Check out Curls Gallery of the event here

TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Monday, August 30, 2010) – After seven, consecutive lay days, the Billabong Pro Tahiti commenced action today, and the world’s best surfers unleashed a barrage of high-fi performances on glassy three-to-four foot (1.5 metre) barrels on offer at Teahupoo.

Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti completed Round 1 and the opening six heats of Round 2 today, bearing witness to interesting developments in the 2010 ASP World Title Race as well as the dramatics of the midyear cut-off.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 1, finds himself in the driver seat in the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title heading into Tahiti, and despite not being historically dominant at Teahupoo, the young South African’s progressive repertoire proved enough to net him the win today.

“Definitely relieved to get through Round 1 out there,” Smith said. “We haven’t been doing too much on the off days. So it was tricky out there, but super excited to get through and start focusing on the next heat.”

Smith opened his Round 1 account up with an incredible backhand Judo aerial, scoring a 7.60 out of a possible 10, and holding onto the lead to defeat C.J. Hobgood (USA), 31, and Manoa Drollet (PYF), 29.

“I knew that wave wasn’t going to be much from the start so I had to do something special,” Smith said. “There are actually some really amazing ramps out there if you can find them. It’s just the landings that are challenging. Fortunately for me on that last one, I was able to land almost on the back of the wave and then bring it down.”

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, past nine-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 3, survived a close-fought battle against former nemesis and past three-time ASP World Champion, Andy Irons (HAW), 32, and wildcard Heiarii Williams (PYF), 23, to advance directly into Round 3. With the nature of three-man heats, the three backside tube specialists continually pushed one another up the point as they all netted solid scores.

“I actually blew it out there a couple times,” Slater said. “I let Heiarii (Williams) get underneath me on the really good wave, but if I ended up hassling him, Andy (Irons) could have got it. It’s unfortunate when there’re not a lot of waves, and I was trying to play cat and mouse with those guys for most of the heat. Heiarii paddled me deep on every set, he got me on one, and then I was too deep on another and Andy got it. It was tough.”

Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, current ASP World No. 4, rebounded from a Round 1 loss this morning to take out the highest heat total of the event, a 16.27 out of a possible 20, en route to his Round 2 victory over replacement surfer Tim Reyes (USA), 28.

“We actually got a lot of waves and we were trading off a lot out there,” Reynolds said. “It was fun. He’d get a good one, then I got an okay one. It was a lot of fun. I never like sending anyone home, but I don’t like losing either. I guess I just like surfing. I could have ridden that last one deeper, but you can get greedy when it starts drawing up like that. You just want to stand here. If I had wanted to, I could have hung in the barrel a little bit deeper, but I was having too much fun.”

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, reigning ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, suffered a Round 1 loss this morning, but rebounded in blistering form this afternoon with an impressive 15.00 out of a possible 20 to dispatch Trials Winner Tuamata Puhetini (PYF) and advance through to Round 3.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 32, current ASP World No. 2 and last year’s event Runner-Up, suffered the biggest loss of the event thus far, going down to wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF), 29, in Round 2 of competition.

“I started out doing turns but I don’t think that was a good strategy,” Drollet said. “Taj (Burrow) is so good at doing turns, so I tried to focus on barrels. Fortunately, the right ones came through and I was the winner. To do well here would be a very special thing for me.”

While the usual suspects were standouts today, the ASP’s midyear field reduction from 45 to 34 (Top 32 finishers after five events and two surfer wildcards) following the Billabong Pro Tahiti created some unlikely heroes throughout Rounds 1 and 2 as they battled for survival.

Marco Polo (BRA), 29, current ASP World No. 44, had failed to post an elite tour heat win this season, but caused the upset of the day, defeating two-time defending Billabong Pro Tahiti winner and current ASP World No. 8, Bobby Martinez (USA), 28, in Round 2 of competition.

“It has taken me all year but to do it in Tahiti against Bobby (Martinez) is so special,” Polo said. “Neco (Padaratz) was in the channel giving me instructions. He was telling me to sit deeper, move this way, move that way, and I got that wave at the end that pushed me through. I’m so happy that I can keep surfing so I hope to do better in the next heat.”

Blake Thornton (AUS), 25, also current ASP World No. 44, was another to post an inaugural win today, smashing his Round 1 heat with a 15.50 out of a possible 20. Despite the slow conditions, Thornton netted a backside bomb in the last minute to score a 9.00 out of a possible 10 and rocket from third to first and advance through to Round 3.

