Brooks extended his stay on O'ahu's North Shore by winning the Vans Hawaiian Pro yesterday. The final day of the men's contest was completed in 2- to 4-foot waves — and in front of a crowd estimated at 4,000 — at Hale'iwa Ali'i Beach.

The contest was the first of three in the prestigious Vans Triple Crown of Surfing series.

"I meant to go home in two days; I just bought a house," said Brooks, 24. "I have to change my flight and rearrange a few things."

Yesterday alone should make it worthwhile. Brooks received $15,000, and is now the No. 1 contender for the 2003 Triple Crown.

As the winner of the first Triple Crown contest, he is assured a spot in the second contest. If he had not won yesterday, he would not have had enough qualifying points to surf in the rest of the Triple Crown.

The Hawaiian Pro was also the final event on the 2003 World Qualifying Series, which helps up-and-coming surfers earn spots on the elite World Championship Tour in 2004. Brooks is now in position to qualify for the 2004 elite tour, although it will not be solidified until after the Triple Crown.

"I came into this contest thinking I didn't have a chance," he said. "That was probably the best way to look at it."

Surfing pressure-free, Brooks put the pressure on his opponents.

In the 30-minute final, he caught two high-scoring waves in the first seven minutes, and then virtually sat and watched the rest of the heat as the other surfers tried futilely to catch up.

He completed several spectacular slashes along both waves, resulting in scores of 8.27 and 8.17. The 16.44 total would not be challenged.

"I had my two best waves of the day in the final," he said. "There was no point in catching anything less than an 8-point (ride), so I pretty much just sat out the back."

Armando Daltro of Brazil placed second with a score of 12.23. Jake Paterson of Australia was third (11.8), and Neco Padaratz of Brazil fourth (10.96).

By reaching the final, Padaratz clinched the No. 1 spot on the final WQS rankings.

An anticipated finals clash between world champion Andy Irons of Kaua'i and six-time former world champ Kelly Slater of Florida was foiled when both were eliminated in the semifinals.

Irons was eliminated after being assessed an interference penalty for paddling in front of Padaratz on a wave.

Bruce Irons was eliminated in the quarterfinals, but finished the year No. 5 on the WQS. As a result, he will join older brother Andy on the 2004 World Championship Tour.

The second contest in the Triple Crown, the Rip Curl Cup, is scheduled to run at Sunset Beach on the four best days between tomorrow and Dec. 7.

Vans Hawaiian Pro

Final results

1, Troy Brooks (Australia), $15,000. 2, Armando Daltro (Brazil), $8,000. 3, Jake Paterson (Australia), $6,000. 4, Neco Padaratz (Brazil), $4,000. 5 (tie), Tim Curran (California) and Trent Munro (Australia), $3,000. 7 (tie), Andy Irons (Hawai'i) and Kelly Slater (Florida), $2,600. 9 (tie), Joel Parkinson (Australia), Bruce Irons (Hawai'i), Victor Ribas (Brazil) and Richard Lovett (Australia), $2,300. 13 (tie), Mick Fanning (Australia), Damien Hobgood (Florida), Peterson Rosa (Brazil) and Tom Whitaker (Australia), $1,900.

World Qualifying Series

2003 final ratings

1, Neco Padaratz (Brazil), 12,921 points. 2, Trent Munro (Australia), 12,803. 3, Shane Beschen (California), 10,015. 4, Tim Curran (California), 9,846. 5, Bruce Irons (Hawai'i), 9,815. 6, Paulo Moura (Brazil), 9,527. 7, Tom Whitaker (Australia), 9,303. 8, Nathan Webster (Australia), 9,116. 9, Richard Lovett (Australia), 9,005. 10, Eric Rebiere (France), 8,970.