Kelly wins Teahupoo and takes back Number 1

King Kelly is back at Number 1, thanks to a solid Teahupoo Win (Photo: ASP)

WOW! What a magnificent contest. We had everything from heat restarts, top seeds falling and giant terrifying waves. Kelly Slater called it the best Teahupoo contest ever - not surprising really considering he won it. For me the highlight though must be the 3rd place result for Travis Logie. It catapults him from 44th on the rankings into the 34th spot and a solid chance of making the cut after the New York event. If he does make the cut, we will see him paddle out at Trestles later in the year and Jordy will no longer be the lone Saffer on tour. Well done Travis, that was a monumental performance!



TEAHUPO’O, Taiarapu/French Polynesia (Monday, August 29, 2011) – Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, has claimed the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui over Owen Wright (AUS), 21, in clean four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metre) waves at Teahupo’o.

Event No. 5 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Billabong Pro Tahiti culminated a historic incarnation of the event today, with the world’s best surfers pushing the performance envelope in incredible conditions.

Slater began to really pick up steam in today’s conditions, dispatching of an in-form Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, in the Semifinals before meeting lethal goofy-footer Wright in the Finals. The iconic American utilized his superior backhand tube-riding technique to post an 18.43 heat total out of a possible 20, which would prove too much for his younger opponent to overcome.

“I felt like I finally hit my stride in the Semifinals this morning,” Slater said. “In the Final, I fell on a couple of waves that were maybe better than what I ended up getting scored on. It put the pressure on me, and took the pressure off him (Wright). He got that really big one at the end that could have gotten pretty close to the score. These are the best conditions this event has ever run in. It’s been a phenomenal week.”

Coming into Tahiti rated No. 6 on the ASP World Title rankings, Slater’s win today rockets the Floridian to the No. 1 spot after a number of top seeds suffered early eliminations at the hands of an unmerciful Teahupo’o.

“It’s one of those weird events where you have to scramble through the early rounds,” Slater said. “Every year at this event, there are few of the top guys that lose in the early rounds and you have to scramble if you want a result here. You have to be in tune with the tides, swell direction and everything to make sure you get those waves that get you the score.”

Today’s win marked Slater’s 47th elite tour victory (out of 67 Finals appearances).



Wright secured the best result of his young career today, finishing Runner-Up at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. The progressive Australian was a standout at Teahupo’o, notching perfect rides and impressive victories with ease.

“I thought it was an incredible Final,” Wright said. “We both got really good waves and I felt like I did what I needed to on them. Kelly (Slater) just happened to find ones that opened up a little better. Congrats to him, and hoping I can get him in the next one.”

Travis Logie (ZAF), 32, gained entry into the Billabong Pro Tahiti will the withdrawal of Bobby Martinez (USA), 29, from competition. Formerly sitting at the 44th spot on the ASP World Rankings, Logie’s Equal 3rd place finish at Teahupo’o moves the South African up to 34th on the rankings in hopes of cementing himself as an ASP Top 34 member after the September rotation.

“It’s been an unbelievable week for me,” Logie said. “I don’t think it has all sunk in yet. I was in Europe, I barely made it here in time, I’ve been on borrowed equipment, I’ve been banged up on the reef, I had a re-surf with my good mate Jordy (Smith) and I’ve also scored the best result of my career. It’s all happened very fast. So yeah, I’m happy with how everything’s worked out, but would have liked to have made that Final.”

Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, although one of the standouts in both the free surfs and the event, was not be able to overtake Slater in an inconsistent Semifinal.

“It was pretty frustrating out there,” Kerr said. “We had a little exchange in the beginning and there just weren’t any more opportunities through the heat. I thought we’d have a bit more action with the tide push, but it was the opposite. I’m pretty disappointed. It’s a good result for me of course, just thought I could go a little better.”

