Damien Hobgood 2007 : photo Karen/ASP Covered Images

Billabong Pro Tahiti
Presented by Air Tahiti Nui

ASP World Tour Event # 3
Teahupoo Taiarapu-Tahiti
8 - 18 May 2008

Live Coverage  |  Results/Photos/Videos etc

Billabong Pro Tahiti to Start Tomorrow; Defending Champion Withdraws

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 12 May, 2008 : - - Teahupoo – The 11-day Billabong Pro Tahiti waiting period is nearly half over, but the wait ends tomorrow. Today, the fifth official lay day for ASP World Tour competition at Teahupoo, will be one of preparation for the World’s Top 45 surfers. A rising swell has reinforced predictions that Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti will commence tomorrow, Tuesday, May 13, 2008.

Defending Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion Damien Hobgood (USA) has officially withdrawn from competition. ASP replacement surfer Nic Muscroft (AUS) will take his place. Hobgood fractured his shoulder freesurfing at Teahupoo one month ago and was hoping to heal in time to defend his title, unfortunately, he will have to wait to see if he can do so at the next stop in Fiji – he was the last event winner there as well.

“I wanted to wait until the last minute to see if it would be possible for me to surf but my arm was too weak to be able to pull that off,” Hobgood said. “Also if I would have hit my shoulder again, that could have put me out for a lot longer and after making that mistake last year, I didn't want to repeat it. I should be able to surf Fiji so I am really looking forward to getting back in the water for that event.”

Hobgood’s withdrawal has changed the seeding on the Billabong Pro Tahiti draw and the heat match-ups have moved around significantly. Rookie Jordy Smith (ZAF) will now face Australia's Dean Morrison and fellow South African Ricky Basnett in the first heat of the day.

Event officials will aim to start competition at 7am tomorrow. The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE on aspworldtour.com and billabongpro.com.

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Tim Reyes (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Jamie O'Brien (HAW)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Bruno Santos (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Neco Padaratz (BRA), Bruce Irons (HAW), Daniel Wills (AUS)

Previous reports:
# 1 : Billabong Pro Tahiti 2008 gets ready for May launch date
# 2 : Teahupoo baring teeth as Top 45 prep for Billabong Pro
# 3 : Teahupoo roars to life for Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials

# 4 : Teahupoo keeps delivering big swell for trialists in Tahiti 
# 5 : Jamie O'Brien claims the Air Tahiti Nui-Von Zipper Trials 
# 6 : Billabong Pro Tahiti by Air Tahiti Nui kicks off in two days

# 7 : Waiting period for Billabong Pro Tahiti kicks off tomorrow
# 8 : Lay day called first day of Billabong Pro Tahiti wait period
# 9 : The Billabong Pro Tahiti by Air Tahiti Nui takes the day off
# 10 : More quiet for Day #3 of Billabong Pro Tahiti wait period

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