Damien Hobgood : photo Tostee/ASP Covered Images

Billabong Pro Tahiti 

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

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc 

Damien Hobgood Takes Top Honors at Billabong Pro Tahiti

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 May, 2007 : - - Teahupoo, Tahiti -- Damien Hobgood (USA) has been crowned the 2007 Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion after beating Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings leader Mick Fanning (AUS) in a last-minute victory in 5 to 7 foot (1.5 - 2 metre) surf at Teahupoo.

Hobgood bowed out of the 2005 Billabong Pro Tahiti Final halfway through after dislocating his shoulder - a circumstance which made his win today that much more meaningful.

"It’s insane - I was stoked to have another chance at it," Hobgood said. "I feel that things happen for a reason and I did my best out here in 2005 and came up short. I replayed that wave in my mind a hundred times going, ’I should have tried to stay in that barrel and not come out doggy-door,’ but I feel like I can put that out of my mind now."

Hobgood took off on a set wave needing an excellent scoring ride of 8.21 with one minute remaining. Fanning caught the wave behind but came up short in the exchange - Hobgood’s 8.60 won him the heat. "Even though there was only a minute left, I was still holding on and thinking I could do it," Hobgood said. "I was able to just barely pull it off but the heat was so close - Mick put on a great performance."

Damien Hobgood : photo Karen/ASP Covered Images

Hobgood and Fanning met in a Foster’s ASP World Tour final in Brazil last year that produced an outcome opposite to today’s. Even though Fanning led for the majority of the heat, he was humble in his recognition of Hobgood’s accomplishments today.

"There’s nothing you can do," Fanning said. "You pray and hope that he falls, but in the same sense, you want to see someone get a good barrel. It’s all good. I got him last year in Brazil so he got me back."

Fanning’s 2nd place result at the Billabong Pro Tahiti has seen him pull away from the pack on the official ASP World Tour ratings. Having already featured in two out of three finals on this year’s Foster’s ASP World Tour, Fanning is well and truly in pursuit of his maiden world title. He finished 3rd in the world in 2005 and 2006.

"I always feel comfortable at home (on the Gold Coast) and in Bells," Fanning said. "I never really had a good result here at Teahupoo so I’m stoked to get one and put it towards the World Title. This year, I’ve had a few results at the start of the year - in the past I’ve always seemed to do well the second half of the year. "

MIck Fanning : photo Tostee/ASP Covered Images

Fanning peaked in his semifinal against rookie Kai Otton (AUS), earning the only perfect 10.00 wave score of the event. Otton posted the second highest wave score of the event (a 9.90) in his Quarterfinal against Cory Lopez (USA), but lost to Fanning after making a critical priority mistake by giving the ratings leader the wave of the day.

"Mick scored that 10.00 under my priority, but that’s what happens, guys get scores underneath priority," Otton said. "I just thought I was a little deep and it didn’t look that good but he was in the perfect spot, got really deep and got the 10.00." Otton has moved to 10th on the Foster’s ASP Ratings with this result; right behind French rookie Jeremy Flores who now sits 9th in the world.

"It’s unbelievable," Otton said. "I’m having a dream start for a rookie. If I can keep on a roll maybe I can avoid surfing the ’QS." Joel Parkison (AUS) has moved to fourth on the world ratings after his 3rd place finish today. Parkinson lost to Hobgood in Semifinal 1.

"The set came through and it had this big lump and it came to a peak and went straight to Damien and he got a 9.0 on it," Parkinson said. "I was 10 feet too deep and sometimes that’s all it takes. I knew I needed to be patient but it never really happened for me after that. I’m happy with the result though, a 3rd is great."

Kai Ottan : photo Karen/ASP Covered Images

The next stop on the Foster’s ASP World Tour will be event No. 4, the Rip Curl Pro Chile, from June 20 to July 1, 2007. Visit the media center on www.aspworldtour.com for transcribed athlete interviews, audio downloads, hi-resolution photographs and heat by heat updates for all the Billabong Pro Tahiti action thus far.

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS
FINAL: Damien Hobgood (USA) 16.60 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.20

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS
SF 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) 18.17 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.67
SF2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.87 def. Kai Otton (USA) 15.33

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.53 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 12.00
QF 2: Damien Hobgood (USA) 17.17 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.23
QF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.73 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 14.33
QF 4: Kai Otton (AUS ) def. Cory Lopez (USA)

Foster’s ASP World Tour Ratings (after Stop No. 3 of 10, the Billabong Pro Tahiti)
1. Mick Fanning 3108 points
2. Taj Burrow 2676 points
3. Damien Hogood 2342 points
4. Joel Parkinson 2340 points
5. Bede Durbidge 2232 points
6. Kelly Slater 2208 points
7. Andy Irons 1989 points
8. Michael Campbell 1932 points
9. Jeremy Flores 1742 points
10. Kai Otton 1701 points

Cory Lopez : photo Karen/ASP Covered Images

Morning Report

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI CHAMPION TO EMERGE FROM TEAHUPOO TODAY

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 16 May, 2007 : - - Teahupoo, Tahiti -- An extended Billabong Pro Tahiti waiting period has enabled contest officials to send the eight remaining Foster’s ASP World Tour surfers out in four to six foot (one to two metre) and building swell this morning. The Billabong Pro Tahiti Quarterfinals will begin at 11am local time. The first Quarterfinal will feature three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW) and perennial Top 5 surfer Joel Parkinson (AUS).

