HALEIWA, Oahu/Hawaii - With the ASP Women's World Title safely locked away for another year, Australian Stephanie Gilmore has one last goal for 2010: a matching Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title. For each year Gilmore has reigned as ASP world champion she has won the Vans Triple Crown, and she’s is hoping the theme continues this Hawaiian winter.

The Cholo’s Women’s Hawaiian Pro began in head-high surf today, putting the emphasis on a strong heat strategy with no room for wasted rides. Gilmore has consistently performed well here over the years and slipped into a perfect rhythm today, commanding the heat from the start. Gilmore is through to the Quarterfinals where she will face Cannelle Bulard (Reunion), Nage Melamed (Hawaii), and Nikita Robb (South Africa).

“The Vans Triple Crown is definitely one of the most honorable things you can win, and is one of the most challenging things to win because in Hawaii the waves are big and hard,” said Gilmore. “It’s hard to win, and I’ve got a long way to go, but I’ll just keep doing my thing and hopefully come out with a win.

“Conditions were pretty fun today, actually. The swell is tapering off and it’s getting slower and slower, but my heat seemed to have a lot of waves coming through with a couple of good sets. I really enjoyed that heat.

“I think it really shows in your heat results when you’re just relaxed. You just seem to get in a good rhythm and when you’re stressing out about winning world titles it doesn’t seem to happen as much.”

Shock eliminations in the Cholo’s Hawaiian Pro included world No.3 Carissa Moore (Hawaii), Rebecca Woods (Australia), Courtney Conlogue (Ca., USA), Paige Hareb (NZ), and Jessi Miley-Dyer (Australia).

The conclusion of men’s round two and the first three heats of round three of the Reef Hawaiian Pro were also held today, along with the second “Clash of the Legends” bout. Among the morning’s top scorers were Alain Riou (Tahiti), Evan Valiere (Hawaii), and Maxime Huscenot (France).

On the heels of yesterday’s monumental Reef Clash of the Legends, a solid morning crowd turned out for the second bout. “The Toms” – Curren and Carroll, along with Mark Occhilupo and Sunny Garcia, were in a flashback circa 1990 as they were mobbed by enthusiastic surf fans for autographs and kodak moments.

On the water, it was Occhilupo (Australia) and the ever-stealthy Curren (Santa Barbara, CA) who held the drivers seat, being sure to steer clear of any potential conflicts with highly charged Garcia. It still remains unclear exactly how much of the drama is real versus a ploy by Garcia, who feeds on controversy to fuel his epic performances. But with $20,000 on the line the drama may well be real, and the stage is primed for the final bout. After two bouts, Curren leads the scoreboard with 30.16 points after two clashes; Occhilupo on 29.86; Garcia with 27.36; and Carroll’s on 22.67.

“The waves yesterday were really good, some of the best Haleiwa I’ve seen in a long time,” said Curren. “We had an incident with hustling for a wave. It’s kind of like Sunny’s local spot so it was a little bit touchy there, but I think Sunny likes good competition at the end of the day. I really admire all these guys and it’s a real privilege and honor to be here and part of this event.”

The Reef Hawaiian Pro & Cholo’s Women’s Hawaiian Pro mark the first stop of the 28th annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, presented by Rockstar Energy Drink, and run through November 23 at Haleiwa. Surfline.com, official forecasters for the Vans Triple Crown are predicting the arrival of a new WNW swell tomorrow. If it sets in early, the women will be the first to hit the water with the final of the Cholo’s Hawaiian Pro set for 11:30am, followed by a continuation of the men’s Reef Hawaiian Pro. The final bout of the Clash of the Legends will be held on the last day of men’s competition.

Live internet coverage happens every day, starting at 7:45 a.m. with “THE CALL” – the Triple Crown’s live daily morning show that features all the latest news, highlights and happenings. The series will also be broadcast live on television around Hawaii on Oceanic Time Warner Digital Cable channels 250 and HD1250.

The Vans Triple Crown of Surfing consists of three men’s and three women’s professional surfing events that are the final stop on the 2010 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Tour. In its 28th year, the Vans Triple Crown is considered the most prestigious title in surfing next to the ASP World Title.

