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