Chopes

There had been some movement amongst the big wave movement on Twitter the last few days with people like Laird Hamilton and Maya Gabeira tweeting from airports. The results have been slowly coming through on the net.

This video is ten minutes of pretty raw footage which shows the swell build and the crowd drop. The others are shorter

Teahupoo Tahiti 13 05 2013 by 1ere-polynesie

Surfline have some great pictures here.

Or check the live webcam here.

Surf Movie Sunday

Missed out last week due to poor selection and this week isn't much better but here we go.

First the local stuff.

A grom deep at North Point.




The Taj footage for the week.




Aussie Anthony Walsh shows just how clear the water is a Chopes.




Some Indo with Julian Wilson.




And finally some high performance longboarding for those with bigger taste.

Surf Movie Sunday

Bit of everything.

Some stand up body boarding !!!

Turbo Stoog Division from Ryan Timperley on Vimeo.

Another Taj video



Another Chopes video



And finally episode two of Vans Get N Classic. If you like it you can download it here.

Surf Movie Sunday

Bit of a mix of longer videos for a wet, stay at home Sunday.

We'll start with the second episode in Billabong's pre-Chopes series



Bruce Irons got smashed during last year's massive Chopes session. He talks to Surfer Magazine but I can't embed the video so click here.

Fox has released a feature movie of its sponsored surfers.



And finally nothing to do with surfing other than it was in the water. Regardless it is pretty amazing !

Code Red online

Billabong has release the HD version of its Code Red Tahiti video on YouTube. Amazing quality footage of one of the biggest days surfed at Chopes. Worth spending the 15 minutes watching.

Slow Mo

Some new footage from some hi-tech slow mo cameras. The definition has you ignoring the surfing and watching individual drops of water.

DAY DREAMING from Rick Rifici on Vimeo.

More Surfing Videos

Some videos for a crappy weekend

I'm posting these Chopes videos because I'm predicting Sunday will be crap and hoping that I jinx myself and the offshores mention in one weather report come true.










Or if you've got a spare three hours view the tow day as streamed live

Slater wins again

Kelly has just won the Billabong Pro Tahiti, beating Owen Wright in clean overhead surf.

In his 61st final Slater held a nine and high eight to win by just over a point. Owen had a nine and a high seven. Slater took a couple of poundings including going over the falls backwards as he tried to hustle Owen towards the end of the heat.

With the rest of the top six losing early Kelly is back in the title race after missing J-Bay to stay in Fiji.

The next event is in New York starting later this week. The event infrastructure is being rebuilt after having to be taken down due to Hurrican Irene.

Toooooooooooooooo big

Tahiti was too big for the third round of the Billabong Pro. A government "red alert" meant that there were restrictions on boat traffic and using the contest tower but didn't stop some tow crews.

The Billabong Pro website continued to webcast the action despite there being no contest and there were some massive and ugly waves. Even towing was very hit and miss.

Round two was run a few days ago and some big names went down. Taj, Parko and Bede all lost in round two and Julian Wilson in round three. In most heats the higher ranked surfer lost. Slater, Jordy and Fanning are still there.

Chopes isn't a very good contest venue. Despite what it looks like on video the waves don't pump constantly they come in very defined and staggered sets. Each heat will get a small number of these sets so if you blow a wave there isn't necessarily another around the corner. When waves do come through they will always barrel but not always let you get out. It is a place where you are either going to come out and get a 7+ or get pinched and get a 2. There is no in between and no building momentum. This is why there is often carnage amongst the seeds as they are just as likely to come on the bad side of this 50/50 shot as the good one.

Taj can pretty much write off his chances of winning the world title this year. I'm hoping that I will be eating these words in December but with two 25th finishes and a third round exit already he will have to hold the 17th. Not to many people have taken the lot with one of those left in their hands. On the plus side the waves at the next few contests should suit him and he will probably be re-seeded so he doesn't keep meeting Slater in the third round (especially with two events in the US to come)

Billabong Pro starts

The Billabong Pro Tahiti has run round one in nice waves at Chopes. Waves were around the four foot plus size with nice open barrels and light winds.