“Those boys (Reynolds and Whitaker) both got waves at the start but they were smaller,” Thornton said. “I had a little score sort of two-thirds through the heat, but when it’s this size, it seems like it’s easy to get caught paddling each other up the point. Towards the end, I was fortunate enough to get that wave that pushed me though. It looked pretty quick but I was going no matter what. When I saw it back off, I was smiling. I was smiling in the barrel because it was just so pure. It tried to pinch me at the end and I had to sort of bust my way out. Really fortunate to get that wave and I’m stoked to get through my first heat.”

Despite the possibility for surfers to fail making the midyear cut from today’s action, everyone is still in the hunt to qualify for the Top 32. A full breakdown of ASP World Title Rankings possibilities, including the ASP midyear field reduction, for the Billabong Pro Tahiti are available at ASPWorldTour.com

When competition resumes, up first will be Taylor Knox (USA), 39, up against Jay Thompson (AUS), 28, in Heat 7 of Round 2 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 6am to assess conditions for a possible 6:30am start.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for the current south-southwest swell to fade throughout tomorrow, with a small mix of south and southwest swell on offer for the end of the waiting period.

Highlights from today’s Billabong Pro Tahiti will be available via http://www.billabongpro.com/tahiti10/

FUEL TV will be broadcasting the Billabong Pro Tahiti LIVE in Australia. Check out http://www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv for details.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 1 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Damien Hobgood (USA) 10.07, Jay Thompson (AUS) 1.83, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 1.00
Heat 2: Luke Stedman (AUS) 10.33, Nate Yeomans (USA) 8.83, Jadson Andre (BRA) 4.40
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.16, Marco Polo (BRA) 5.33, Bobby Martinez (USA) 5.33
Heat 4: Blake Thornton (AUS) 15.50, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.00, Dane Reynolds (USA) 11.60
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.66, Tim Reyes (USA) 5.34, Roy Powers (HAW) 2.73
Heat 6: Joan Duru (FRA) 10.10, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 7.60, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 6.90
Heat 7: Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 14.77, Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.50, Adam Melling (AUS) 5.70
Heat 8: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.30, Manoa Drollet (PYF) 10.40, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.41
Heat 9: Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.66, Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.40, Tuamata Puhetini (PYF) 10.43
Heat 10: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.00, Andy Irons (HAW) 13.97, Heiarii Williams (PYF) 12.57
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.50, Dusty Payne (HAW) 9.03, Drew Courtney (AUS) 0.20
Heat 12: Owen Wright (AUS) 11.27, Brett Simpson (USA) 8.53, Neco Padaratz (BRA) 7.73
Heat 13: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.93, Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 11.46, Tanner Gudauskas (USA) 8.43
Heat 14: Michel Bourez (PYF) 13.23, Dean Morrison (AUS) 9.00, Mick Campbell (AUS) 5.43
Heat 15: Luke Munro (AUS) 14.03, Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.94, Taylor Knox (USA) 9.93
Heat 16: Ben Dunn (AUS) 10.87, Chris Davidson (AUS) 7.90, Patrick Gudauskas (USA) 6.92

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 2 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 14.76 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.33
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.00 def. Tuamata Puhetini (PYF) 7.27
Heat 3: Heiarii Williams (PYF) 14.03 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.43
Heat 4: Dane Reynolds (USA) 16.27 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 12.50
Heat 5: Marco Polo (BRA) 9.84 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 7.83
Heat 6: Nate Yeomans (USA) 12.73 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 9.00

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
Heat 7: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 8: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. Drew Courtney (AUS)
Heat 9: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 10: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Tanner Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 11: Adam Melling (AUS) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 12: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 13: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Patrick Gudauskas (USA)
Heat 14: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Dean Morrsion (AUS)
Heat 15: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. Matt Wilkinson (AUS)
Heat 16: Dusty Payne (HAW) vs. Brett Simpson (USA)

Check out Curls Gallery of the event here

New Zealand (August 25, 2010) – New Zealand Olympic snowboarder Rebecca Sinclair overcame injury and doubt to land in second place today in the women’s halfpipe competition in the FIS Freestyle and Snowboard Junior World Championships at Cardrona Alpine Resort.

Competing in a 22-foot halfpipe when healthy is challenging enough, so for Wanaka’s Sinclair, who’s nursing an injured ankle, the outcome was anything but a foregone conclusion.

