By Jim Kempton

Billabong TeamRiders Win at Huge Waimea, Solid Sunset Pumping Pipe, and
Take the Van's Triple Crown of Surfing as Well

When it comes to drama, Hawaii never fails. In a North Shore season for the record books the 2009 ASP World Tour came to a close with as much excitement as any in recent memory. And it wasn't a bad couple of weeks for the Billabong team either: Taj Burrow won Billabong Pipe Masters, Greg Long win the Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau and Joel Parkinson took the O'Neill Pro at Sunset as well as capturing his 2nd Van's Triple Crown of Surfing title.

Here's the great thing though, something that is fitting for a win in Hawaii: all three of these guys are as well-respected as they are well-loved by the surfing community - and each in their own way. For all their abilities and success none of these three surfers show any signs of brashness or ego.

Friendly, gregarious yet humble and low-key they are aloha spirit from other lands.

"I can't believe I'm standing here," said a beaming Taj Burrow on the podium, after beating 9-time Champion Kelly Slater. "This is the contest any surfer wants to win and the feeling is as good as it gets."

Taj echoed Greg Long who just last week won the Eddie in some of the most massive surf ever for a competition. Long who was also required to beat super-surfer Salter, had to earn every point to slip ahead of the most dominant surfer of all time.

"I am humbled by being here, said Long, in his acceptance speech as northern power swells continued to pour through Waimea. "This contest represents everything big wave surfing is about - the camaraderie, the friendship the respect and the aloha spirit."

Joel Parkinson claimed his second Triple Crown Title when Dane Reynolds defeated CJ Hobgood in the Quarterfinals of the Billabong Pipe Masters contest in medium sized hollow surf. It was the first time an Australian has won two back-to-back Triple Crown's in 18 years, and only the 3rd time ever for an Australian to take two in a row.

"I'm pretty stoked to have this win," said a beaming Joel. "Aside from the World Title this is the most prestigious win to have."

Within minutes after the announcement the surfers in houses along the Billabong row were covered in "Yeah Parko!" tee-shirts, reflecting the huge support he had held during the title run. In a season that had seen Parko take a huge early lead and come within a hair's breadth of winning the ASP World title, the $50,000 Triple Crown purse was a sweet consolation for a surfer many thought would be this year's Champ.

The ASP World Tour race had been a dramatic build up to the Billabong Pipe Masters, with Mick Fanning ending in a virtual dead heat with Parkinson coming into the Billabong event. Parko needed to get a 3rd place result at Pipe to beat his long time childhood friend from Coolangatta, Australia. But with a lull and a closeout, Joel Parkinson's race for his first world title came to an abrupt end earlier this week.

Although surfing in stellar form throughout the event, in his Round Three heat against local Pipe specialist Gavin Gillette, Parko couldn't find the scores he needed to advance and secure his first World Championship. The Title would go to his long time surfing mate Mick Fanning. With the unique duel heat format used during the contest, both Joel and Mick were in the water together when the title race was secured.

It was a bittersweet moment for both competitors, as Parko and Fanning clasped each other in an emotional display of mutual admiration - Parko gracious in disheartening defeat, and Fanning respectful of his best friend - even intriumphant victory.

When Fanning's heat ended, Parko was the first person to meet and carry him up the beach, a tradition started by the Aussies that no winner's feet should touch the sand in their victory heat. For many of the millions of Parko fans around the world it was just another example of why he is their hero in and out of the water.