Joel Parkinson, styling all the way to the podium

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.

But there was even more to the story than that. Joining the Aussie mate 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.

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. 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 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.

"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'."


Down but not out, Sunny weighed in. "It feels good, but I'm still bummed that I lost", said Garcia. "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 to 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."


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.