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, put in some of the most inspiring performances of the event, bagging the biggest waves and even surfing a Perfect 20 heat in yesterday’s idyllic conditions. For his heroics, Flores was awarded the Andy Irons Award for most committed performance of the event. This is the inaugural year for the award, honoring the late ASP and Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion Andy Irons.

“Andy (Irons) meant everything to me,” Flores said. “He has been the guy I’ve looked up to my whole life. In heavy waves, in all waves, he was the best and to earn this award is so special for me. He inspired everyone on tour and he’s been my inspiration in Tahiti. I know he was smiling on this event. Thank you Andy.”

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.43
2 – Owen Wright (AUS) 17.10

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.60
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 19.50 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.40

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.94 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.83
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.50 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 6.17
QF 3: Travis Logie (ZAF) 18.07 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 17.14
QF 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.74 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.10

ASP WORLD TITLE RANKINGS TOP 5 (After Billabong Pro Tahiti)
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 26,950 pts
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 26,500 pts
3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 26,200 pts
4. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 22,750 pts
5. Owen Wright (AUS) 21,900 pts

Amazing Phantom Cam Footage of Teahupoo - 1000 FPS

Amp yourself for the Final Day of the Billabong Pro Tahiti with this amazing footage shot over the last few days on the Phantom Camera. You have to love 1000 Frames per Second.

Watch Live - Billabong Pro Tahiti

The Meanest day at Chopes ever with Bruce Irons

Make no mistake, this was the heaviest day in modern surfing history. People will be talking about this for a long, long time, so we sat down with Bruce Irons to have him run us through it all.

A weekend of Carnage at the Billabong Pro Tahiti

Jeremy Flores deep inside the Beast and charging into Quarters. (Photo: ASP)

Drama and giant waves, that was the weekend's script at the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo. Competiton was called off on Saturday due to conditions that even had the tow teams cucking in their rods. Watch the video below and you will probably cringe at least 10 times (Especially the guy valiantly trying to swim back over the shoulder and getting sucked over the falls on a 20 footer.)



The crew woke up Sunday to perfect 8-10ft Teahupoo and the carnage began. The losers results sheet looks like the whos who of Pro Surfing with Taj Burrows, Joel Parkinson, Mick Fanning and Jordy Smith all out of competiton. The story of the weekend though was the round 3 battle between Jordy and fellow Saffer Travis Logie. Due to timing call, when Jordy was injured by the ski, Travis watched his victory disappear as Jordy got a 8 point ride in the dying seconds of the extended heat. After everything he had been through to get to Tahiti it was no wonder the small guy was some what upset! Jordy, who looked in serious pain with a rib injury, showed what a gentleman he is though and agreed to a re-surf of the heat - Travis went on to win and now finds himself in the Quarters! We can only hope he makes the Finals and raises the SA flag high! With so many tour front runners out, Kelly Slater is grinning from ear to ear as if he wins here, he will be right back in the title hunt, after missing Jbay.



TEAHUPO’O, Taiarapu/French Polynesia (Sunday, August 28, 2011) – With pristine eight-to-10 foot (2.5 – 3 metre) barrels detonating across the reef at Teahupo’o, the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui completed the remaining heats of Round 3 before bolting through Rounds 4 and 5, setting up the Quarterfinalists for a potential finish tomorrow.
Event No. 5 of 11 of the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Billabong Pro Tahiti has enjoyed a historic run of swell for the event, with the world’s best surfers pushing the limits of paddle-in surfing at the infamous lefthander and locking in some incredible rides.
Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, current No. 15 on the ASP World Title rankings, became the third surfer in history to lock in a Perfect 20 heat total in his Round 5 bout against an in-form Michel Bourez (PYF), 25, this afternoon.
“I’m so stoked!” Flores exclaimed. “What’s on my mind right now is I just had a heat out there with Michel (Bourez), one of my best friends on tour and it’s so big and perfect and we got some amazing barrels. I was saying the other day that I’d never got a 10 before and that I’d like to get one, and now I’ve gotten two in the same heat. I’m so stoked.”

