American Kelly Slater and Hawaiian Moana Jones Wong go into the event in pole position of the men's and women's divisions, respectively, both on 10,000 points, after triumphing in the season opener at Banzai Pipeline, also in Hawaii.

The 11-time world champion Slater earned his 56^th Championship Tour victory and heads to Sunset Beach as men's world number one.

Meanwhile, Jones Wong won her first ever Championship Tour event as a wildcard and became the women's world number one as a result.

Although the Pipeline is known as the jewel in the North Shore crown, Sunset Beach is thought to provide a stern test to athletes and is a proving ground in its own right.

This is the first time in 13 years that Sunset Beach is hosting a Championship Tour event but it has staged high level competition before.

It is one of the long-standing locations of the Triple Crown and has served as the final major event of the men's qualifying series schedule.

Hawaii's Carissa Moore, who won the last Championship Tour event at Sunset Beach, currently occupies second place in the women's series with 7,800 points.

The Olympic champion flopped in last week's final at the Pipeline with a score of 3.73 to lose out to Jones Wong's 14.34.

The United States' Lakey Peterson makes up the overall top three with 6,085 points.

Behind Slater in the men's standings is Seth Moniz of Hawaii and Brazilian Miguel Pupo with 7,800 and 6,085, respectively.

Action is scheduled to begin tomorrow, and is expected to run until February 23.