11.27.01
Press Release

The upcoming $250,000 Rip Curl Cup at Hawaii's legendary Sunset Beach, from November 26 to December 7, will showcase one of the most crucial ratings' events in ASP's history. As the final World Championship Tournament (WCT) of 2001, not only is the world title race still wide open, but virtually every position within the upper echelon is yet to be decided, leaving many WCT hopefuls in limbo until the contest concludes.

Making matters even more exciting at Sunset this year will be the re-introduction of a man-on-man format and the use of jet skis. Not since 1988 have only two surfers shared the lineup at this venue in competition, and with the bonus of high powered watercraft towing competitors back out after rides, more waves will be ridden and less time wasted paddling.

ASP President/CEO Wayne 'Rabbit' Bartholomew, the 1978 World and 1999 Grand Masters Champion, summed up the anticipated start of the Rip Curl Cup perfectly.

"This is definitely one of the most crucial events in ASP history," said Bartholomew. "Never before have there been so many contenders for the world title, or so many mathematical variables affecting the outcomes of those needing to qualify for the 2002 WCT.

"It's really good there have been some solid swells leading up to the Rip Curl Cup at Sunset," he added, in respect to the large surf Hawaii has experienced the past couple of weeks. "It's a wave that requires tuning into. The jet ski assist will really help to utilize the break and maximize the surfing potential."

Nine (9) surfers - four Australians, three mainland Americans and two Hawaiians - remain in contention for the 2001 ASP world crown. Given this venue hasn't hosted the world-title-deciding competition for more than a decade, room for upsets and unpredictability are greater than ever.

The contenders, in current ratings order, are:

(1) CJ Hobgood (USA-FL), 22-years-old;
(2) 1999 World Champion Mark Occhilupo (Aus), 35-years-old;
(3) Cory Lopez (USA-Florida), 24-years-old;
(4) Taylor Knox (USA-CA), 30-years-old;
(5) Defending world and event champion Sunny Garcia (Haw), 31-years-old;
(6) 2001 Van's Triple Crown leader Andy Irons (Haw), 23-years-old;
(7) Jake Paterson (Aus), 28-years-old;
(8) Danny Wills (Aus), 26-years-old;
(9) Shane Powell (Aus), 29-years-old

A brief summary of the Rip Curl Cup results needed by the nine contenders for their greatest world title chances are as follows:

• Wills, Powell, Garcia and Irons need to win the Rip Curl Cup to have any world title hopes, but if Hobgood makes the semi-finals, Wills and Powell are out of the world title running.

• Paterson needs a 1st or 2nd place finish, while a 3rd placing or better for Knox keeps his world title hopes alive - both needing Hobgood to place third or lower.

• Occhilupo and Lopez can claim the world title with a finals berth, again pending Hobgood's Sunset placing. If Hobgood finishes second at Sunset, Lopez can't overtake his fellow Floridian, but Occhilupo can claim his second world title by winning the Rip Curl Cup.

Irons, 23, who earlier this week won the final World Qualifying Series (WQS) of the season at nearby Haleiwa, currently leads this year's prestigious Van's Triple of Surfing ratings. The Hawaiian has been in exceptional form, and together with the fact he placed 3rd at Sunset in 2000, has created added attention his way.

"I'll just be taking it heat by heat," explained Irons. "Everyone is surfing good, so I'm just going into Sunset psyched and won't be holding anything back."

Along with the world title chase, there's the intense secondary battle among the world's Top 45 surfers hoping to secure their places in the Top 29 of this year's ratings and re-qualify for 2002. The mathematical possibilities within the ratings ensure more drama, but after each day of competition the scenario will become clearer, as surfers are eliminated.

Of note, however, is the addition of Beau Emerton (Aus) and Victor Ribas (Brz) in the draw. Despite failing to re-qualify for the 2001 WCT, Emerton is virtually guaranteed of a start in 2002 after being granted world #3 Rob Machado's (USA) spot in the Rip Curl Cup. Machado, 28, who missed an event earlier in the season due to a broken bone in his hand, last week welcomed the birth of his and wife Patou's first child - daughter Rose, and will not contest the final event. He will now fail to re-qualify for the 2002 WCT, while in an unprecedented situation, Emerton most probably will, following the good results he has already secured this season as an alternate. Meanwhile, Ribas is replacing Mick Campbell (Aus), who was forced to withdraw due to a recent back injury, and also faces the possibility of slipping outside of the top 29.

Adding even more unpredictability to the whole scenario, the 48-man Rip Curl Cup field will feature three wildcard entrants. One is Mick Fanning (Aus), with the others being the top two place getters from the 32-man Rip Curl Cup Trials.

Fanning, 20, who last week took out the 2001 World Qualifying Series (WQS) crown, following his runner-up placing to Irons at Haleiwa, will use the opportunity as further warm-up to his rookie season on the WCT. The Australian will face Lopez and current #29 Shane Dorian (Haw) in round one.

"Yeah, I'm psyched and I can't wait," said Fanning. "I'm going to have a lot of fun and just enjoy myself."

Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA), who recently announced his return to fulltime competition on the 2002 WCT, tops the list of trialists. A group of selected Sunset Beach specialists and emerging young surfers from around the world fill the remaining spots.

Another remarkable aspect of the Rip Curl Cup is the eight (8) brother acts filling up 16 spots within the trials and main event. Included are CJ and Damien Hobgood (USA), Andy and Bruce Irons (Haw), Cory and Shea Lopez (USA), Jake and Paul Paterson (Aus), Flavio and Neco Padaratz (Brz), Shane and Gavin Beschen (USA), Derek and Michael Ho (Haw), as well as Liam and Garret McNamara (Haw).

The Rip Curl Cup boasts a 12-day waiting period in which only four full competition days are required.

Further Information:
www.aspworldtour.com & www.ripcurl.com

NOTE: The Rip Curl Cup is the second jewel in the 2001 Vans Triple Crown(tm) of Surfing, preceded by the G-Shock Hawaiian Pro (the final ASP World Qualifying Series event of 2001), and followed by the X-Box Pipeline Masters, an ASP specialty event.

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