Cory Lopez Competes in Vans Triple Crown & Pipe Masters on North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii
Cory Lopez boosts some Gulf "Air Time" during Huricane KatrinaDecember 1st, 2006 - Haleiwa, Hawaii:- - World Surfing "Super Star" and Indian Rocks Beach resident, Cory Lopez is presently in Hawaii competing in the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing on Oahu's infamous North Shore - Hawaii's main Island. Cory is a perennial Vans Triple Crown favorite and has always been a contender with numerous Semi Final and Quarter Final finishes over the years. The crowning jewel of the Triple Crown is the Banzai Pipeline Masters event. The coveted Triple Crown title is second in prestige only to the ASP World Championship Title and the Banzai Pipeline Masters is considered to be "the one" contest to win. The one time Top 3 rated surfer and Tour leader is currently rated 17th on the ASP Foster's Men's World Tour rankings. A win at Pipeline would catapult Lopez solidly back into the World's elite Top 10 rankings.The Rip Curl Pipeline Masters runs from December 8th-20th; while the preceding events, the OP Pro and O'Neill World Cup take place between November 12th and December 6th. The OP Pro and O'Neill World Cup are both staged at Haleiwa Beach Park and Sunset Beach, respectively. For more information on these events log on to www.aspworldtour.com. Of the three events, only the Pipeline Masters holds World Championship status as a WCT event on the Foster's Men's World Tour. Lopez, a 3 times X Games Gold medalist is known for his aerial surfing exploits and tube riding bravado, from 2 foot surf in Florida to 20 foot waves in Hawaii.The Gulf Coast "Surfing Sensation" recently opened up his signature Cory Lopez - NEKTON SURF SHOP on the corner of 14th Ave and Gulf Blvd (next to Coaster's Bar & Grill) in Indian Rocks Beach. Look for the new official shop website coming soon - www.NektonSurf.com. For more info on Cory and his brother Shea (also atop Pro Surfer) log on to www.LopezBrothers.comCory Lopez - Career HighlightsHighest Ranking: # 1 – 2001 (Held #1 rating for apx 3 months after wining Teahupoo)
Highest Final Season Ranking: # 3 - 2001
Final ASP WCT Rating: 11th (2005)
Current Ranking (Pre-Pipe): 17th (2006)Highest Surfer Mag Poll Rating: # 3 - 2001; # 6 - 1999
Surfer Mag Poll Rating: # 10 (2005 & 2006)
Rated in elite Surfer Magazine Top 10 Reader Poll from 1998 to 2006MAJOR CONTEST EVENT HIGHLIGHTS:
2001 BILLABONG PRO CHAMPION - WCT - TEAHUPOO TAHITI
2003 HONDA US OPEN CHAMPION - 6 STAR/WQS - H.B. CALIFORNIA
2004 BOOST MOBILE PRO - WCT - = 3RD PLACE - TRESTLES, CALIFORNIA
2004 HONDA US OPEN - 3RD PLACE FINISH - 6 STAR/WQS - H.B. CALIFORNIA
2005 GLOBE SBI PRO CHAMPION - 3 STAR/WQS - SEBASTIAN INLET, FLORIDA (Victory over 6 x World Champion Kelly Slater in Final)ESPN X GAMES: 3 TIMES X GAMES GOLD MEDALIST - CONSECUTIVE TEAM VICTORIES (2003-2005)
CONSISTENT APPEARANCE IN THE TRANSWORLD SURF EXPOSUREMETER TOP 10
TOP 5 – ALL TIME TW SURF BIZ EXPOSUREMETER RANKINGS 1999-2005 # 5VOTED BY FUEL TV AS ONE OF THE TOP 10 "BEST ALL AROUND SURFER'S IN THE WORLD" & TOP 5 "BEST TUBE RIDERS IN THE WORLD"
Quotes: "Cory Lopez is definitely one of the best surfers in the world" - 8X World Champion, Kelly Slater after conceding defeat to Lopez in the Final of the GLOBE SBI PRO, January 2005
Contact:
Mark Hartman
Publicist
Del Mar Media Athletes & Events
(727) 643-4508