Staring into the eye of the Beast. (Photo: ASP)

The young Frenchman has been the form surfer of the event thus far, conquering the biggest days with aplomb and navigating his way through the some of the heaviest backhand barrels with unparalleled poise.
“It’s as good as it gets out there,” Flores said. “They are just so hollow and just keep spinning forever. It’s incredible. This is everything I ever wanted in a surf, let alone a contest. It’s the best surf of my life.”
Flores will take on Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, in Quarterfinal 1 when competition resumes.
Owen Wright (AUS), 21, current No. 9 on the ASP World Title rankings, was another to cement his reputation as one of the premier Teahupo’o specialists this afternoon with the second highest heat total of the year, a 19.77 out of a possible 20. In a hard-fought Round 4 bout with Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 29, and Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 29, Wright built an impressive score line, opening with 7.77 before grabbing a 9.77 and finishing with a Perfect 10.
“I had a dream heat,” Wright said. “I opened up with a pretty good barrel and then Freddy (Patacchia) got a bomb. I got a solid one after that and then I just slid into that perfect runner. The waves out here are just so sizey and meaty. I love it out here. It’s the best wave.”
Wright will battle Raoni Monteiro (BRA), 29, in Quarterfinal 4 at the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, continued to breeze through the competition today, dispatching of lethal wildcard Ricardo dos Santos (BRA), 22, in Round 3 before blitzing his Round 4 heat.
“The waves are insane today,” Slater said. “This is probably the best I’ve ever surfed it – it’s just so big and perfect. It can be really intimidating when you’re on the spot and a wave comes in. Everyone is hooting and hollering and you have to go. There’s no other experience like it in surfing.”
Always one to push the limits of board design, Slater has opted to surf a quad-fin craft significantly smaller than the majority of his peers.
“I’m riding a 5’11””, Slater said. “My normal shortboard is a 5’9” so the board I’m riding out here is my step-up. There’s been a lot of discussion regarding surfboards that work best out here. You definitely need enough foam to get in and under the ledge, but once you’re in, you want to have a short enough board to maneuver around.”
With the Top 5-rated surfers on the ASP World Title rankings already eliminated from competition today, Slater (current No. 6) stands to benefit significantly with a result in Tahiti.
Slater will take on Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 22, in the Quarterfinals when competition resumes.
Travis Logie (ZAF), 32, current ASP World No. 44, gained entry into of the Billabong Pro Tahiti with the withdrawal of Dane Reynolds (USA), 25. Looking to break into the top 32 on the ASP World Rankings before the September rotation, Logie is into the Quarterfinals and already looking at a solid result.
“I owe it all to my wife as I was wavering on whether or not to actually make the trip from Europe and she convinced me to come,” Logie said. “I barely made it here in time for my first heat, have been surfing on borrowed equipment and this has been a huge result for me. Into the Quarterfinals, this is my best result ever here and hopefully it keeps going.”
Logie will face Brett Simpson (USA), 26, in Quarterfinal 3 when competition resumes.
When competition resumes, up first will be Josh Kerr (AUS), 27, against Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, in the opening Quarterfinal of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.
Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui will be available via http://www.billabongpro.com
Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for very solid surf this morning, with a decreasing trend through the day. We’ll get a reinforcing pulse of new south-southwest swell on Monday, although the overall swell trend will be a slow fading one through early next week. Easterly trades continue to ease on Sunday, with light ENE/E flow early next week.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 3 RESULTS:
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) def. Dusty Payne (USA) – Payne withdrew from competition due to injury sustained during a free surf on Thursday afternoon.
Heat 5: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.77 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.94
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.60 def. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 15.84
Heat 7: Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.93 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.43 – Re-surfed at the end of the round.
Heat 8: Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.77 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 10.86
Heat 9: Brett Simpson (USA) 17.26 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.70
Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.80 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 5.00
Heat 11: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.20 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 6.44
Heat 12: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 12.60 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 7.93
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.30, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.16, Kai Otton (AUS) 8.10
Heat 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.77, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 6.50, Michel Bourez (PYF) 2.90
Heat 3: Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.66, Brett Simpson (USA) 15.00, Chris Davidson (AUS) 14.43
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 19.77, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 12.23, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.60
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 20 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 18.13
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.84 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.56
Heat 3: Brett Simpson (USA) 17.33 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.00
Heat 4: Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 15.50 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 15.14
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
QF 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
QF 3: Travis Logie (ZAF) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
QF 4: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)

