Spectators by the thousands migrated yesterday to watch titans of the surfing world compete on the final day of one of the surfing world's premier events at Pipeline, where big waves are legend.

The wave-watchers were young and "young at heart," and every age in between, and they came from far and wide — California to New Jersey and beyond.

For two miles, every inch of parking space was occupied on both sides of the narrow, two-lane Kamehameha Highway fronting the event. Rural homeowners transformed their farmyards into makeshift parking lots to accommodate the overflow.

Crystal Kelii, 22, directed more than 100 cars at $5 a vehicle onto the two-acre farm lot owned by her grandfather, Ed Galiza.

"The last day is always the craziest," said Kelii, a veteran of surfing extravaganzas. "But we never turn a car away. We'll move the chickens if we have to. We'll park 'em in with the goats."

Justin Ibarra of Kahuku was prepared to pull in to Galiza's yard when he was stunned to see a roadside parking space suddenly open up a mere two blocks from the event.

"No way I thought I'd get a space," said a delighted Ibarra, 21, moments after he whipped his 2001 silver Honda Civic into the coveted parking slot. "I got lucky."

Ibarra joined the parade of spectators walking in unison toward the sands facing Pipeline.

"We've had a huge turnover of people here today," said Jodi Wilmott, media director for Vans Triple Crown of Surfing. "Definitely in excess of 5,000 people.

"The beauty of Hawai'i is that you can run an event like this on a weekday and still get a tremendous crowd. You've got people from everywhere who want to witness this phenomenon, and they get what they came for — thrills and spills all the way."

John and Gayle Delucey of Lansdale, Pa., were among the thrill-seekers who lined the beach with binoculars and cameras for a chance to witness something many had only heard about.

The Deluceys had traveled to Hawai'i along with numerous members of their family to attend the weekend wedding of their niece when they heard that yesterday was the final day of one of the world's biggest surfing competitions.

"They certainly don't have anything like this at Myrtle Beach," said John Delucey, 56, recalling his only previous experience watching wave-riders.

And although Gayle Delucey, 57, was struck by the potential danger of North Shore surfing, she was inspired to declare she'd like to take a shot at it herself — on tamer waves, of course.

"I saw an ad that said, 'Learn to surf in one hour — guaranteed.'" she said. "So, sure. I'm willing to try. I'll do it."

Ray Desrochers of Cherry Hill, N.J., was not so inclined.

"I won't be learning to surf — not at my age," said Desrochers, 76, who was nevertheless absorbed by what he saw transpiring in the ocean through the heavy lenses he held in his hands.

Desrochers had come to Pipeline with his daughter, Donna Desrochers, 46, also of Cherry Hill. The younger Desrochers qualifies as a veteran North Shore wave-watcher.

"This is my 33rd time here," she said. "I would say I've been to the Triple Crown of Surfing 15 or 16 times. And I've never surfed in my life. I just like to come and watch."

Meanwhile, Bobbie O'Connell Munson, 65, of the San Francisco Bay area, was not having much luck getting a bunch of her grandkids to line up and smile for a photo in front of a huge "Showdown for The Crown" surf wave billboard.

Munson, who learned to surf in Waikiki as a child, was passing the family surfing legacy along to her granddaughter, Andrea Munson, 21.

"My uncles are all surfers," said Andrea. "It kind of runs in our blood. I've tried to surf. Only twice. So, I don't know. But I plan on surfing some more while I'm here."

Reach Will Hoover at whoover@honoluluadvertiser.com.