{"id":48898,"date":"2015-08-25T20:20:13","date_gmt":"2015-08-26T03:20:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=48898"},"modified":"2015-08-25T20:27:35","modified_gmt":"2015-08-26T03:27:35","slug":"jeremy-flores-wins-teahupoo-in-a-helmet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=48898","title":{"rendered":"Jeremy Flores Wins Teahupo’o In A Helmet"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"452A660E-6Eee-4612-9583-Bd07D6309B48\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Jeremy Flores <\/strong>prevailed over reigning world surfing champion Gabriel Medina<\/strong> at an apparel sponsored event at Teahupo’o, Tahiti today (August 25, 2015) in what was probably one of the most entertaining content production days in a long while. Even more impressive — he accomplished this feat while wearing a helmet.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabriel (Medina) is one really tactical guy so I thought I\u2019m going to play his game,\u201d said Flores. \u201cHe\u2019s really aggressive in the water so I thought I\u2019m going to be even more aggressive. Hats off to him, he\u2019s surfed amazing all event and that was definitely one of the hardest heats.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

See what he did there? “Hats off.” Yes, Flores was being literal about the helmet <\/span>hat. For the official production notes (including full results from the fanal day) from the privately owned entertainment event and online streaming production company responsible for this commercial shoot, please follow the jump.\"Flores<\/a><\/p>\n

TEAHUPO\u2019O, Tahiti (Tuesday, August 25, 2015) – Jeremy Flores (FRA) has won the Billabong Pro Tahiti in the Final bout against reigning WSL Champion Gabriel Medina (BRA) held in six foot surf at Teahupo\u2019o. Stop No. 7 of 11 on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour (CT) has been treated to incredible performances by the world\u2019s best surfers, culminating today with Flores\u2019 win.<\/p>\n

Flores claimed the second CT victory of his career to jump up five places on the Jeep Leaderboard to 7th. One of the standout performers of the event, Flores defeated some of the world\u2019s best surfers – Medina, C.J. Hobgood (USA), Kelly Slater (USA) and Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) – before claiming victory today.<\/p>\n

\u201cGabriel (Medina) is one really tactical guy so I thought I\u2019m going to play his game,\u201d said Flores. \u201cHe\u2019s really aggressive in the water so I thought I\u2019m going to be even more aggressive. Hats off to him, he\u2019s surfed amazing all event and that was definitely one of the hardest heats.\u201d<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s win backs up a Semifinal berth for Flores at the Fiji Pro and marks an end to a disappointing few years on the CT with his best result of the year and his first event win since the Billabong Pipe Masters in 2010. The result was made even more remarkable because Flores came into the event following a serious head injury suffered during a freesurf that forced him to miss the J-Bay Open and wear a helmet throughout competition in Tahiti.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat 9.87 in the Final was the wave that got things started for me,\u201d continued Flores. \u201cI was sitting out there getting nervous, waiting for waves. I reminded myself that even if I lost the heat I\u2019m the luckiest guy in the world to be out here. I just tried to stay calm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last couple of years I haven\u2019t been getting the results I wanted, but more importantly I wasn\u2019t having fun,\u201d Flores said. \u201cSurfing is the most beautiful sport in the world and if you\u2019re not having fun surfing then there\u2019s something wrong. I had to really restart and regain my mindset. I did that by being close to my family and my loved ones and it\u2019s because of them that I got back to having fun and being hungry like I used to be. This year I\u2019ve been out there to win it and if it doesn\u2019t happen it\u2019s all good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flores came out firing in the Final, posting a near-perfect 9.87 on his first wave to put the pressure on Medina. With half the heat gone the Brazilian had only a 0.73 heat total while Flores controlled the lineup and found another solid score, a 7.00. Medina answered quickly with a tube of his own for a 7.17 but was left searching for an excellent 9.17 to turn the heat. He continued to hunt the lineup as the minutes ticked by but with only a 6.03 on offer for the 2014 event winner, Flores took the win.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I made a mistake at the beginning to let Jeremy (Flores) have priority,\u201d Medina said. “The ocean was too slow and I couldn\u2019t find the score. I\u2019m happy with a second place though and I\u2019m happy for Jeremy as well especially after his injury. I\u2019m stoked to be back on the podium. It was a tough one and I wish we had more waves but I\u2019m happy with the result.\u201d<\/p>\n

Runner-up Medina also moves up five places on the Jeep Leaderboard from 15th to 10th place. The result today is Medina\u2019s best of the year and his first Final appearance since the Billabong Pipe Masters in 2014. He previously dispatched Owen Wright (AUS) and Kai Otton (AUS) en route to his 10th CT Final today.<\/p>\n

Caption: A runner-up finish from Gabriel Medina (BRA) sees him claim 10th place on the Jeep Leaderboard.
\nImage: WSL \/ Kelly Cestari<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s Semifinal berth for Owen Wright (AUS) marks another good result for the new world no. three. Wright, who needed a runner-up finish or better to take the Jeep ratings lead, went down to Medina in the opening Semifinal. The Brazilian locked in some big scores in the opening half of the match-up to leave the Australian in a combination situation and send him home with a third-place finish.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wasn\u2019t even really thinking about the ratings lead, I was just reveling in getting another heat out at Teahupo\u2019o, especially with my good friend Gabriel (Medina),\u201d said Wright. \u201cI\u2019m pretty disappointed that I didn\u2019t get through that one. There were two waves that I fell off on that I think would have given me the score but that\u2019s the way it goes. I more than happy with that result and we\u2019re coming into a fun leg on the tour.\u201d<\/p>\n

