haw) 10.1
• QF3: Kelly Slater (USAn>
• QF4: Cory Lopez (USA) 15.4; Shane Dorian (Haw) 14.0; Joel Parkinson (Aus) 9.7; Jake Paterson (Aus) 2.2

Official Top 10 2002 WCT Ratings

• 1 Andy Irons (Haw) 8,102
• 2 Joel Parkinson (Aus) 6,556
• 3 Luke Egan (Aus) 6,396
• 4 Taj Burrow (Aus) 6,198
• 5 Mick Fanning (Aus) 5,944
• 6 Michael Lowe (Aus) 5,824
• 7 Kieren Perrow (Aus) 5,690
• 8 Daniel Wills (Aus) 5,674
• 9 Kelly Slater (USA) 5,576
• 10 Mark Occhilupo (Aus) 5,564