Andy Irons of Hawaii drops into the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Tuesday, December 14, 2004 during Round One of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters. He was eliminated in Round Three. The Pipeline Masters is the third jewel of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, the final competition in the year-long round-the-world championship tour of the Association of Surfing Professionals. (Photo: Carol Cunningham/CunninghamPhotos.com)
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Kelly Slater of Florida barrels through the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Tuesday, December 14, 2004 during Round One of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters. He was eliminated in the Semi-Finals.
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Sunny Garcia of Hawaii drops into the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Sunday, December 19, 2004 during the Quarter-Finals of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters. Garcia won the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing and finished second in the Pipeline Masters.
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Tim Curran of the U.S.A. sweeps through the world-famous Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Sunday, December 19, 2004, in the Quarter-Finals of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters.
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Jamie O'Brien of Hawaii charges into the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Sunday, December 19, 2004 on his way to winning the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters.
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Bruce Irons of Hawaii barrels through the Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore of Oahu, Sunday, December 19, 2004 to take fourth place in the Final of the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters.
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Jamie O’Brien of Hawaii is carried up the beach from the world-famous Banzai Pipeline to the winners platform on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Sunday, December 19, 2004, after winning the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters.
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Winner Jamie O’Brien of Hawaii hoists the Pipemaster Champions perpetual trophy, at the Banzai Pipeline, on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii, Sunday, December 19, 2004.
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Sunny Garcia of Hawaii wins the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing title, and takes second place in the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline, Hawaii, on the North Shore of Oahu,