New Zealand’s Rebecca Sinclair is the first kiwi on podium at 2010 Junior World Championships Credit: Bel Jones

“I wasn’t even expecting to be able to compete with my injured ankle,” said Sinclair. “But it’s all strapped up – I’ve been struggling with landing the crippler all week and I’m stoked I pulled it off in my second run. It’s a real privilege to have the Junior World Championships here in New Zealand and great preparation for my next goal which is the World Championships in Spain in January 2011.”

Meanwhile, Cilka Sadar (18) of Slovenia and Taku Hiraoka (14) of Japan were crowned Junior Snowboard Halfpipe World Champions in an exciting day of competition at Cardrona that saw New Zealand earn its first medal of the Championships.

The day started with an all-star line up with the forerunners, which included Olympic gold medallist, Kelly Clark (USA) and New Zealand Olympian Juliane Bray.
The women’s semi finals saw Sinclair (18) score the highest qualifying run in the first run. However, by the second run, she dropped to third but still secured a place in the finals along with highest qualifier Haruna Matsuoto (17) and Palmer Taylor (17).

In the finals it was Cilka Sadar who dominated with a solid backside 5, frontside 5, backside air, frontside 7, cab 3 finishing with an alleyoop scoring 37.8. Sinclair’s second run put her into the silver position with 31.7, landing a crippler 7 (inverted 720 spin), a result she was stoked with given her recent injury woes.
Haruna Matsumoto (17) of Japan rounded out the podium with a score of 31.4.

The men’s semi finals saw Australia’s Nathan Johnstone (20) take the top finals qualifying spot with a spectacularly solid run with huge amplitude, despite the windy conditions. He was closely followed by Manuel Pietropoli (20) of Italy and New Zealand’s Ben Stewart (18).

New Zealand’s Ben Stewart secures a top ten finish Credit: Bel Jones

In the finals Hiraoka once again stole the day, scoring a massive 44.2 with a frontside air, backside 5, frontside 7, cab 10 and frontside 5, all with huge amplitude, over 12 feet above the pipe edge. “It’s amazing to be world champion,” he said. “It’s really important for my future in halfpipe – I’m so happy.”

Taku Hiraoka (Japan) scores a massive 44.2 and becomes 2010 halfpipe junior world champion Credit: Bel Jones

Johnstone continued his consistently high level of riding with second place with a score of 42.2 while Manuel Pietropoli took bronze.. Stewart, of Whangamata, finished in ninth place.

Head judge, Ola Sundequist, said the level of riding was extremely high. “We were quite worried about the wind earlier on in the morning and that we wouldn’t see the riders get much height out of the pipe. However, they ended up going very big and while some were affected by gusts, most landed fine, resulting in some good scores. Taku’s run was incredible; everything was so smooth.”

The snowboard action moves to Snow Park tomorrow for the Parallel Giant Slalom with qualification starting at 9.00am and finals scheduled for 12.00pm.

All the girls with big smiles at the Burton Snowboards Camp

New Zealand champion and Burton Team rider, Shelley Gotlieb, joined 38 girls at The Remarkables last Sunday (22 August) enjoying an Arcadia champagne breakfast together before heading out for the day on the Burton Snowbroads Girls’ camp.

The Remarkables Ski Area Manager Ross Lawrence said he was thrilled with the response to the ‘girls only’ camp and bookings were already coming in for the second which is all set for Sunday 12 September. The camp is designed for freestyle riders and skiers intermediate and above.

‘It was great to see the girls have such a great day out. They enjoyed four hours of freestyle lessons and tubing, then a bbq on the deck,’ said Mr Lawrence, ‘they also had the option to demo some new Burton boards for the day.’

A brand new Burton Blender snowboard was won by local woman Rebecca Vehik at the after party held at Revolver later that night.

‘It was good fun to be able to wrap up the day at the after party and give out some prizes to the best girls in each group. We handed out a Burton helmet, Anon goggles, Burton gloves and of course the new Burton blender as well as other sponsor products which were all well received.’

The cost of $120 includes transport from the Snow Centre to The Remarkables, champagne breakfast, coaching, tubing, lunch and prizes. Afterwards it’s time to reflect on the day viewing video footage and pictures at the after-party at Revolver.

Some of the girls hanging out at The Remarkables

TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Monday, August 23, 2010) – The Billabong Pro Tahiti, Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, has been called off for the day, with only small, inconsistent surf available at the main site of Teahupo’o.

With careers on the line in Tahiti, the result of the ASP midyear field reduction from the Top 45 to the Top 34 (Top 32 finishers plus two wildcards), this year’s Billabong Pro Tahiti boasts unprecedented importance for the world’s best surfers.