Monster Chopes on the cards for the Billabong Pro Tahiti

Clean Chopes earlier in the week. (Photo: ASP/Billabong Pro)

The whole surf world tuned in last night to watch highlights and windy, rainy, crap waves and eventually the Comp was called off. But fear not loyal viewers of the ASP World Tour, in the next 48 hours your patientce will be rewarded! The swell of the year is busy rolling into Tahiti and many of the pros are quietly awaiting the beatings of their life, while leaving fear enhanced skid marks in their rods. CJ Hobgood, who by all rights is one of the guys who is most used to heavy Teahupoo, reckons he is visiting the Loo up to 3 times a day in anticipation! So lock those visors and web browsers onto the Billabong Pro Tahiti tonight! Be sure to check out the amazing "Birds Eye View" video down below, it was filmed with remote choppers and is amazing.



ASP Press Release:
TEAHUPO’O, Taiarapu/French Polynesia (Thursday, August 25, 2011) – After assessing conditions for most of the morning, event organizers at the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui, Event No. 5 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, have called competition off for the day.
“It looks like the winds are going to swing later than projected today and we won’t be commencing with Round 2 of competition,” Pritamo Ahrendt, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We’re seeing the first signs of this new swell coming in and we expect to be all systems go for tomorrow morning.”
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow at 6:30am for a possible 7am start.
When competition resumes, up first will be Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, and Heiarii Williams (PYF), 23, in the opening heat of Round 2.
Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for solid SSW swell prevails today and tomorrow. An even larger and extra large, long period SSW swell shows Saturday, fading Sunday. Another solid SSW swell could move in on Monday. ESE/E trades will be strong on Thursday and Friday, before gradually easing through the weekend.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com




BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Heiarii Williams (PYF)
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 9: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 10: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)

Billabong Pro Tahiti, Round 1, with Craig Jarvis

Jordy Smith proving he is ready to take on Teahupoo? (Photo: ASP)

What a great start to the Billabong Pro in Tahiti. After finding out that Bobby Martinez had gone awol once again, our very own, Travis Logie got the call to head over from France. He had slept 3 hours, been travelling for 26 hours and still managed to paddle out and win his Round 1 heat with one of the highest heat scores of the day. Jordy also won his Round 1 heat, so good results for SA. Now the forecast is showing a massive swell on the way for Round 2 and many of the world's Pro's Sphincters must be tightening at the thought! Go Saffers! Our good mate, Craig Jarvis is on the ground in Tahiti, lets check what he had to say about Round 1:

The World expects a lot from Julian Wilson and he showed why in Round 1 (Photo: ASP)

Inspiring surfing, magnificent waves and the promise of massive waves coming. These were what everyone was talking about on the first day of surfing at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. In perfect six-foot sets the best surfers in the world commenced to show the assembled judges and the spectators glued to their webcasts all over the world why they are just that – the best surfers in the world. Excellent rides were ridden throughout the day, and high scores filled up the scoreboards.

Jordy Smith paddled out and once again made it very clear that he is resolutely on a world title campaign. Jordy was all over the set waves in his heat against the two Brazilians Ricardo dos Santos and Raoni Monteiro. Surfing with confidence in amongst the perfect barrels Jordy racked up a 7.43 as well as a 7.93, to put him into first place ahead of dos Santos and Monteiro, and putting him straight into round three and thus missing the elimination round 2 entirely. Pulling into perfect barrels with confidence and ease, Jordy was showing his excitement in the water, and is amping for the swell that is approaching.