Each event has an extended holding period with competition taking place on the biggest and best days of surf at each venue.

MEN’S RESULTS:

Round of 128 (1st and 2nd advance):
Heat 14: Evan Valiere (HAW) 11.73, Jay Quinn (NZL) 9.57, Jason Shibata (HAW) 7.36, Brian Toth (PRI) 7.30
Heat 15: Anthony Walsh (AUS) 8.37, Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 6.90, Eneko Acero (EUK) 6.83, Mason Ho (HI) 5.97
Heat 16: Alain Riou (PYF) 12.83, Gavin Gillette (HAW) 10.87, Lincoln Taylor (AUS) 9.97, Flynn Novak (HAW) 8.40

Round of 96 (1st and 2nd advance):
Heat 1: Torrey Meister (HAW) 11.50, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 10.43, Ian Walsh (HAW) 6.86, Royden Bryson (ZAF) 5.07
Heat 2: Messias Felix (BRA) 8.94, Jonathon Gonzalez (CNY) 8.24, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 7.17, Dege O’Connell (HAW) 6.60
Heat 3: Maxime Huscenot (FRA) 9.50, Jay Thompson (AUS) 7.37, John John Florence (HAW) 7.04, Nat Young (USA) 6.67

Clash of the Legends Round 2:
Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 13.33, Tom Curren (USA) 13.10, Sunny Garcia (HAW) 9.76, Tom Carroll (AUS) 9.27

WOMEN’S RESULTS:

Round of 44 (1st, 2nd and 3rd advance):
Heat 1: Sage Erickson (USA) 13.66, Nage Melamed (HAW) 12.43, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 11.63, Anne Cecile Le Tallec (FRA) 5.67, Jessica Santorik (NZL) 5.50, Claudia Goncalves (BRA) 4.40
Heat 2: Lakey Peterson (USA) 10.00, Amandine Sanchez (FRA) 9.83, Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 9.66, Justine Dupont (FRA) 9.50, Laurina McGrath (AUS) 8.16, Freya Prumm (AUS) 6.24
Heat 3: Joanne Defay (FRA) 13.16, Valeria Sole (PER) 10.57, Anastasia Ashley (USA) 10.30, Suelen Naraisa (BRA) 10.17, Sarah Beardmore (GBR) 7.00, Gabi Cope (HAW) 6.93
Heat 4: Nicola Atherton (AUS) 14.34, Leila Hurst (HAW) 7.83, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 7.40, Ornella Pellizzari (ARG) 6.90, Mizuki Hagiwara (JPN) 4.46, Natalie Anzivino (USA) 3.93

Round of 32 (1st and 2nd advance):
Heat 1: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 14.83, Tyler Wright (AUS) 13.80, Alessa Quizon (HAW) 6.83, Pauline Ado (FRA) 5.63
Heat 2: Nage Melamed (HAW) 6.83, Sage Erickson (USA) 3.33, Rebecca Woods (AUS) 0.93, Paige Hareb (NZL) 0.40
Heat 3: Lakey Peterson (USA) 11.94, Cannelle Bulard (REU) 8.50, Amandine Sanchez (FRA) 7.73, Jessi Miley-Dyer (AUS) 3.93
Heat 4: Felicity Palmateer (AUS) 9.10, Nikita Robb (ZAF) 8.76, Carissa Moore (HAW) 8.67, Bethany Hamilton (HAW) 7.57
Heat 5: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) 13.93, Jacqueline Silva (BRA) 13.67, Courtney Conlogue (USA) 12.63, Anastasia Ashley (USA) 5.77
Heat 6: Melanie Bartles (HAW) 12.90, Rosanne Hodge (ZAF) 11.83; Joanne Defay (FRA) 10.10; Valeria Sole (PER) 2.03
Heat 7: Nicola Atherton (AUS) 13.73, Coco Ho (HAW) 13.73, Claire Bevilacqua (AUS) 11.33, Leila Hurst (HAW) 8.76
Heat 8: Alana Blanchard (HAW) 12.33, Silvana Lima (BRA) 12.10, Laura Enever (AUS) 10.40, Sayuri Hashimoto (JPN) 7.63