{"id":24938,"date":"2011-08-21T11:53:46","date_gmt":"2011-08-21T18:53:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=24938"},"modified":"2011-08-21T11:54:12","modified_gmt":"2011-08-21T18:54:12","slug":"billabong-pro-tahiti-opener-hints-at-monsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=24938","title":{"rendered":"Billabong Pro Tahiti Opener Hints At Monsters"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Hobgood<\/a><\/p>\n

The first round of the Billabong Pro Tahiti<\/a><\/strong> gave ASP surfers a little warning shot of how big Teahupoo could be during the finals at the end of the week. Most of the favorites made it through the first round, aside from ASP points leader Joel Parkinson<\/strong> who was sent to round two by CJ Hobgood<\/strong> in heat 8.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wind got good which allows you to push it a little further up the point and the waves turned on,\u201d Hobgood said. \u201cI\u2019d like to take a little bit of credit, but the ocean did a lot of work out there. Joel (Parkinson) had a wave that could have been a 10 if he had come out so they\u2019re definitely out there.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Kelly Slater<\/strong> saved his win for the last two minutes of the heat when, as he has done so many times before, he took off, stall, got covered and got exactly what he needed to the lead in heat 6 from Dan Ross<\/strong> and local wildcard Heiari Williams<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to get the deep south ones,\u201d Slater said. \u201cI\u2019d seen enough of those ones in the earlier heats to think they were out there. I got a few small ones that didn\u2019t work out. I was a bit greedy and trying to stay in the barrel a bit longer than I should have. Rossy (Dan Ross) got pushed up the point and I was fortunate to bag a wide one and that made the difference.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For the rest of the official ASP details, follow the jump.TEAHUPO\u2019O, Taiarapu\/French Polynesia (Saturday, August 20, 2011) \u2013 Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui was completed today in clean four-to-six foot (1.5 \u2013 2 metre) waves at Teahupo\u2019o.<\/p>\n

Event No. 5 of 11 on the 2011 ASP World Title season, the Billabong Pro Tahiti is facing a historic week of swell projected for the event, a fitting setting for the current ASP World Title Race as well as for those surfers looking to retain their spot amongst the world\u2019s elite after the September rotation.<\/p>\n

Following the next event on the 2011 ASP World Title season in New York, the current ASP Top 34 will be rotated with the top 32 surfers on the ASP World Rankings as well as two surfer wildcards. Those sitting on the bubble at the moment will be looking for major results here in Tahiti and at the next event to ensure their position as ASP Top 34 members for the remainder of the season.<\/p>\n

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 32, current No. 18 on the ASP World Rankings, is well within the safety zone for the September rotation, but he certainly shook things up today, dispatching current frontrunner in the hunt for the 2011 ASP World Title, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, in Round 1 of competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe wind got good which allows you to push it a little further up the point and the waves turned on,\u201d Hobgood said. \u201cI\u2019d like to take a little bit of credit, but the ocean did a lot of work out there. Joel (Parkinson) had a wave that could have been a 10 if he had come out so they\u2019re definitely out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hobgood netted the day\u2019s high heat total of a 19.37 out of a possible 20, including a near-perfect 9.87 out of a possible 10 single-wave score, for a blistering forehand assault amidst Teahupo\u2019o\u2019s fanging lefthanders.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a lot going on out in the barrel at Teahupo\u2019o and the trick is to slow everything down as much as possible,\u201d Hobgood said. \u201cI guess at that point, you rely on instinct to get you through. Very happy to get through that heat and I\u2019ll focus on Round 3.\u201d<\/p>\n

Travis Logie (ZAF), 32, current No. 44 on the ASP World Rankings, gained entry into the Billabong Pro Tahiti at the 11th hour with the withdrawal of Bobby Martinez (USA), 29. The South African embarked on a white-knuckle trip from Europe to Tahiti, showing up with less that 10 hours before his heat. The trip has already proven fruitful though, with Logie taking out his Round 1 heat and moving directly into Round 3.<\/p>\n

