It's time for drama and danger on the North Shore.

The 12-day holding period for the Reef Hawaiian Pro at Haleiwa begins tomorrow, signaling the start of the 26th annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing.

The world's only big-wave surf series has grown immensely since its inception in 1983. That's when former world surfing champion Fred Hemmings created the three-contest series to showcase the world's best surfers in the North Shore's world-class waves.

“;The concept was to focus attention on three of the world's most prominent surfing competitions held in unquestionably the most competitive and awesome surfing venues anywhere,”; said Hemmings, now a state senator. “;The Triple Crown represents the true measure of a professional.”;

Since then, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing has gone from a sideshow to the Association of Surfing Professionals World Championship Tour to the grand finale of the tour.

The contest scaffoldings, as well as the appeal of surfing, have grown over the years along with the honor of a Triple Crown championship. Every world champion wants to validate their ASP title by winning the Triple Crown.

“;There's winning a world title and right behind it is winning the Triple Crown,”; said six-time Triple Crown champion and 2000 world champ Sunny Garcia. “;It completes you as a surfer.”;

The more respect the title gets, the more prizes and money are available to the talent. There is more than $815,000 up for grabs this winter, with the lion's share going to winners.

Money and prizes add zest, but not as much as the big waves the world's best surfers are eagerly awaiting.

With a big, north/northwest swell forecast to hit the islands tomorrow, the Reef Hawaiian Pro will likely start with the women's competition. On Thursday, if the swell and conditions permit, the men will hit the water in 10- to 15-foot wave faces at Alii Beach Park.

The Reef Hawaiian Pro is a 6-Star World Qualifying Series event, and the holding period runs through Nov. 23.

The Triple Crown continues with the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing (men) and the Roxy Pro (women) at Sunset Beach from Nov. 24 through Dec. 6.

After that, the women fly to Honolua Bay for the Billabong Pro Maui, Dec. 8-20, and the men stay on the North Shore for the Billabong Pipeline Masters, also Dec. 8-20.