Irons won the Billabong Pro Tahiti in 2002. Parkison’s Quarterfinal berth and guaranteed equal 5th finish today will surpasses his best ever result at Teahupoo - an equal ninth result in 2005. Damien Hobgood (USA), who will take on French rookie Jeremy Flores in Quarterfinal 2, featured in the 2005 Billabong Pro Final. Like Teahupoo trophy owners Irons and 2001 winner Cory Lopez, Hobgood has enjoyed more success at the venue than many of today’s other Quarterfinalists who are either rookies or posting personal bests.

Current Foster’s ASP World Tour No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS) made his way to Tahiti weeks prior to the event to log some practice time at Teahupoo. Like Parkinson, Fanning had failed to advance out of Round 4 at the Billabong Pro Tahiti prior to 2007.  Fanning will meet Luke Stedman (AUS) in Quarterfinal 3 and walk away from the Billabong Pro Tahiti 1st on the ASP ratings regardless of his result today.

Lopez will meet Kai Otton (AUS), the second of two Foster’s ASP World Tour rookies still in contention, in Quarterfinal 4. All the Billabong Pro Tahiti action will be webcast LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com.  Visit the media center on www.aspworldtour.com for transcribed athlete interviews, audio downloads, hi-resolution photographs and heat by heat updates for all the Billabong Pro Tahiti action thus far.

TIME ZONES FOR 11AM TAHITI:
Los Angeles: 11am in Tahiti is 2pm in Los Angeles
Honolulu: 11am in Tahiti is 11am in Honolulu
Sydney: 11am in Tahiti is 7am in Sydney
Perth: 11am in Tahiti is 5am in Perth
Tokyo: 11am in Tahiti is 6am in Tokyo
Paris: 11am in Tahiti is 11pm in Paris
Jerusalem: 11am in Tahiti is 11pm in Jerusalem
Johannesburg: 11am in Tahiti is 11pm in Johannesburg
London: 11am in Tahiti is 10 pm in London
Buenos Aires: 11am in Tahiti is 6pm in Buenos Aires
Santiago: 11am in Tahiti is 5pm in Santiago
New York: 11am in Tahiti is 5am in New York

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Ratings after Stop No.3 on the Foster’s ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti
1 Mick Fanning AUS 3108
2 Taj Burrow AUS 2676
3 Damien Hobgood USA 2342
4 Joel Parkinson AUS 2340
5 Bede Durbidge AUS 2232
6 Kelly Slater USA 2208
7 Andy Irons HAW 1989
8 Michael Campbell AUS 1932
9 Jeremy Flores FRA 1742
10 Kai Otton AUS 1701
11 Tom Whitaker AUS 1696
12 Bruce Irons HAW 1610
12 Daniel Wills AUS 1610
12 Travis Logie ZAF 1610
15 Ben Dunn AUS 1557
16 Chris Ward USA 1420
16 Pancho Sullivan HAW 1420
18 Cory Lopez USA 1367
18 Luke Stedman AUS 1367
20 Taylor Knox USA 1235
20 Raoni Monteiro BRA 1235
20 Adrian Buchan AUS 1235
20 Bernardo Miranda BRA 1235
20 Leonardo Neves BRA 1235
25 Bobby Martinez USA 1230
25 Dean Morrison AUS 1230
25 Adriano de Souza BRA 1230
25 Ricky Basnett ZAF 1230
29 Josh Kerr AUS 1182
30 Fredrick Patacchia HAW 1050
30 Greg Emslie ZAF 1050
32 Phillip MacDonald AUS 1045
32 Dayyan Neve AUS 1045
32 Rodrigo Dornelles BRA 1045
32 Trent Munro AUS 1045
36 Royden Bryson ZAF 957
37 C.J. Hobgood USA 860
37 Shaun Cansdell AUS 860
37 Michael Lowe AUS 860
37 Mark Occhilupo AUS 860
37 Victor Ribas BRA 860
37 Troy Brooks AUS 860
37 Gabe Kling USA 860
44 Tim Reyes USA 675
44 Neco Padaratz BRA 675
44 Luke Munro AUS 675