Every heat bar one has had plent of waves coming through and some good scores have been dropped. Unfortunately Taj has continued his career long problem with round one heats losing his but he'll get another shot in round two.

The last heat of the day is in the water at the moment. FuelTV is broadcasting the event along with the usual webcast and iPad apps. However most days start about 4 am WA time.

The forecast is for a massive swell next weekend and the event organisers are worrying about there being too much swell. With another 11 days left in the waiting period it could become a classic event.

AI wins Tahiti

Andy Irons won the Billabong Pro as most of us would have been eating breakfast. On the last day of the waiting period there were some nice wave, if a little windy and small. However there were plenty of little barrels and Kelly Slater got yet another 10 in his quarter final and the wave deserved every point with him taking off late under the lip, freefalling, almost losing balance and then slotting deep and long. He even looked back after coming out clean.




Andy was a deserved winner after surfing well all event and getting through some close heats after losing in round one. I've never rated AI. His stance is ugly and his feet are to far apart, he claims to often and was consistently over scored during his world champ years. He has then had the advantage of a guaranteed wildcard after his contest hiatus, something that wasn't extended to Tom Curren, Occy or Slater. However he has been working very hard with Parko and his trainer to get back in the game and his wife is pregnant. In what looked like an honest pre-event interview and in his interview with GT in the channel after the final, Andy showed a new maturity and self-awareness that wasn't there in the past. In the past he has been huge in the Europe and Hawaiian legs so at number 7 he is still in the title hunt. However he is already carrying his throw away events and can't afford any slip ups.

Slater has jumped up to second while Taj stays at third and Jordy at one.The tour has been trimmed in size with the two "injury wildcards" announced today. Kierran Perrow and Gabe Kling will stay on tour due to their early season injuries. We can also expect to continue to see Tom Whitaker and Dean Morrison for most of the rest of the season as a replacement for Parko, who isn't expected back before Hawaii and Kai Otten who has a serious spine injury.

The next event is in the US at Trestles. Not long to wait as it starts on the 12th.


BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Andy Irons (HAW) 14.67
2 – C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.33

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.00 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.93
SF 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 13.57 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 10.26

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 14.53 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 6.23
QF 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.80 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.33
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.67 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 12.77
QF 4: Andy Irons (HAW) 16.44 def. Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 11.00

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 1: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.50 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 9.67
Heat 2: Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.83 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.83
Heat 3: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 10.00 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 1.10
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.00 def. Manoa Drollet (PYF) 5.37
Heat 5: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.70 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 8.43
Heat 6: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 16.67 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.83
Heat 7: Andy Irons (HAW) 14.17 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.07
Heat 8: Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 17.00 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 13.66

CURRENT ASP WORLD TITLE RACE TOP 5 (After Billabong Pro Tahiti)
1 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 30,250 pts
2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 30,000 pts
3 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 25,250 pts
4 – Dane Reynolds (USA) 23,750 pts
5 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 23,250 pts

Round Three

Round three has been done after two and a half days of surfing. Today's waves were pretty marginal and that is why it was only a short day.

In good news for Taj, Jordy was also taken out by Manoa Drollett. While this will probably be a throw away for Jordy, it also means he doesn't get away from his clutches. On the bad side both Slater and Mick Fanning are into round four. Slater has last event runner up Adam Melling, while Mick is against Andy (who won his heat by a fraction of a point).

Highlight of today is Pat Gudauskas pulling off a rodeo clown in his heat. While this gives an indication of the wave quality it is also claimed to be the first in a WCT event. However Pat pulled another (smaller) flip at a WQS event in the Maldives last year.




The end of round three also marks the end of this year's dream tour for 13 surfers.

