{"id":31930,"date":"2012-08-27T09:55:29","date_gmt":"2012-08-27T16:55:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=31930"},"modified":"2012-08-27T09:56:09","modified_gmt":"2012-08-27T16:56:09","slug":"the-final-day-of-billabong-pro-tahiti-is-on","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=31930","title":{"rendered":"The Final Day of Billabong Pro Tahiti Is On"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Florestahiti12Sr10<\/a><\/p>\n

The final day of the 2012 Bilalbong Pro Tahiti<\/a><\/strong> (August 27, 2012) is underway in firing Teahupo’o surf. Kelly Slater <\/strong>may be out, but Mick Fanning<\/strong>, C.J. Hobgood<\/strong>, Parko<\/strong>, and Gabriel Medina<\/strong> are already waiting in the finals to see who survives their Round 5 match-ups.<\/p>\n

\u201cSurf is coming through in the four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metro) range this morning and we\u2019re fortunate enough to have the best conditions available for the final day,\u201d Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. \u201cWe\u2019ll be starting competition at 7am and will be running straight through to the Final. Good luck to all our competitors today.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

For the official word follow the jump and complete results from yesterday’s action.TEAHUPO’O, Taiarapu\/Tahiti (Monday, August 27, 2012) – The final day of the Billabong Pro Tahiti has been called on this morning with the first heat of Round 5 commencing at 7am.<\/p>\n

Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti saw a massive day of action yesterday and will culminate in the best conditions of the waiting period today.<\/p>\n

\u201cSurf is coming through in the four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metro) range this morning and we\u2019re fortunate enough to have the best conditions available for the final day,\u201d Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. \u201cWe\u2019ll be starting competition at 7am and will be running straight through to the Final. Good luck to all our competitors today.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kelly Slater (USA), 40, reigning 11-time ASP World Champion and defending Billabong Pro Tahiti winner, suffered a shock elimination in Round 3 yesterday at the hands of wildcard Ricardo dos Santos (BRA). Slater came into Tahiti ranked No. 2 on the ASP World Championship Tour rankings, but six ASP Top 10 surfers currently remain in the event: Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, John John Florence (HAW), 19, Owen Wright (AUS), 22, and Julian Wilson (AUS), 23. A shuffle at the top-end of the ASP WCT rankings is likely by day\u2019s end.<\/p>\n

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a much larger, long period South swell for today with easing winds.<\/p>\n

Up first this morning will be wildcard Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) up against Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, in the opening heat of Round 5.<\/p>\n

The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE via http:\/\/www.billabongpro.com
\nFor more information, log onto www.ASPWorldTour.com<\/p>\n

The Billabong Pro, Tahiti is made possible with the valued support of international partners Air Tahiti Nui, Sony, Xperia Sony Smartphone and Red Bull, along with our friends at Nixon, VonZipper, Mana and Hyundai.<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 5 MATCH-UPS:
\nHeat 1: Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) vs. Taj Burrow (AUS)
\nHeat 2: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Julian Wilson (AUS)
\nHeat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
\nHeat 4: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Damien Hobgood (USA)<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
\nQF 1: Mick Fanningb (AUS) vs. TBD
\nQF 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBD
\nQF 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBD
\nQF 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. TBD<\/p>\n

Sunday, August 26, 2012<\/strong> – The Billabong Pro Tahiti, Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, recommenced today with Rounds 3 and 4 being completed in rapidly-improving three-to-five foot (1 \u2013 1.5 metro) waves at Teahupo\u2019o.<\/p>\n

Ricardo dos Santos (BRA), two-time Von Zipper Trials winner and wildcard into the main event, caused the upset of the day in eliminating reigning 11-time ASP World Champion and defending Billabong Pro Tahiti winner, Kelly Slater (USA), 40, with an incredible down-to-the-wire performance in Round 3. Needing a major score with 10 seconds remaining in the heat, Dos Santos threaded a lengthy forehand barrel to attain a 9.87 out of a possible 10 and the emotional win.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat wave came to me at the very end and I was just hoping for a chance to show what I can do,\u201d Dos Santos said. \u201cThat wave was so good and it just allowed me to pull in early and keep running through it. That was my last chance \u2013 it was either make it or go home. I knew I had to get the best waves and get as deep as I can. I knew Kelly (Slater) was going to post high scores so I just had to do my best. I\u2019m really happy right now, but there\u2019s a long way to go so I need to focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dos Santos, after an afternoon loss in Round 4, has been relegated to Round 5 where he\u2019ll face Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, tomorrow morning.<\/p>\n

