CAROL CUNNINGHAM / CUNNINGHAM PHOTOS Mikey Bruneau won entry into the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters with his win yesterday in the trials.

Bruneau earns his ticket
to keep on surfing

Surfer Mikey Bruneau has got his much-coveted ticket to continue riding.

Turning in his second major competitive result at the Banzai Pipeline this year, Hawaii's Bruneau won the Rip Curl Pro Pipeline Masters trials yesterday, thereby gaining entry into the main event.

The 21-year-old, who lives just down the road from the infamous North Shore surf spot, emerged from a 40-man, international field of Pipeline specialists.

Bruneau was the runner-up at the Hansen's Energy Pro held there in early 2004.

He now gets to surf in the 48-man World Championship Tour field in the longest-running and most prestigious event in the world.

"It hasn't even set in," Bruneau said. "But probably now I'll have a heat with either (top-ranked Andy) Irons or (record six-time former world champion Kelly) Slater -- so we'll see how that goes.

"To tell you the truth, everyone is good in the trials -- we're all Pipe surfers," he added. "I'm gonna go home, get a nice rest. Wake up while it's still dark, and decide what boards I'm gonna ride."

Conditions permitting, the Pipeline Masters main event will continue today. It needs three more days for completion. The waiting period lasts through Dec. 20.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Mark Healey went airborne yesterday riding a large wave during the first day of the Rip Curl Code STL Pipe Masters Trials at Pipeline on the North Shore. Hawaii's Mikey Bruneau won the Rip Curl Pro trials yesterday.

In its 34th year, the contest is the WCT season-ender as well as the finale of the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, a series of three contests on Oahu's North Shore.

Wave faces ranged from 12 to 20 feet yesterday.

Bruneau topped a four-man trials final with a total of 16.83 points (out of 20 maximum) for his top two rides.

Also gaining entry into the main event was Brazilian Bruno Santos, who placed second with 14.20 points. Brian Pacheco (12.67) placed third, and Shane Dorian (11.27) fourth. Both Hawaii surfers fell just short.

Bruneau's top ride was an 8.83, only about a minute into the final, and he backed that up later with an 8.00. On both, the goofy-footer (right-foot-forward surfer) successfully rode through the trademark barrels that Pipeline is known for.

"In the first minute, I just got real lucky and locked in -- just locked in," Bruneau said. "From there, I was kind of picky because I knew I had the good score already. And on that 8 (score), I stood tall, almost got clipped on my way out -- maybe getting too cocky -- but I made it, luckily."

Kauai's Irons, who has already wrapped up his third straight world title, is the two-time defending Pipeline Masters champ. He's also the two-time defending Triple Crown winner, with a chance to win as the best overall performer in the series again.

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Maui, the finale for both the women's World Championship Tour and Triple Crown of Surfing, also began, but the contest was not held yesterday. The women will compete at Honolua Bay, and their waiting period also lasts through Dec. 20.