The 2013 Billabong Pro, Tahiti (part one)

It was never gonna be big. But, that doesn’t mean we can’t get our kicks. If you came wild for it, there was plenty of entertainment to be syphoned from the first day of this year’s Billabong Pro, Tahiti. Small Chopes is still vicious, and through the small boat parked on dry reef, we saw some dazzling moments.

Hey, how about that John John Florence kid? First wave of the event, a 9.07 barrel backed up by three backside hammer-turns on the following wave for a 7.50, leaving Julian Wilson and Miggie Pupo in the dust. “Waves were pretty fun,” he said. “Better than I thought it was gonna to be. There’s a weird wind chop on it. The other heats were more consistent and had the double-ups and I got that one 9. I was able to get a backup and do a couple of turns, so I’m stoked. Tahiti is always fun and always beautiful. Happy to be here.”

And Mr Parkinson, first name Joel, was similarly strong today. Coming off gold in Bali, he took down Kolohe Andino and trials runner up Anthony Walsh, despite both men posting big numbers (Kolohe a 9, Ant a 10). Consistency always wins, right? “I thought it was going to be a battle,” said Joel afterwards. “I didn’t think my two 8s were going to be enough and then it slowed down. The swell isn’t completely here yet and there’ll be a quick flurry and then the waves will slow down. I’ve got a couple of good boards and I’d love for nothing more than some good waves.”

Kelly. Slater. Unsurprisingly dug himself out of hole at heat’s-end. An 8.50 barrel in the dying minutes is certainly a good way to scrap out of trouble. And still, no one does post heat analysis quite like the Champ. “I was kinda lucky that one even came in the end,” said Kell. “I blew the best wave of the heat and lost my fins. I had the line I wanted and just lost my fins on the foam-ball and was too far behind to catch up. Brett had a few opportunities and paddled too wide. My waves weren’t that great and I was just trying to make things happen.”

Jordinski Smith does not own a blistering track record at Chopes. But, it’s 2013 and Mr Smith removed the rear mirror from his Escalade. In waves that should’ve favoured goofies, Jordy beat two of them: fellow South-African Trav Logie, and local trials winner Alain Riou. “The swell is really west today and if you have that opportunity, you can go right,” said Jordy. Yes, he went right. “I thought that one would be my highest score. I was pumped. In the beginning I waited for priority and lucked in to an 8.10 and that set me up for the heat right there. I’ve always had one good wave in a heat and always come up against wildcards and that’s a tough thing out here. I think I’ve chosen the wrong waves in the past as well. I really want to do well, especially in the Pacific leg. I’m taking my time and watching the best guys out here.”

Upsets? Taj Burrow, eliminated by Ian Walsh. Taj needed a 7.23 and might’ve got it with the bomb he stroked into, but as soon as he went vert into the lip, his board snapped. He didn’t pull it together on his replacement. Nat Young, eliminated by Anthony Walsh. Adriano De Souza, eliminated by Alain Riou. Phew, watch out for those wildcards and trials guys.

And on that note, the day’s only 10 went to Anthony Walsh! Watch it above.

The swell won’t grow a whole lot more, so expect this event to most certainly run tomorrow. Watch it all unfold live, over here.

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10.67, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 10.63, Nat Young (USA) 3.13
Heat 2: Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 15.07, Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.80, Nathan Hedge (AUS) 10.00
Heat 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.93, Alain Riou (PYF) 11.33, Travis Logie (ZAF) 6.57
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.06, Kolohe Andino (USA) 15.17, Anthony Walsh (AUS) 14.83
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.00, Ian Walsh (HAW) 13.83, Brett Simpson (USA) 9.43
Heat 6: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 15.77, Mick Fanning (AUS) 10.60, Jocelyn Poulou (PYF) 8.80
Heat 7: Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.60, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.60, Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10.00
Heat 8: Yadin Nicol (AUS) 14.07, Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.13, Kai Otton (AUS) 12.67
Heat 9: Gabriel Medina (BRA) 12.16, Alejo Muniz (BRA) 11.87, Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.37
Heat 10: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.50, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.27, Adam Melling (AUS) 11.10
Heat 11: John John Florence (HAW) 16.57, Julian Wilson (AUS) 11.17, Miguel Pupo (BRA) 2.17
Heat 12: Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.16, Filipe Toledo (BRA) 6.93, Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 2.60

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.37 def. Jocelyn Poulou (PYF) 10.50
Heat 2: Ian Walsh (HAW) 12.40 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 8.00
Heat 3: Anthony Walsh (AUS) 15.43 def. Nat Young (USA) 13.10
Heat 4: Alain Riou (PYF) 12.03 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 11.77

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 5: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. Nathan Hedge (AUS)
Heat 6: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. Patrick Guduaskas (USA)
Heat 7: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Alejo Muniz (BRA)
HEAT 8: Sebastian Zietz (HAW) vs. Adam Melling (AUS)
HEAT 9: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Miguel Pupo (BRA)
HEAT 10: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)
HEAT 11: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Kolohe Andino (USA)
HEAT 12: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)