Billabong Pro Tahiti 2015

Last years Billabong Pro champion Gabriel Medina gliding through a perfect Chopes cavern. Photo: Kirstin - WSL

Welcome to Tahiti for the Billabong Pro, stop number seven of the men’s Samsung Galaxy World Surf League Championship Tour.

“End of The Road” as it’s dubbed is one of the most wild, heavy and unpredictable wave’s on earth. Teahupoo breaks below sea level coming out of super deep water and pitching it’s self onto the razor sharp reef making it the ultimate challenge for any seasoned surfer.  This will be home to the world’s elite surfer’s for two week’s when competition get’s underway on August 14.

Before we dive head first into Chopes, let’s reflect a bit on J-Bay and the WSL world title ranking’s. Beside’s Mick Fanning’s (AUS) shark attack/encounter we saw some great surfing go down with some big upset’s along the way. However the same 6-8 guys remain in world title talks. Both Mick Fanning (AUS) and Julian Wilson (AUS) shifted up two spot’s, bringing them to second and third in the title race, Adriano De Souza (BRA) is still holding onto top spot but only by 250 point’s. Other movers and shakers were Kelly Slater (USA) moving to 6th, Bede Durbidge (AUS) moving to 11th and Wiggolly Dantes (BRA) jumping up 4 places to 13th. Filipe Toldeo (BRA) seems to be slipping from his stella start dropping two places to 4th and Owen Wright also slipped two spots to 5th. Adrian Buchen (AUS) had the biggest jump of all moving 10 spots to 20th with his semi final finish. Ace won this event in 2013 and will be hungry to get another good result. The world title race is still blown wide open as we enter into the back half of the year. It’s still anyone’s game in the top 10

As far as the injury list goes, local boy Michel Bourez (ZYF) is back and in fine form after breaking his hand during a Chopes session back in May.  Jeremy Flores (FRA) and John John Florence (HAW) look set return. Both of these guys will be looking to dominate after missing J-Bay.

With all the hype around Teahupoo recently this event is going to be another cracker! Bring the blow up pool toys, sunscreen and wide brim hats as we sit in the channel and watch the worlds best tackle the most scariest wave on the planet. There’s sure to be plenty of heavy hitting tube ride’s, wipeout’s and of course the prestigious Andy Iron’s Most Committed award which was taking out by Mr Owen Wright last year. (We love you AI) Game on ladies and gents!

Catch all the action live on worldsurfleague.com

2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti

Mens Round 1 Heat Draw

Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Glen Hall (IRL)

Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS), Adrian Buchan (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW)

Heat 3: Filipe Toledo(BRA), Keanu Asing (HAW), Brett Simpson (USA)

Heat 4: Julian Wilson (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZYF), C.J Hobgood (USA)

Heat 5: Mick Fanning (AUS), Sebastian Seitz (HAW), TBD

Heat 6: Adriano De Souza (BRA), Adam Melling (AUS), TBD

Heat 7: Nat Young (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Kolohe Andino (USA)

Heat 8: Taj Burrow (AUS), Joel Parkinson (AUS), Riccardo Christie (NZL)

Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Matt Banting (AUS)

Heat 10: Italo Ferreira (BRA), Gabriel Medina (BRA), Fred Patacchia Jr (HAW)

Heat 11: Bede Durbidge (AUS), John John Florence (HAW), Miguel Pupo (BRA)

Heat 12: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Wiggolly Dantes (BRA), Michel Bourez (PYF)

Excited is an understatement. Thanks for the write-up, Aaron!

Billabong Pro Official Forecast

Brief Overview: Medium size, mid to shorter period SSW swell looks likely over the weekend. Easing swell/surf should prevail early next week. Going into the long range, a series of modest to medium size SW swells look possible during the last few days of the waiting period.

Swell/Surf Outlook
The storm pattern in the South Pacific over the past three to four weeks has produced the largest surf in the southeast Pacific (Chile, Peru, Central America), with the southwest Pacific generally slower (and much slower than what we saw from late June through mid/late July). It looks like we will be in a transitional phase over the next 7-14 days, with neither the southwest Pacific or the southeast Pacific looking especially promising for a major swell event(s) at this time.

The first swell on the radar for the event will move in over the weekend of the 15th. The more trusted global weather models are in fairly good agreement that a loosely organized, modest strength, but also also relatively nearby, low will set up mid to shorter period SW to SSW swell over the weekend. It appears to be a safe bet to call for rather jumbled, overhead surf at for Sat/Sun, with potential for sets into the double overhead range (10-12’ faces on the larger waves).

At this time Saturday looks like the lower quality day thanks to slightly shorter swell period and moderate+ SSE to SE trades. We could see some improvement in quality by Sunday as the swell period comes up a bit and wind possibly trends more ESE. Stay tuned.

For early next week (Mon/Tue) we could see some reinforcing pulses of S swell arrive, although the overall trend should still be a fading one from the weekend. The surf will likely remain somewhat jumbled, with the shorter to mid period nature of the swell, but local wind looks pretty good (straight E) at this time.

