Volcom Stone's Pearlfish Surf Series goes off in Tahiti

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 20 March, 2007 : - - After nine hours on an airplane, three hours in security lines and four hundred pounds of luggage later we arrived in Papeete on the main island of Tahiti. It was hot as hell, but we are in the tropics once again ready to run the Pearlfish Surf Series. After we went for a surf, and got some sleep it was time to get the event underway.

The waves at the rootsy village of Papara were 3-4 feet with glassy lefts and rights gracing the event all day long. Also, worth mentioning that it was like 80 degrees before the sun even came up and over eighty kids were up bright and early for a very hot and humid day at the first ever Pearlfish event in Tahiti on March 11th, 2007.

The Girls in Tahiti are young and eager to impress! These girls surf the warm tropic waters of Tahiti everyday and it shows. With solid performances by everyone in the final, here's how it went down. The only veteran in the class was Patricia Rossi, who would dominate the field with her years of experience. Naumi Terriparau would finish in second; following in third place would be Hereiti Manuel. Prisla Amaru, Louikoi Maro, and Keoniu Raio finished in that order.

The Groms are gnarly, the level is so high and these young kids seem to be improving at a very fast pace. One of these kids could win the VQS Champs if they made the long trek to California in May. Enreique Arii Tu would win by just a half a point, Keoni Yan was charging hard and could have won but a slip at the end of heat winner cost him the final.

Impressive to say the least as he was the youngest in the group. Kevin Bourez, Teiki Charles, Mihimanu Braye, JB Prunnier rounded out the final. A quick note to add anyone of these kids could have won this event they all ripped and was very impressive to see that kind of talent emerging in Tahiti.

The Juniors were smaller in numbers but were just as fierce as the Groms. You can tell the experience these kids have from surfing Tahiti's outer reefs makes them more advanced and stylish. Jocelyn Poulou would be the winner but only by a very close margin, Arumoana David would finish in a close second.

Thomas Chanulat would finish in third, with Teoro Tanutini and the rest of the pack right behind him. The winner received a huge Volcom prize pack including a Santa Cruz Skateboard and Vestal Watch.

The Pro-Am got down with relentless attacks by a motivated Steven Pierson, and the smooth style of Tahiti's native son Manoa Drollet. In the end it would Teiva Mare just making it past the rest of the group for the win. All of these final were so close it was crazy.

Steven Pierson would finish in second, followed by Marama Faatuarai, Manoa Drollet, Tereva David, Tamaroa McComb. The winner received $500 in cash and a Volcom prize bag with a ton of goodies.

Special thanks to Marama Drollet for organizing the Tahitian end of it and making the event a possibility. Thanks goes out to the Tahitian Surfing Federation as well! Hope to see some of you guys at VQS Champs May 11-13, 2007 at 54th Street in Newport Beach, California. Extra special thanks to our product sponsors for giving away tons of prizes all season long:

MONSTER ENERGY DRINK,SANTA CRUZ SURFBOARDS-NHS,OGIO,GLOBE SHOES,SPY OPTICS,VESTAL,OCEAN MINDED,DA-KINE ACCESSORIES,SECTOR 9,FREAK TRACTION,FUTURE FINS,ZOO YORK SKATEBOARDS,BLACKLINE TRACTION,FAMOUS WAX,H20 AUDIO,MONSTER CABLE,EPITAPH RECORDS,SURFING,SURFER,TRANSWORLD SURF,WATER,MUNDO RAD,HAPPY MAGAZINE,thanks again to MONSTER ENERGY DRINK for providing lunch for all the competitors!

PRO-AM
1. Teiva Mare $500
2. Steven Pierson
3. Marama Faatuarai
4. Manoa Drollet
5. Tereva David
6. Tamaroa McComb

JUNIORS
1. Jocelyn Poulou
2. Arumoana David
3. Thomas Chanulat
4. Teoro Tanutini
5. Tuheitini Raio
6. Vinant Lii

GROMS
1. Enreique Arii Tu
2. Keoni Yan
3. Kevin Bourez
4. Teiki Charles
5. Mihimanu Braye
6. JB Prunnier

GIRLS
1. Patricia Rossi
2. Naumi Terriparau
3. Hereiti Manuel
4. Prisla Amaru
5. Louikoi Maro
6. Keoniu Raio