\u201cI got the call about 24 hours ago from Renato Hickel (ASP World Tour Manager) and got on the next plane from Europe,\u201d Logie said. \u201cI was over there competing in the 6-Star events and opted to take the opportunity in Tahiti. I don\u2019t have any boards or any equipment so I used my good friend Alain Riou\u2019s board his morning and it felt pretty good.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 23, current No. 2 on the ASP World Title Rankings, kept his 2011 campaign red-hot today, putting on a commanding backhand performance en route to his Round 1 victory. The young South African was enthusiastic with today’s conditions and excited for the swell on the horizon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been here most of the day and I\u2019ve just been psyching to get out there,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt\u2019s so much fun \u2013 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.”<\/p>\n

Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, former two-time ASP World Champion and former Runner-Up at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, is sitting in the No. 4 on the ASP World Title Rankings and will look a big result at Teahupo\u2019o to ignite his 2011 campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis leg is going to be the one that determines who is the champ come the end of the year,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cIt\u2019s a long leg, but it\u2019s one I generally do pretty well on so I\u2019m looking to get on a roll. Stoked with the first round result and will look forward to the rest of the week.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly Slater (USA), 39, reigning 10-time ASP World Champion, missed out on the last event in South Africa and currently sits at No. 6 on the ASP World Title rankings. While a standout in yesterday\u2019s ASP Top 34 warm-up, Slater scored a last-minute come-from-behind win over opponents Dan Ross (AUS), 28, and wildcard Heiarii Williams (PYF), 23.<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to get the deep south ones,\u201d Slater said. \u201cI\u2019d seen enough of those ones in the earlier heats to think they were out there. I got a few small ones that didn\u2019t work out. I was a bit greedy and trying to stay in the barrel a bit longer than I should have. Rossy (Dan Ross) got pushed up the point and I was fortunate to bag a wide one and that made the difference.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dusty Payne (HAW), 22, ASP Dream Tour sophomore, and Julian Wilson (AUS), 22, 2011 ASP Top 34 rookie, punctuated the day\u2019s affairs with inspired exhibitions of backhand tube-riding.<\/p>\n

\u201cI just tried to catch a lot of waves,\u201d Payne said. \u201cTeahupo\u2019o is one of my top two favorite waves in the world \u2013 the other being Pipeline. I\u2019ve been spending time with Bruce (Irons) here and we\u2019ve had a lot of good talks about the spot and the event. I\u2019m just cruising.\u201d<\/p>\n

Currently sitting No. 30 on the ASP World Rankings, Payne is very aware that results in Tahiti and New York are paramount to his tenure as one of the world\u2019s elite.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think about it too much,\u201d Payne said. \u201cI\u2019m aware of the situation, but I\u2019m really just focused on getting good waves and surfing my best. Everything else will fall into place.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wilson capped off the day by netting a near-perfect 9.83 out of a possible 10 for a Houdini-esque no hand barrel out at Teahupo\u2019o to steal victory away from an in-form Josh Kerr (AUS), 27.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere have been 10\u2019s out there all day \u2013 you just have to be in the right spot and you have to want them when they come to you,\u201d Wilson said. \u201cI made some mistakes at the start of the heat, but slowed myself down and found the right ones in the end. It\u2019s so good to be in Tahiti and the forecast looks amazing.\u201d<\/p>\n

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start.<\/p>\n

When competition resumes, up first will be Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, and Heiarii Williams (PYF), 23, in the opening heat of Round 2.<\/p>\n

Highlights from the Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui will be available via http:\/\/www.billabongpro.com<\/p>\n

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling plenty of swell lined up for the next week+. Medium SSW swell through the weekend will be followed by another medium size S swell for early next week, along with favorable conditions. We remain on track for a major swell for the 25th-26th, with potential for more very strong swell by the 28th.<\/p>\n

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com<\/p>\n

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

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

The first round of the Billabong Pro Tahiti gave ASP surfers a little warning shot of how big Teahupoo could be during the finals at the end of the week. Most of the favorites made it through the first round, aside from ASP points leader Joel Parkinson who was sent to round two by CJ […]<\/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":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24938"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24938"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24938\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24939,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24938\/revisions\/24939"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24938"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24938"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24938"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}