Billabong Pro Tahiti

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

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI IN THE WATER NOW

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 May, 2007 : - - Teahupoo, Tahiti -- Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti will kick off today, day one of the 11-day event waiting period, at Teahupoo Reef  this morning.  Three to five foot (one to one half metre) barrels will house the Foster’s ASP World Tour surfers from 8am onwards.

The action will ignite from the very first heat with two former event winners, defending champion Bobby Martinez (USA) and 2001 Billabong Pro Tahiti winner Cory Lopez (USA), going up against Aussie injury replacement Trent Munro. Munro has replaced a recovering Timmy Reyes (USA) in each of the three events on tour so far in 2007.

Due to a last minute withdrawal from rookie Royden Bryson (ZAF) who encountered Visa issues en route to Tahiti, the 48-man draw was reseeded last night. The reshuffling of seeds has set up a scorching Heat 7 battle between 2002 Billabong Pro Tahiti winner Andy Irons (HAW), last year’s runner-up Fred Pattachia (HAW) and local specialist and event wildcard Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF).

Local surfer Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF), 25, was awarded the Billabong Pro Teahupoo wildcard for his stunning performances in previous years. Teriinatoofa will join Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials winner Manoa Drollet (PYF) and runner-up Anthony Walsh (AUS) in the main event.

"I am really happy to get the wildcard but I kind of wish I would have been in the Trials too because they had such great surf," Teriinatoofa said. "I am back in there and my goal is to beat the result I got last year. I have got to do better than that. Once I do that, I will just take it day by day."

The young Tahitian, who lost to Fred Pattachia (HAW) in the quarters last year, will have his work cut out for him when he draws current Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings leader Taj Burrow (AUS) and ’07 rookie sensation Jeremy Flores (FRA) in his Round 1 heat. Locals taking it all in from the famous Teahupoo channel will no doubt be cheering wildly when their home-grown hero paddles out for his Heat 10 battle.

"The local advantage here is really cool because having all the people here to cheer for me makes it really comfortable," Teriinatoofa said. "It doesn’t matter if there are big names in my heat or not. They are all good anyway - they are all Top 45, that’s why they’re here. I just need to be careful and not be overconfident. I’m just going to take it one by one and with the support of Tahiti, I hope to do well."

When action hits the water, past Billabong Pro Teahupoo champions Bobby Martinez (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Kelly Slater (USA), Cory Lopez (USA) and Mark Occhilupo (AUS) will be looking to once again take top honors at what is widely considered ’the world’s heaviest wave.’

Surfline.com, the official forecaster of the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, is calling for surf to remain in the head-high range tomorrow before dropping slightly over the weekend. It is very possible that Round 1 of competition may hit the water at 7:30am local time.

The Billabong Pro Teahupoo will be webcast LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com