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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
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ROUND 1 BILLABONG PRO TEAHUPOO MATCH-UPS: Heat 1: Bobby Martinez (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Shaun Cansdell (AUS) Heat 2: Bruce Irons (HAW), Chris Ward (USA), Trent Munro (AUS) Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Victor Ribas (BRA) Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Royden Bryson (ZAF), Troy Brooks (AUS) Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Neco Padaratz (BRA) Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF), Gabe Kling (USA) Heat 7: Andy Irons (HAW), Frederick Patacchia (HAW), Luke Munro (AUS) Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Phillip Macdonald (AUS), Manoa Drollet (PYF) Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Anthony Walsh (AUS) Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF) Heat 11: Daniel Wills (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) Heat 12: Michael Campbell (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Bernardo Miranda (BRA) Heat 13: Ben Dunn (AUS), Ricky Basnett (ZAF), Dayyan Neve (AUS) Heat 14: Travis Logie (ZAF), CJ Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS) Heat 15: Taylor Knox (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Mark Occhilupo (AUS) Heat 16: Dean Morrison (AUS), Michael Lowe (AUS), Luke Stedman (AUS)
PAST BILLABONG PRO TEAHUPOO CHAMPIONS 2006: Bobby Martinez (USA) 2005: Kelly Slater (USA) 2004: CJ Hobgood (USA) 2003: Kelly Slater (USA) 2002: Andy Irons (HAW) 2001: Cory Lopez (USA) 2000: Kelly Slater (USA) 1999: Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
About ASP The Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) is the governing body of professional surfing. Crowning surfing’s undisputed world champions since 1976, the ASP sanctions the following tours: the Foster’s ASP World Tour, the ASP Women’s World Tour, the World Qualifying Series (WQS) and the World Longboarding, Junior and Masters Championships.
The ASP is dedicated to showcasing the world’s best surfing talent in a variety of progressive formats and has revolutionized the way the world watches surfing via their webcasts. The organization is divided into seven different regions: Africa, Asia, Australasia, Europe, Hawaii, North America, and South America.
About Foster’s Group Foster’s Group is a premium global drinks company delivering a portfolio of beer, wine, spirits, cider and non-alcoholic beverages. The Foster’s network spans three regions: 1) Australia, Asia and Pacific, 2) Americas and 3) Europe, Middle East and Africa. Foster’s has been the naming rights Title sponsor of the Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour since 2004. Foster’s Lager is the official beer of the tour and is the world’s seventh largest international beer brand - available in 155 countries.
Previous reports: # 1 : Billabong Pro Tahiti: tour gears up for Teahupoo action # 2 : Coming soon # 3 : Coming soon # 4 : Coming soon
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