Billabong Pro Tahiti Round One Heat Match Ups

Posted on August 16th, 2011 by JZ

billabong pro tahiti heat matchups 610x317 Billabong Pro Tahiti Round One Heat Match Ups

Stop number five on the 2011 ASP World Tour is Tahiti and with a decent swell in the forecast, the Billabong Pro should begin on the first day of the waiting period this weekend. The local trials finished up yesterday which means the round one heat draw is set. Surprisingly missing from the list, yet again, is Mr. Dane Reynolds. Dane might be out, but two guys who missed the last comp are back, including “I’d rather surf perfect Cloudbreak instead of compete at J-Bay” Kelly Slater and “I LIKE TO VENT MY FEELINGS ON TWITTER IN ALL CAPS” Bobby Martinez. More on the contest below.

The reasons for Dane’s withdrawal at the Billabong Pro is currently unknown. I can’t see him using the injury excuse like he has for the first 4 contests of the year since he was just at the US Open of Surfing where he made it all the way to the quarter finals and was surfing like the Dane we all know. Reynolds has yet to make an appearance at an ASP contest all year and with the season almost half way over I wonder if he’s going to show up for any of the remaining. The gigantic Quiksilver Pro New York happens almost immediately after the Billabong Pro Tahiti and with Quiksilver being Dane’s main sponsor I wonder if they are going to make sure he shows up in NYC.

With Dane out, it means that Cory Lopez is back in. Cory has competed in every contest so far this year and with two 13th and two 25th finishes, he sits tied for 29th in the World Title rankings. I’d really like to see Cory make it into some of the deeper rounds or even get a win so he can lock up a spot on tour.

Regardless of the outcome of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, there will be some emotions flying as it was this contest last year that the late Andy Irons won and seemed to be the push he needed to climb back to the top.

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti starts Saturday, August 20th and runs until August 31st. Make sure to watch the live webcast and follow all the action at billabongpro.com.

ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Chris Davidson (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA)
Heat 2: Taj Burrow (AUS), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Jadson Andre (BRA), Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 4: Mick Fanning (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT), Bobby Martinez (USA)
Heat 5: Jordy Smith (ZAF), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Ricardo dos Santos (BRA)
Heat 6: Kelly Slater (USA), Daniel Ross (AUS), Heiarii Williams (PYF)
Heat 7: Owen Wright (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Kai Otton (AUS)
Heat 8: Joel Parkinson (AUS), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Adam Melling (AUS)
Heat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Alejo Muniz (BRA), Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 10: Damien Hobgood (USA), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Brett Simpson (USA)
Heat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Julian Wilson (AUS), Josh Kerr (AUS)

Billabong Pro Tahiti Teaser

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