Into the longer range, model guidance indicates that the southwest Pacific will continue to struggle to produce any major storms/swells through the back half of the month, although we should gradually see more storm activity near New Zealand.  At this point it does look like we could see a series of modest to possibly mid size (overhead) SW swells for the last four to five days of the event waiting period. Stay tuned, we’ll be able to refine this over the next week+.

Injury Update
Jordy Smith (ZAF) and Matt Banting (AUS) have withdrawn from the Billabong Pro Tahiti, Stop No. 7 on the Samsung Galaxy Championship Tour (CT).

“Both Matt Banting and Jordy Smith withdrawn from the event due to their ongoing injuries,” said WSL Deputy Commissioner Renato Hickel. “WSL Replacements numbers one and two declined their spots due to other commitments. WSL Replacements numbers three and four, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) and Garrett Parkes (AUS) accepted their spots.”

Wildcard Update

Your two wildcard entry’s this year are Local Tahitian, Taumata Puhetin (PYF) and Brazil’s heavy wave guru Bruno Santos (BRA).

Both Bruno and Taumata competed in the Air Tahiti Nui Billabong Pro Trials. The pre-event contest, which ran Tuesday, August 11.

The winner, Puhetini, and runner-up, Santos, will be seeded into Round 1 of competition in Heats 5 and 6 where they will face three-time WSL Champion and 2012 event winner Mick Fanning (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS), Jeep ratings leader Adriano de Souza (BRA) and Michel Bourez (PYF).

Good luck to both surfers!

Day 1 kicked off in the early hours of AEST. Tricky and somewhat sub par conditions where on offer for the worlds best. The surfers that came up trumps this morning got lucky with finding a few gems in the rough.

Kelly Slater (USA), Owen Wright (AUS), Artiz Arunburu (ESP), Bruno Santos (BRA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Mick Fanning (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW) and Joel Parksinson all advancing into Round 3.

With better conditions on the way we will hopefully see competition kick off again tomorrow.

Stay tuned.

Highlights: Experience Elite Advance in Tahiti

Tricky conditions there. Looking forward to seeing the swell pick up. I’d love to see Fanno take this one!

Day 2 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti saw semi improved conditions, with the worlds best putting on a show.  Solid performances went down from the likes of Josh Kerr (AUS), tour veteran C.J Hobgood (USA), Brett Simpsons (USA) and of course John John Florence (HAW). All posting 9 point rides to take out their round 2 heats.

John John Florence Free Falling

Kerr’s Disappearing Act

CJ’s Drainer

Highlights: Courageous Prevail at Teahupo’o

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Match-Ups:

Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)

Heat 2: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)

Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)

Heat 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)

Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Gabriel Medina (HAW)

Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Bruno Santos (BRA)

Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Aritz Aranburu (ESP)

Heat 8: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)

Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)

Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)

Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)

What a cracking day of competition at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. We had upsets, great conditions and of course the Gabriel Medina (BRA) and John John Florence (HAW) super heat, and super it was.  Both Medina and Florence posting 9 point rides, however it was Gabriel who came out on top with a stella 2 wave total of 19.00 while John John posted a total of 18.84.  Kelly Slater is calling this one heat of the year.

Adriano De Souza (BRA) is no longer holding onto top spot on the Jeep Leaderboard, as he bowed out to wildcard and fellow country man Bruno Santos (BRA). Mick Fanning also fell to another wildcard known for his backhand tube riding skills, Artiz Arunburu (ESP). All this means Julian Wilson (AUS), Owen Wright (AUS), Filipe Toledo (BRA) or maybe even Kelly Slater (USA) can clinch number 1 in the world depending how far they go in the competition.

Round 3 Heat 5 Recap Medina vs Florence

Wright in Rhythm

Highlights: Superheats, Big Upsets in Tahiti

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Results:

Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) 16.97 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.50
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.13 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.00
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) 18.23 def. Dusty Payne (HAW) 15.70
Heat 4: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 16.10 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.83
Heat 5: Gabriel Medina (HAW) 19.00 def. John John Florence (HAW) 18.84
Heat 6: Bruno Santos (BRA) 16.20 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.70
Heat 7: Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 15.17 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 6.67
Heat 8: Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 16.83 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 8.66

Upcoming Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Match-Ups:

Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 12: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)

After seven lay days at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, competition got underway again today. We saw the first 10 point ride of the event, thanks to C.J.Hobgood, numerous 9 point rides and jaw dropping barrel rides.

Highlights: First Quaterfinalists Decided

Hobgood’s Perfect Tahiti Tube

Medina Makes Exit for Big Number Round 4

Jeremy Flores Going HAM in Round 3

Billabong Pro Tahiti Remainder of Round 3 Results
Heat 9: Josh Kerr (AUS) 15.80 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.67
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.06 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 13.33
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 18.87 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.60
Heat 12: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.60 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 9.50

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.84, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 13.06, Kai Otton (AUS) 12.70
Heat 2: Gabriel Medina (HAW) 17.64, Italo Ferreira (BRA) 17.10, Bruno Santos (BRA) 6.84
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) 13.20, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 11.43, Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 6.40
Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.60, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.66, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.30

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 5 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Italo Ferreira (BRA)
Heat 2: Bruno Santos (BRA) vs. Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 3: Aritz Aranburu (ESP) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA)