Stab Magazine | Here's what happened at the Teahupoo Trials:
443 Views

Here’s what happened at the Teahupoo Trials:

Footage: ASP Tuamata Puhetini and Nathan Hedge just finished first and second in the Air Tahiti Nui Billabong Pro trials at Teahupoo. This is the second time Tuamata has won the trials and found himself in the main event, the first being back in 2010. Last time he made it into the main event he lost to Mick Fanning in round two, but he’s looking even more sharp this time around. “The surf was fantastic today!” said Tuamata. “I can’t believe I won it again, everyone was surfing very well. I won the Trials in 2010 and it was a great experience, and I’m really looking forward to taking on the best guys out there in the Billabong Pro.” And how about Hedgey, who recently starred in Red Bull’s 21Days alongside Michel Bourez, coming second and qualifying for the main event? You couldn’t even script it. “It was a day for the Tahitians with Tuamata taking the win,” said Hedgey. “I’m really stoked to have made the final. I got some of the best waves of my life today, it’s like a dream. It’s a big risk coming here for the Trials, there’s only one spot for international surfers up for grabs, and I got it. It was a magical day, this is why we surf.” It wasn’t all peachy though. Michel’s younger brother, Kevin, took a really bad slam in which his head met the reef. The doctor has informed event organisers that Kevin’s in a stable condition, despite undergoing four hours of surgery for multiple head fractures and deep facial lacerations. He’s currently being monitored closely and our thoughts go out to the Bourez fam. Kevin actually won his heat despite the injury and would’ve been a real chance for the final. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bourez family,” said Hedgey. “Kevin loves to charge, he’s an amazing kid and surfer and I’m wishing him a full recovery and may he return to the ocean some time soon.” All photos ASP/Robertson Hedgey. Years of experience at this place? Yeah, that’ll give a man composure. Manoa Drollet, Chopes’ animal spirit. Anthony Walsh’s foamball ride is unmissable. Reckon Alain Riou is thrilled?

news // Mar 8, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Footage: ASP

Tuamata Puhetini and Nathan Hedge just finished first and second in the Air Tahiti Nui Billabong Pro trials at Teahupoo. This is the second time Tuamata has won the trials and found himself in the main event, the first being back in 2010. Last time he made it into the main event he lost to Mick Fanning in round two, but he’s looking even more sharp this time around. “The surf was fantastic today!” said Tuamata. “I can’t believe I won it again, everyone was surfing very well. I won the Trials in 2010 and it was a great experience, and I’m really looking forward to taking on the best guys out there in the Billabong Pro.”

And how about Hedgey, who recently starred in Red Bull’s 21Days alongside Michel Bourez, coming second and qualifying for the main event? You couldn’t even script it. “It was a day for the Tahitians with Tuamata taking the win,” said Hedgey. “I’m really stoked to have made the final. I got some of the best waves of my life today, it’s like a dream. It’s a big risk coming here for the Trials, there’s only one spot for international surfers up for grabs, and I got it. It was a magical day, this is why we surf.”

It wasn’t all peachy though. Michel’s younger brother, Kevin, took a really bad slam in which his head met the reef. The doctor has informed event organisers that Kevin’s in a stable condition, despite undergoing four hours of surgery for multiple head fractures and deep facial lacerations. He’s currently being monitored closely and our thoughts go out to the Bourez fam. Kevin actually won his heat despite the injury and would’ve been a real chance for the final. “My thoughts and prayers go out to the Bourez family,” said Hedgey. “Kevin loves to charge, he’s an amazing kid and surfer and I’m wishing him a full recovery and may he return to the ocean some time soon.”

All photos ASP/Robertson

temp-download-4056_1407695425_NathanHedgeTahitiTRIALS14SR09

Hedgey. Years of experience at this place? Yeah, that’ll give a man composure.

temp-download-4057_1407695435_ManoaDrolletTahitiTRIALS14SR02

Manoa Drollet, Chopes’ animal spirit.

temp-download-4065_1407695530_AnthonyWalshTahitiTRIALS14SR06

Anthony Walsh’s foamball ride is unmissable.

temp-download-4066_1407695511_AlainRiouTahitiTRIALS14SR10

Reckon Alain Riou is thrilled?

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Watch: Episode 01 of Stab In The Dark X Starring Kelly Slater

Who will the greatest surfer of all time crown the shaper of the decade?

Jan 14, 2026

2025 Was The Year Of The Rat

Comment of the Year 2025 goes to...

Jan 13, 2026

We Had Eight World Class Surfers Blind Test 117 Surfboards From 37 Shapers

This is the story of Stab In The Dark, so far.

Jan 12, 2026

Do We Appreciate Creed McTaggart Enough?

GERAMANIA — ASIA DOWN THE LINE

Jan 12, 2026

The Year Of Magic Boards, Bare Thighs, Strong Chins & Euro Dominance Is Upon Us

Read Stab's 2026 predictions, and take our future-telling quiz

Jan 11, 2026

“One Of Those Forecasts That’s So Scary You’re Kinda Hoping It Goes Onshore”

The Gaelic swell that put three of the world's best big wave surfers on the…

Jan 9, 2026

SEOTY: Eithan Osborne Stars In ‘Lost Pinterest’

Two bionic shoulders, an extra $100,000 in the bank, and a lot of sand-bottom Mexican…

Jan 8, 2026

Revealed: The 5 SITD-Winning Shapers Listed In The Kelly Files

The nerve to throw in a swallow-tail...

Jan 8, 2026

Had A Beer With A Stranger, Ended Up In A War

How a pleasure-seeking Indo trip became a tour of duty in Ukraine's frontline.

Jan 7, 2026

The Most Spectacular Waves Of 2025

Saltwater // chlorine.

Jan 6, 2026

49 Surfers Dead: A Dark History Of Brazil’s Southern Coast

The most lethal surf coast you've never heard of.

Jan 4, 2026

We Tracked The Board-Buying Habits Of 7,500 Surfers 

What, why, and how much are we buying? 

Jan 2, 2026

Surfing’s 2025 Q4 Report

Detecting surfing’s dark matters.

Jan 1, 2026

Noa Deane Wins Stab Surfer Of The Year 2025, Best Male

Two films, one edit, and three film sections later, Noa's incomparable work ethic pays off.

Dec 31, 2025

Breaking: Medina Splits With Rip Curl, Noa Deane Signs On The Jagged Line, Yago Dora’s New Brand Revealed

2025's grand industry finale.

Dec 30, 2025

Molly Picklum Wins Stab Surfer Of The Year 2025, Best Female

The year of Pickles, immortalized once and for all.

Dec 30, 2025

Snapt5 Wins 2025’s Film of the Year

Logan Dulien hits a walk-off grand slam in surf filmmaking.

Dec 29, 2025

Harry Bryant and Dav Fox Win 2025’s Edit Of The Year with ‘Roasted’

A study of time, space, and surfboards longer than you need.

Dec 28, 2025
Advertisement