While Slater bowed out of the Billabong Pro Tahiti uncharacteristically early in Round 3, the iconic Floridian remained ever-gracious in defeat and will return to competition at the upcoming event in California
\n\u201cI honestly don\u2019t know a whole lot about Ricardo (dos Santos),\u201d Slater said. \u201cI know that he won the Trials last year in huge surf and won the Trials this year in small surf so he\u2019s obviously very competent out here in any kind of conditions. I\u2019m disappointed to lose early, but more so because tomorrow could be really good. I think that tomorrow could be really classic conditions at Teahupo\u2019o and hopefully I\u2019m able to get waves somewhere.\u201d
\nSlater, who currently sits in second position on the ASP World Championship rankings may see his position drop following the tomorrow\u2019s completion of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.<\/p>\n

Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009) and current ASP WCT No. 1, survived a tight heat against lethal goofy-footer Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 30, in Round 3 this morning, but was able to confidently best Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, and Julian Wilson (AUS), 23, in this afternoon\u2019s Round 4 heat.
\n\u201cThe conditions are night and day between the two heats today,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cThis morning wasn\u2019t classic Chopes and it was more turns than barrels, and then this afternoon, the wind came good and the swell was pulsing. It was so much fun. I\u2019m into the Quarterfinals now so that\u2019s a pretty good result for me historically at this event. We\u2019ll see what tomorrow brings.\u201d<\/p>\n

C.J. Hobgood (USA), 33, former ASP World Champion (2001) and current No. 12 on the ASP WCT rankings, is one of the most respected Teahupo\u2019o surfers on the planet and the Floridian goofy-footer proved why today with solid wins in Rounds 3 and 4 to advance directly to the Quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI definitely felt like I snuck through there at the end of the (Round 4) heat,\u201d Hobgood said. \u201cThree-man heats at Teahupo\u2019o can be tricky because everyone has the tendency to push each other up the point and out of position. I was fortunate that I ended up being in the right spot for the good ones that came through. Waves are starting to pulse now so hopefully they only get better for the remainder of competition.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 24, last year\u2019s recipient of the Andy Irons Forever Award, continued to show the world that he is one of the preeminent tube-riders on the planet taking down Heitor Alves (BRA), 30, this morning and then punctuating the afternoon by posting the event\u2019s first Perfect 10 for an incredible no-hands backhand barrel.
\nDespite the impressive performance, it was a rampaging Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, who steamrolled through to an impressive Round 4 victory over Flores and Damien Hobgood (USA), 33, with the highest heat total of the round, a near-perfect 18.23 out of a possible 20.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a really good heat to be in,\u201d Parkinson said. \u201cIt was gentlemen\u2019s rules and plenty of waves. It was probably the best three-man heat I\u2019ve ever surfed out there. It was just so enjoyable and that\u2019s why I surf and compete. Really happy right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parkinson has advanced directly to the Quarterfinals of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.<\/p>\n

Gabriel Medina (BRA), 18, competing in his first ever Billabong Pro Tahiti, proved that he is one of the most comprehensive young surfers on the planet in collecting the event\u2019s second Perfect 10 in the final heat of the day, an incredible forehand drop into a bowling barrel at Teahupo\u2019o.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve gotten a few 10s before but nothing like that wave,\u201d Medina said. \u201cIt\u2019s an honor to be here competing at Teahupo\u2019o and I have a lot of respect for John John (Florence) and Kieren (Perrow). They are both great tube-riders so I knew I had to do my best. Very thankful to get through and looking forward to tomorrow\u2019s finish.\u201d
\nMedina advances directly to the Quarterfinals.<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 3 RESULTS:
\nHeat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.17 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.34
\nHeat 2: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.83 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.37
\nHeat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.04 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 11.00
\nHeat 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 18.30 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 17.50
\nHeat 5: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 18.30 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.17
\nHeat 6: Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 18.34 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 16.44
\nHeat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.83 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 4.47
\nHeat 8: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.60 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 12.60
\nHeat 9: Damien Hobgood (USA) 15.10 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.93
\nHeat 10: John John Florence (HAW) 13.30 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 13.17
\nHeat 11: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 13.60 def. Alejo Muniz (BRA) 4.73
\nHeat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.87 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.67<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 4 RESULTS:
\nHeat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.60, Taj Burrow (AUS) 9.10, Julian Wilson (AUS) 2.80
\nHeat 2: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.76, Owen Wright (AUS) 15.60, Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 9.67
\nHeat 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.23, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 17.77, Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.47
\nHeat 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 17.83, John John Florence (HAW) 7.00, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 3.23<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The final day of the 2012 Bilalbong Pro Tahiti (August 27, 2012) is underway in firing Teahupo’o surf. Kelly Slater may be out, but Mick Fanning, C.J. Hobgood, Parko, and Gabriel Medina are already waiting in the finals to see who survives their Round 5 match-ups. \u201cSurf is coming through in the four-to-six foot (1.5 […]<\/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\/31930"}],"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=31930"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31930\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31932,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/31930\/revisions\/31932"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=31930"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=31930"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=31930"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}