“We monitored conditions for a good while this morning and deemed it not contestable,” Richie Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “It was very small and just too inconsistent to run. We’re working with everyone, the surfers, the organizers, the forecasters to ensure that the athletes have the best possible conditions.”

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a slow start to the contest waiting period with a very modest mix of southwest swells providing contestable, but small scale, surf today and tomorrow.

A full breakdown of ASP World Title Rankings possibilities, including the ASP midyear field reduction, for the Billabong Pro Tahiti are available at ASPWorldTour.com

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.

When competition commences, up first will be Damien Hobgood (USA), 31, Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 25, and Jay Thompson (AUS), 28, in the opening heat of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com/tahiti10/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

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)

Just nine of the 63 whales which were found stranded on a Northland beach on Friday are believed to have survived.

Thirteen whales were re-floated yesterday afternoon, but four of them got back into difficulty and Department of Conservation staff made the tough decision to euthanise them.

The other nine were late this morning believed to have remained at sea, Kim Mulcaster of Project Jonah said.

“We haven’t heard any reports that they have tried to re-strand so we’re hopeful,” she told NZPA.

“It’s been tough but we’re glad nine have survived.”

Carolyn Smith, of the Department of Conservation (DOC), said that of the 13 re-floated, one re-beached itself, another was trying to strand itself on rocks and the remaining two were swimming upside down, and in circles.

Ms Smith said the decision was made to euthanise those four “as there was concern that if these whales remained in the water, they would attract the others back to shore”.

Local Ngati Kahu leaders and DOC staff were this morning due to bury the whales at a site near where the whales were originally stranded at Karikari Beach near Kaitaia.

Day two of the Association of Professionals (ASP) Dripping Wet and Blue Kiss Pro Juniors presented by Skullcandy arrived to an extremely small swell at Manly so organizers called a lay day, optimistic the weekend will deliver fun waves to run through the remainder of the event.

Fortunately organizers utilized yesterdays clean performance small waves with a big day of surfing that saw the Blue Kiss Pro Junior Women’s advance through three rounds and reduce the field to the final four surfers left in the semi-finals.

Oddly, yesterdays losing performances highlighted the late afternoon heats with Sarah Mason (Casuarina/NSW) eliminated in her round three heat which left her older sister Airini Mason as the undisputed series champion for 2010.

The final heat of the day saw Airini also eliminated from the event placing fourth behind Nikki Van Dyke (Victoria), Ellie-Jean Coffee (NSW) and Philippa Anderson (NSW).

The consequence of these heats resulted in Airini Mason and West Australia’s Felicity Palmeteer as the qualifiers for the ASP World Pro Junior Championship Series.

It feels great to win a 2nd ASP Australasian Pro Junior Series title and get the chance to compete for a World Title again said Mason who has now won this prestigious series twice.

I last won the series in 2006 and haven’t been competing full-time on juniors for the past few years as my focus has been on the WQS – However the incentive of competing for a World Title, especially with an event in Bali made me decide to do all the junior events this year.

I’m really looking forward to competing in Bali and Narrabeen and hopefully I can win a World Title as it is every surfers dream.

An early start tomorrow at the northern end of Manly will see Australasian’s top best 20 year-old and under surfers in action for certain.

Mambo Cadet Cup will be staged at some stage during this events waiting period and will see some of Australia’s best under 16 boys fighting it out for $500 and the Salty Rooster Expression Session

TEAHUPOO, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Saturday, August 21, 2010) – The greatest assemblage of surfing talent in history is converging upon the idyllic South Pacific island of Tahiti, home of the world’s heaviest wave, Teahupo’o, for Stop No. 5 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

Finishing off the midway part of the 2010 ASP World Tour season, the Billabong Pro Tahiti plays a vital role in both the hunt for the 2010 ASP World Title and the midyear field reduction from the ASP Top 45 to the Top 34.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 1, is into his third season on the elite ASP World Tour, but enters into the Billabong Pro Tahiti as the No. 1 seed, a career first for the young South African.

“Most important for me is to realize that it’s not always going to be a walk in the park,” Smith said. “Being No. 1 is much like being No. 2, 3 or 4 as there is still a long way to go this season. Maybe No. 1 is like being No. 16. At this point in the season, it is still early. I am working heat to heat, and that is really all that I can do. My goals are to win heats and stay in range to win battles which, in the end, win the war. For me, nothing has changed in my formula – my preparation is the same and my focus stays heat to heat. A win would be great.”

Despite having yet to net a solid result in Tahiti (a 17th in 2008 and a 9th in 2009), Smith’s growing familiarity with the wave gives him confidence moving forward.

