GRANT ELLIS / ASP ELLIS Newly crowned ASP world champion Andy Irons faltered in his first heat as a world champ, losing yesterday at the Xbox Pipeline Masters at the Banzai Pipeline.

Slater ousts Andy Irons
from Pipeline

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Six-time world champion Kelly Slater dominated the opening round of the Xbox Gerry Lopez Pipeline Masters yesterday.

Eleven of the 16 initial heats were completed, before dangerous surf stopped competition for the day.

Slater, a five-time Pipeline event winner, faced recently crowned 2002 world champion Andy Irons and Xbox Trials runner-up Brian Pacheco in the day's most anticipated clash. The Floridian took control from the outset, scoring an 8.0 right off the bat with a deep Pipeline tube. He then backed this with another 6.5 barrel for the highest combined tally of 14.5 points.

"I think we were all expecting a lot out of each other," Slater said. "Unfortunately the waves weren't all that great. It was an exciting heat to be in, but it would have been different had they come out of their barrels.

"He's won the big prize for the year, but you can always have your own personal little prize."

Irons suffered a major wipeout on the first wave, going headfirst into the reef and breaking his board. Despite returning to the lineup with a replacement, he ultimately finished third.

"I thought I might make it for a second," Irons said. "But I just couldn't get under it. I saw Kelly's wave and knew I needed a good one, so I was going either way. I just got shredded though. That board never even caught one wave, as it was brand new."

Defending Xbox champion Bruce Irons posted the day's best single score of 9.65.

Pribble staying independent

Aaron Pribble, who completed his collegiate career with the Hawaii Rainbows last May, signed a contract with the San Angelo (Texas) Colts of the independent Central League.

Pribble, a left-hander, pitched briefly for Sonoma County of the independent Western League at the end of last summer. He was 1-0 with a 0.00 earned run average in six appearances for the Crushers.

Donovan, Goo, Wills to speak at QB club

ConAgra Foods Hawaii Bowl Executive Director Jim Donovan will headline tomorrow's meeting of the Honolulu Quarterback Club.

UH women's basketball coach Vince Goo and state coordinator for high school soccer Al Willis will also speak.

Lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. at the Pagoda Restaurant.

Takemoto makes academic third team

Noelle Takemoto has been named to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/adidas Scholar All-Academic third team.

The senior right back for the Hawaii Rainbow Wahine soccer team maintains a 3.50 grade point average as a history major.

Takemoto, a Punahou graduate, has twice been named to the Academic All-Western Athletic Conference team and is a two-time NSCAA/adidas Scholar-Athlete.

This is the first academic All-America honor for a Wahine soccer player.