After a day of massive “code red” 20-foot Teahupoo waves yesterday (August 27, 2011) that were too big to paddle, the Billabong Pro Tahiti is back on for round three in some of the best waves of the 2011 tour. Matt Wilkinson just landed a perfect 10 in the first heat of the day!
Follow the jump for all the info including heat line ups. Do not miss this!
TEAHUPO’O, Taiarapu/French Polynesia (Sunday, August 28, 2011) – The Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui, Event No. 5 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, has been called on this morning in perfect conditions and eight-to-10 foot (2.5 – 3 metre) waves at Teahupo’o. Competition will commence at 7:15am.
“Conditions have cleaned up significantly today and the swell has dropped a bit from yesterday,” Pritamo Ahrendt, ASP International Head Judge, said. “This is exactly what we come here for – big and clean. I wouldn’t be surprised if the limits of paddle-in surfing were pushed today in these conditions. We’ll look to run the remaining heats of Round 3 and possibly Round 4. Good luck to all our competitors today.”
Dusty Payne (HAW), 22, has withdrawn from competition after sustaining a knee injury Thursday afternoon. He will forfeit his Round 3 heat and Michel Bourez (PYF), 25, will go directly into Round 4.
Up first this morning will be Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 22, against Jadson Andre (BRA), 21, in Heat 5 of Round 3.
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 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 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 5: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 8: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 10: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 12: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