“I’ve been here most of the day and I’ve just been psyching to get out there,” Smith said. “It’s so much fun – just perfect, blue barrels. I'm so happy to be here in Tahiti and the forecast looks pretty amazing. We'll see how it pans out."

Mick Fanning was another surfer who blitzed his first round heat, beating Gabe Kling and Tiago Pires in the process. Currently sitting at number four spot in the world, Fanning is no doubt hoping for a big result here to ignite his campaign for another world title. The Australian already has two world titles behind him but is definitely keen on another. Along with Fanning, Kelly Slater also won his first round heat and is another surfer who has his eyes on the world title crown. He does have 10 already, but another one would most likely look good on his mantelpiece as well. Slater is currently sitting at number six, and missed the last event in Jeffrey’s Bay, so if he doesn’t get a good result here will be out of the running for a world title.

Julian Wilson is another surfer who impressed, especially with one incredible no hands barrel at the closing moments of the heat. A late drop into the barrel followed by a few quick weaves before totally disappearing in the whitewater before re appearing for a wave score of 9.83 saw him win his heat as well.

The surfing world, however, is watching Jordy Smith. At number 2 in the world and fresh from his victory at the Billabong Pro Jeffrey’s Bay, he has the look of a world champion about him.

Round 2 will hit the water when surfing commences, and it looks like there is plenty of surf around until the big day arrives.

For more go to http://www.redbull.co.za/cs/Satellite/en_ZA/REDBULL/001242760617920

Thanks Craig Jarvis!

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 RESULTS: 
Heat 1: Cory Lopez (USA) 12.83, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.47, Chris Davidson (AUS) 4.67
Heat 2: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 15.83, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 14.73, Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.27 Heat 3: Travis Logie (ZAF) 16.07, Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.40, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.73  
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.23, Gabe Kling (USA) 13.97, Tiago Pires (PRT) 7.97  
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.36, Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 14.47, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 8.47 Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) 13.96, Daniel Ross (AUS) 13.07, Heiarii Williams (PYF) 10.47  
Heat 7: Kai Otton (AUS) 11.47, Heitor Alves (BRA) 10.53, Owen Wright (AUS) 10.33  
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 19.38, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.60, Adam Melling (AUS) 10.33  
Heat 9: Taylor Knox (USA) 12.90, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 12.53, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 11.10  
Heat 10: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.73, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 13.10, Brett Simpson (USA) 8.83 Heat 11: Dusty Payne (HAW) 16.76, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 15.63, Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.17  
Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS) 16.50, Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.84, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.27  

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS: 
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Heiarii Williams (PYF)  
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)  
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Gabe Kling (USA)  
Heat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)  
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)  
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Josh Kerr (AUS)  
Heat 7: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)  
Heat 8: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)  
Heat 9: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)  
Heat 10: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)  
Heat 11: Alejo Muniz (BRA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. Chris Davidson (AUS)

The Big Guns Warm Up for Teahupoo

I have always wondered how the World's Best surfers prepare for Teahupoo and finally, thanks to this marvelous video, I know. They dance as Chippendales, hahaha. Kelly, Joel, Jordy, Mick and Dane loosen up before the comp...

Billabong Pro Tahiti - The Captain's Preview

Yes, it's that time of year again when the world's best surfers head to the islands of French Polanesia to surf the most sphincter clenching wave on the planet, Teahupoo. The contest has disappointed the last few years with not much in the way of death defying antics or giant waves and we can only hope that this year will provide a little more size and action. When Teahupoo is on, its one of the Wonders of the natural world, when it's off, it looks like a hundred other little perfect reef passes.

This is the kind of Teahupoo we want to see. Anthony Walsh standing tall. (Courtesy: Robertson/Billabong)

Local Knowledge is Key
You will hear “Teahupo’o” pronounced in a variety of ways, but when we talk to Billabong’s Manoa Drollet, one of the best surfers ever at the break and a Tahitian local, he pronounces it “Chee-yow-po” so we’re running with that.  And what’s “Teahupo’o” translated? Roughly, it means ‘head with no hair’ or ‘place of skulls’. Referring of course to a battle between a couple of tribal groups over the territory pre-European arrival. The area is kind of prized as a really nice piece of farmland with access to excellent fishing -- worth fighting over apparently. The skulls of the losing team were built into a wall to warn off other people who may have been interested in the land value thereabouts.
The freshwater flowing from the mountains inhibits coral growth, thereby creating the reef passes that provide most of the rideable waves in Tahiti. The reef pass at Teahupo’o is known as Passa Hava’e.
If you do get cut by the coral, and it’s kind of inevitable if you’re active in and out of boats and having a surf, the best thing to do in order to prevent infection is rub lime into the cut. Serious! It stings more than hell itself, but sterilizes the wound. The alternative? The bacteria survive inside your body, you get a staph infection (blood poisoning) and the nearest doctor is your new best friend! If you can’t stand the lime treatment, be sure to seek other treatment.
Because most of the surf is off shore in Tahiti, beyond the lagoon that rims the island, ideally you’re accessing the breaks by boat, local-style. Paddling to the breaks is possible, but will often take around 20 minutes one-way. Boats are available for hire to media looking to cover the competition, but booking is required well in advance! Numbers are limited!
There’s normally only one restaurant year-round in Teahupo’o, but roughly 20 when the Billabong Pro is in town! Locals call them ‘Le Snacks’.
Most pros surf something a couple inches longer than their usual shortboards – like a 6’3” - then their quiver moves up in two-to-three inch increments. Eight to ten board quivers are common with the longest board typically around 7’0”. Teahupo’o is a BEAST of a wave so refined, specialised equipment is a must!

Ricrado Dos Santos won the trials. (Photo: ASP)

The Trials
Boasting the second biggest field of Trialists and non-world tour surfers behind Pipeline, the contest has had some big upsets before. This year it was Brazilian surfer, Ricardo Dos Santos who took the win in pretty mediocre conditions to qualify for the main event. He will be joined by local trialist, Heiarri Williams. Expect these two to take some big names down.

Who to Watch
I have a couple of favorites at Teahupoo. These guys have show time and time again that they have what it takes to win at the gnarliest left in the world:
Kelly Slater - he changed how people surf the wave, even downing a beer coming out of a massive tube one year in his final! Never write off Kelly in Tahiti. He missed Jbay and has dropped on thr ratings, he will be very hungry to win.
Bobby Martinez - The man has not had a great year, but if there is one wave he has show time and time again he can win, it's here. Smooth, committed and a consummate forehand tube rider.
Damian & CJ Hobgood - Both brothers have had good results here, in the contest and just free surfing. Neither are intimidated by the big stuff and neither hold back from a possible 10 point ride. They both could use a solid result on the tour, so expect no holds barred action from these guys.
Jordy Smith - What you may say? But yes, I am talking him up. Jordy is the current number 2 and fighting for his first World Title. If he ever wants to achieve this goal, he will need to win at the two big left-handers, Teahupoo and Pipe. He is coming off a win in front of his home crowd at Jbay and has just spent time in Namibia charging the frigid tubes of Skeleton Bay. What better place to hone your backhand tube riding? He has no reputation here yet, expect that to change!

I am super excited for the event, the last before the mid year point and things get real confusing on the World Tour, with some leaving and new faces popping up on the scene at Trestles. If the swell comes, there will be some careers on the line and you can bet your salary some guys pushing themselves well beyond their limits!

Follow all the Live Action at - Billabong Pro Tahiti