- Drew Courtney (AUS), 31
- Neco Padaratz (BRA), 34
- Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 22
- Mick Campbell (AUS), 34
- Kieren Perrow (AUS), 33
- Tom Whitaker (AUS), 30
- Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 25
- Blake Thornton (AUS), 25
- Dean Morrison (AUS), 29
- Jay Thompson (AUS), 28
- Nate Yeomans (USA), 29
- Ben Dunn (AUS), 24
- Marco Polo (BRA), 29

Tanner has had one of the shortest CT careers so far only lasting half a season, although it is not really his fault. Most of the rest have had a decent run. Deano, Mick Campbell and Kieren Perrow would have probably had a good shot at requalifying in a full season and have always been highly competitive. Looking at the list there is no real duds other than Neco and Marco Polo whilst people like Travis Logie are still there.

Chopes Starts - Taj Out

Round one and a chunk of round two were done last night and this morning in contestable surf.. Round two has been a bit of a horror for the top seed in each heat with most going down for a 33rd.

Taj lost to local wildcard. The heat was close but Manoa got minutely higher scores to win.




Check out heats on demand for the action and Jordy's huge round one one footed air.

Chopes not much chop

Still no action at the Billabong Pro. With no backup venue the event is relying on a very distant call from Surfline of a small swell in a couple of days.

Chopes has become another Munkuda is the last few years. After a couple of big scary events there has been little swell and one event finished after the waiting period. Like Spain, there always seems to be great waves for the trials and after everyone goes home. Even a change of dates hasn't helped.

Luke Egan also has to weigh up the effect that a poor result in inconsistent waves could do to those on the elimination bubble before calling it on.

Lay Day

Small and inconsistent waves have resulted in a lay day on day one of the Billabong Pro. Some good heats on paper in round 1 but as it is non-elimination so most will be under whelming. The American websites are talking up Slater v AI v wildcard in heat 10.

Current world number one Jordy is in a hard heat against goofy CJ Hopgood and local Manoa Drollet (who always get a little local push in the scoring). Taj has Tiago Pires and a wildcard while Mick has last event runner up Adam Melling and a local wildcard. With Tahiti 18 hours behind not a lot worth getting up in the middle of the night for in this round.

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA), Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 2: Jadson Andre (BRA), Luke Stedman (AUS), Nate Yeomans (USA)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Marco Polo (BRA)
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Blake Thornton (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Roy Powers (HAW), Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Joan Duru (FRA)
Heat 7: Mick Fanning (AUS), Adam Melling (AUS), Tamaroa McComb (PYF)
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT), Tuamata Puhetini (PYF)
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Heiarii Williams (PYF)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Dusty Payne (HAW), Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS), Brett Simpson (USA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Matt Wilkinson (AUS), Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Michel Bourez (PYF), Dean Morrison (AUS), Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Taylor Knox (USA), Luke Munro (AUS), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 16: Chris Davidson (AUS), Patrick Gudauskas (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS)

Billabong Pro Chopes tomorrow

The Billabong Pro Tahiti starts tomorrow. There is a webcast and Fuel TV is showing it live but it is always at a weird time of the night.

There was some big swell for the trials and a few big wipeouts.

The event has been a bit of a bust over the last few years and because it is a barrel only can be a little boring and throw up an upset here and there. Goofies are usually succesful but naturals can use a bit of backhand flare. Expect lots of people to get smashed as everyone has to get impossibly deep to get decent scores.

Taj and Slater have done well here. Jordy hasn't and it has been a bit of a vodoo place for Mick until last year when he did a lot of pre event work. Parko is out probably until Hawaii with his fin gash. Apparently he hasn't even be able to walk on it yet.

This is the last chance for the lower end of the World Tour to get enough points to remain on tour. At the end the tour will be cut from 45 to 32 for the rest of the year. No big names in danger, only those who haven't made it out of the second round.

Jordy wins

Jordy Smith has won the Billabong Pro at J-Bay beating Adam Melling. This is Jordy's first ever win on the WCT and he is now number 1 in the world and one world ratings.

Taj was knocked out in the semis when he made probably his first mistake all contest on his last wave. Needing a mid six with less than 30 seconds to go he caught a wave that would have been good enough for the score and started well but blew it on a big hack towards the end of the ride and was out.

Next event is Chopes in about a month.

This is scary big

Early season Chopes at its massive best. Watch for the crew flipped out of their boat in what is meant to be the channel