HONOLULU -- The big waves on Oahu's North Shore brings plenty of tourists and their dollars to the area, even though the most events associated with the big winter swell are free.

"This is the best free show on earth," said Randy Rarick, the executive director of Vans Triple Crown. "You get to come to the beach, put your towel down, watch beautiful girls go by and watch some of the best surfers in the world ride some of the biggest waves in the world. You couldn't ask for anything better."

At Sunset Beach, big crowds turned out to watch the Roxy Reef Hawaiian Pro for women and later, the O'Neill World Cup of Surfing, the second jewel in the Vans Triple Crown.

Many of those spectators didn't leave without picking up a T-shirt or two.

"Triple Crown is the season when people do really well," said Rarick. "It's the pre-holiday season, so they're doing great and the retailers are reporting really good sales for the last few weeks."

The waves have lived up to expectations so far. On Sunday, they will likely grow too big for the competition to continue. Still, they bring people out just to see the spectacular surf.

"We don't know much about the lingo and we don't really understand the competition," said Colorado tourist Jack Gardner. "But it's fabulous."

"Since we go home to snow, this is delightful," said his wife, Greer Gardner. "This is heaven on earth."