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The heats have been drawn up and the clock is ticking towards kick off… Teahupoo! Baby. |
TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/French Polynesia (Monday, August 15, 2011) – With the completion of the Air Tahiti VonZipper Trials yesterday, the final two wildcard positions for the Billabong Pro Tahiti were decided with Brazilian Ricardo Dos Santos (Guarda Do Embau, BRA) and local Heiarri Williams (PYF) finishing first and second in clean conditions at Teahupoo.
Dane Reynolds (USA), 25, has withdrawn from competition and will be replaced by Cory Lopez (USA), 34, at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. No reason has been provided as of yet for Reynolds’ withdrawal.
Lopez will take on Adrian Buchan (AUS), 28, and Chris Davidson (AUS), 34, in the opening heat of competition.
Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are monitoring Hurricane Eugene, which looks likely to set up some new SSE swell starting Friday afternoon and filling in further for Saturday.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI 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)
For an exclusive interview with Owen Wright click HERE
