This was published 9 years ago
World's best battle big surf on opening day of Billabong Pro Tahiti
The Billabong Pro Tahiti got underway on Tuesday in the biggest surf of the season as the world's best battled 10-to-15 foot surf at Teahupo'o.
The seventh stop on the 2014 Samsung Galaxy ASP World Championship Tour (WCT) saw a thrilling day of competition as top seeds soared and even the most knowledgeable of surfers suffered horrific wipe-outs at the world's most dangerous waves.
Kelly Slater threads a Teahupo'o monster as opponent Glenn Hall barely ducks under in Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.Credit: ASP/Kirstin Scholtz
Round 1 started in perfect conditions and Kelly Slater (USA) showed why he’s the four-time event winner. After getting the best of the opening exchange with a 7.00, the 11-time world champion claimed the first nine-point ride of the event.
“I couldn’t wait to start the heat and get going this morning because it was perfect,” said Slater.
“I’m so excited that I’m shaking. I need to calm myself down because I’m too excited. It’s going to be a great week and I think it’s going to get considerably bigger than this.”
Three-time world champion Mick Fanning put on a clinic at the Teahupo’o lineup in Heat 4.
The Australian rider picked up the pace with the rising swell to claim an early and dominant lead over Alejo Muniz (BRA) and Mitch Coleborn (AUS).
“The conditions are flawless,” said Mick Fanning. “We can’t ask for anything better and I was stoked to get some good ones. It’s so clean and perfect here and that wave I got was a dream.”
2012 ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson, defending event winner Adrian Buchan and veteran charger Nathan Hedge put life and limb on the line in the building swell at Teahupo'o.
The all-Australian heat saw each surfer post a nine-point ride in epic conditions. Despite a tie between Buchan and Parkinson, the defending event champ had the heat's highest single-wave score and took victory.
“Just to surf these waves, whatever happens, with all the fans watching is a huge honour,” Adrian Buchan said.
“Yesterday I hit the bottom really hard and I had to go to the doctor. I really wanted to be part of today so it’s great to be here. It’s crazy and watching everyone throwing themselves into these huge waves is intense.”
Nathan Hedge posted the first Perfect 10 of the competition in his Round match-up against Adriano De Souza of Brazil, and both he and Parkinson with move through to Round 3.
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.40, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 10.34, Glenn Hall (IRL) 4.53
Heat 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 9.66, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 7.63, Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 7.17
Heat 3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.50, Brett Simpson (USA) 9.17, Adam Melling (AUS) 5.07
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.16, Mitch Coleborn (AUS) 8,47, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 8.10
Heat 5: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.30, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.30, Nathan Hedge (AUS) 15.77
Heat 6: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 14.33, Tuamata Puhetini (PYF) 12.17, Mitch Crews (AUS) 9.43
Heat 7: Dion Atkinson 15.33 (AUS), Adriano De Souza 13.10 (BRA), Miguel Pupo 10.94 (BRA)
Heat 8: Nat Young (USA) 16.50, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.27, Tiago Pires (PRT) 8.26
Heat 9: Kolohe Andino (USA) 13.76, Aritz Aranburu (ESP) 11.44, Freddy Patacchia Jr. (HAW) 10.74
Heat 10: Jadson Andre (BRA) 16.64, Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.94, Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.93
Heat 11: Owen Wright (AUS) 6.34, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 5.43, Travis Logie (ZAF) 3.10
Heat 12: Kai Otton (AUS) 18.24, John John Florence (HAW) 15.83, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.73
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.17 def. Taumata Puhetini (PFY) 12.50
Heat 2: Adriano De Souza (BRA) 12.00 vs. Nathan Hedge (AUS) 11.77
Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 2 Upcoming Match-Ups:
Heat 3: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Mitch Coleborn (AUS)
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 5: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Raoni Monteiro (BRA)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Glenn Hall (IRL)
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Tiago Pires (BRA)
Heat 8: Fredrick Patacchia Jr. (HAW) vs. Aritz Aranburu (ESP)
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 10: Miguel Pupo (BRA) vs. Mitch Crews (AUS)
Heat 11: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
Heat 12: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
smh.com.au