Billabong Pro Tahiti

ASP World Championship Tour Event #3
Teahupoo Taiarapu Tahiti
4 - 14 May 2007

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BILLABONG PRO TAHITI - WORLD’S HEAVIEST WAVE NEXT STOP ON ASP TOUR

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 24 April, 2007 : - - Teahupoo, Tahiti - Australian surfers Taj Burrow (AUS) and Mick Fanning (AUS) will enter the Billabong Pro Tahiti ranked equal 1st in the world when the Foster’s ASP World Tour heads to Tahiti from May 4-14, 2007.

Fanning and Burrow dominated the Australian leg of the tour claiming events at Snapper Rocks and Bells Beach respectively, but neither has earned ultimate honors at Teahupoo, the third of 10 stops on this year’s tour. Fanning, who has claimed elite tour victories in Australia, Brazil and South Africa, has never won an event in the South Pacific, in fact, he finished dead last in the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2006. 

A stellar start to his 2007 title campaign prompted Fanning to fly to Tahiti for the past week to get in some extra practice, the only tour surfer to do so.  Landing into a perfect 3m swell, the skillful natural footer clocked up some invaluable tube riding experience at the nerve racking break. 

He will return to Australia tomorrow morning, while the Billabong Pro Tahiti’s precursor, The Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials get underway.  (April 24th-29th) “I think to win in Tahiti would be an ultimate,” Fanning said. “There are a few places that you dream of winning as a kid and I am sure this is one of them for every surfer.” 

“I have never really done well in Tahiti,” he said.  “I feel comfortable there but maybe I have never backed myself at the location.  “This year I feel a lot better about the place and hope all the bad results I’ve had there end this year.” Burrow is coming off an equal 3rd finish at the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast and a win at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and is looking to continue his momentum as the Dream Tour ventures into the South Pacific.

“I’m stoked with my start to the year, but now its time to focus on Chopes,” Burrow said.  “It is a tough contest to win - there are a lot of guys who specialize there. “I’ve had some really good results in the past with a 2nd and a 3rd but winning Chopes is what counts, and that’s what I’ll be going for.  “I think I can do it, I will just go into the event taking all the experience and balls that I have and go for it.”

Long touted as Australia’s big hope to regain the Foster’s ASP World Title from the American and Hawaiian dynasties, Burrow admits that the fire still burns within to capture surfing’s most sought-after crown. His recent string of results and level of surfing has been attributed to a return to focus in training and diet, something absent in the 28-year-old’s previous title campaigns.

“Well as far as the title goes, it would mean the world to me if I was the next Aussie world champ,” Burrow said. “That’s what I’ve been fighting for my whole career. “It is a huge task to win a world title, but it’s there for the taking and that’s what I’m aiming to do this year.” Widely considered one of Mother Nature’s most dangerous creations, the barreling beast has seen American surfers secure victories in seven out of eight elite tour events held there. 

Last year, Californian rookie Bobby Martinez (USA) won the contest.  Former ASP world champions Kelly Slater (USA), CJ Hobgood (USA) and Andy Irons (HAW) as well as tour stalwart Cory Lopez (USA) dominated proceedings in years prior. Australian Mark Occhilupo won the inaugural ASP World Tour event in Tahiti in 1999 - the same year he went on to secure the ASP World Title.  An Australian has not won in Tahiti or earned an ASP World Title since.