Former event winner and 2001 WSL Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA) earned his best result since the Gold Coast in 2014 after facing eventual winner Flores in the second Semifinal. Flores stayed selective and found the best two waves of the heat for a commanding lead and the win. A third-place finish for Hobgood, who defeated Aritz Aranburu (ESP) and Josh Kerr (AUS) today before facing Flores, sees him move up ten place from 36th place on the Jeep Leaderboard to 26th. It was a dream run at the Billabong Pro Tahiti for Hobgood, after claiming his first man-on-man heat win of the year in Round 2 and the only Perfect 10 of the competition in Round 3.<\/p>\n

The Andy Irons Most Committed Performance Award is given out every year to the standout surfer of the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Previous winners include Owen Wright (2014), John John Florence (2013), Ricardo dos Santos (2012) and Jeremy Flores (2011). This year\u2019s award goes to Hobgood for his commitment, passion and courage during the event.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just been awesome,\u201d said Hobgood. \u201cTo have the opportunity to be here and compete and be part of the Final day is just so rad. I\u2019m so stoked, I think I\u2019m as stoked as if I won the event. It was really, really fun, enjoyable and challenging to be here every year and be part of the learning curve at Teahupo\u2019o over the last two decades. That means a lot to me right there. Last time I made the Final out here was with Andy (Irons) when he won and he was really emotional. That moment I shared with him will be with me for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Caption: C.J. Hobgood (USA) was awarded the Andy Irons Most Committed Performance Award.
\nImage: WSL \/ Kelly Cestari<\/p>\n

11-time WSL Champion Kelly Slater (USA) was defeated in the Quarterfinals by an in-form Flores. Slater had the edge but Flores posted an 8.23 in the closing minutes to eliminate the four-time event winner, who takes home a fifth-place finish. The result sees Slater remains at no. 6 on the Jeep Leaderboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe had two different game plans in that heat,\u201d said Slater. \u201cIt looked like he was going to patient and I was going to keep active. His wave just had more of that wall. I caught that one wave and I fell so I don\u2019t know how that would have been scored. Jeremy\u2019s had some of the highest scores out here and he\u2019s definitely one of the guys to beat so I knew it would be a hard heat.\u201d<\/p>\n

Italo Ferreira (BRA), the highest ranked rookie on Tour, achieved back-to-back Quarterfinals appearances today after defeating compatriot Filipe Toledo (BRA) in Round 5 before going down to Wright. Ferreira also made the Quarterfinals in Fiji and the result sees him move to 8th place on the Jeep Leaderboard.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just did my best but Owen (Wright) is amazing,\u201d said Ferreira. \u201cI\u2019m super stoked, it\u2019s my first time here and that was a great result for me. I just want to keep it going for the next two events and I\u2019m going back to Brazil to get ready.\u201d<\/p>\n

Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti are available at WorldSurfLeauge.com and via the WSL mobile app.<\/p>\n

The next stop on the 2015 Samsung Galaxy WSL Championship Tour will be the Hurley Pro at Trestles from September 9 – 20, 2015.<\/p>\n

Billabong Pro Tahiti Final Results:
\n1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) – 16.87
\n2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) – 13.20<\/p>\n

Billabong Pro Tahiti Semifinal Results:
\nSF 1: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.63 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 8.70
\nSF 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.86 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.93<\/p>\n

Billabong Pro Tahiti Quarterfinal Results:
\nQF 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.93 def. Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.94
\nQF 2: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 15.64 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.00
\nQF 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 12.90 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.16
\nQF 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.83 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 15.66<\/p>\n

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 5 Results:
\nHeat 1: Italo Ferreira (BRA) 15.00 def. Filipe Toledo (BRA) 00.00
\nHeat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 13.50 def. Bruno Santos (BRA) 11.76
\nHeat 3: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.36 def. Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 14.00
\nHeat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.37 def. Wiggolly Dantas (BRA) 13.21<\/p>\n

2015 WSL Jeep Leaderboard Top 5 (after Billabong Pro Tahiti):
\n1: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 34,950 pts
\n2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 34,700 pts
\n3: Owen Wright (AUS) 34,400 pts
\n4: Julian Wilson (AUS) 33,200 pts
\n4: Filipe Toledo (FRA) 33,200 pts<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Jeremy Flores prevailed over reigning world surfing champion Gabriel Medina at an apparel sponsored event at Teahupo’o, Tahiti today (August 25, 2015) in what was probably one of the most entertaining content production days in a long while. Even more impressive — he accomplished this feat while wearing a helmet. \u201cGabriel (Medina) is one really […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48898"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=48898"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48898\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":48902,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/48898\/revisions\/48902"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=48898"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=48898"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=48898"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}