“Teahupo’o is known for its power and stands alone as one of the most unique waves in the world,” Smith said. “I don’t think there is any surfer on the planet who does not respect it, even if it’s breaking at a mid-range size. As perfect as it gets, it can still crush your dreams even if you favour big waves, and I don’t think anyone gets into a comfort zone out there. You can’t get too cheeky.”

With the added intensity of the midyear field reduction and the minefield of Teahupo’o specialists lining the wildcard ranks, Smith understands the challenge awaiting him in this island paradise.

“The wildcards and lower seeds will be going all out to get themselves back into the Top 32 seeds for re-qualifying so I guess we are going to see some really good performances from them – or whoever for that matter,” Smith said. “If we go back and look at the veteran standout World Tour campaigners, maybe Kelly (Slater), Andy (Irons), the Hobgoods among a few other also with the mix of all the specialists could be dangerous. Even the local boys could possibly come away with a surprise win.”

Smith will take on former ASP World Champion (2001) C.J. Hobgood (USA), 31, and wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF) in Round 1 of competition.

Mick Fanning (AUS), 29, reigning ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 6, has been a consistent performer thus far in 2010, but admits that not being a top seed in Tahiti is not necessarily a bad thing.

“I am not the top seed heading into Tahiti which may actually be a blessing,” Fanning said. “I think you need to avoid the wildcards in Tahiti as they are so dangerous. I am just going to try and put a smart event together and hope to get a solid result.

Fanning battles 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Adam Melling (AUS), 25, and wildcard Tamaroa McComb (PYF) in Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

Bobby Martinez (USA), 28, current ASP World No. 8 and defending Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion, has historically been one of the strongest performers at Teahupoo, but the lethal goofy-footer remains cautious when considering his options for the 2010 instalment.

“Nothing is on my mind other than trying my best in the next event,” Martinez said. “There’s no point in thinking ahead of yourself. Every contest holds your hopes of winning a World Title so you’ve got to do the best in each contest or else there is no chance at all.”

Despite the certainty of hungrier performances from those looking to make the midyear field cut off, the Californian maintains that everyone can be a threat at this level of competition, especially in Tahiti.

“I do think the lower seeds will be intense in Tahiti, but I expect that from everybody on this tour in every heat in every event,” Martinez said. “If you don’t give 100% in every event, you will not be here the following year so I think it’ll be a very interesting contest. That said, it’s like that every contest. Anyone and everyone is a contender in Tahiti. Nobody is a favorite and nobody is an underdog in my eyes. And it’s not just in this contest, but every contest. At this level, anyone can beat anyone.”

Martinez will face Jeremy Flores (FRA), 22, and Marco Polo (BRA), 29, in his opening round match.

Andy Irons (HAW), 32, former three-time ASP World Champion and current ASP World No. 18, took a sabbatical from full-time competing in 2009 and his transition back to the competition singlet this season as yielded moments of brilliance amidst an overall building momentum.

“The season went the way I thought it would be – hard,” Irons said. Everyone is surfing really well and you basically can’t skip a beat or you’re off the tour. I’m feeling stronger and stronger at every comp. On my time off, I have been putting in some extra time in at the gym and I think it’s starting to pay off.”

A former winner at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, the Hawaiian’s performances at the treacherous lefthander have become the stuff of legend and Irons enters into this year’s event as the man to watch.

“Teahupo’o is one of my favorite contest that’s for sure,” Irons said. “I love the wave. I love the tropical vibe as well. It’s like being home for me. Of course, everyone going to be charging at this year’s event regardless. The field reduction is a heavy thing and it weighs on everyone’s mind. Everyone wants to keep there job.”

Irons will take on former nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 38, and wildcard Heiarii Williams (PYF) in Round 1 of competition.

Michel Bourez (PYF), 24, current ASP World No. 13, will round out the three Tahitian wildcards as the nation’s sole competitor amongst the world’s elite. Into his second year on the ASP World Tour, Bourez will look to improve upon last year’s disappointing result at home.

“Last year, I lost really fast at this event and I was so disappointed because it was my first time in the main event here in Tahiti,” Bourez said. “I hope we are going to have some waves this year so I can make a better result. I’ve pretty much qualified for the World Tour through the rest of the year. I know that a few guys will leave us after Teahupo’o so this contest means a lot to those guys. I just wish my best luck to everyone and I hope the conditions will be great for the event.”

Bourez faces veteran Australians Dean Morrison (AUS), 29, and Mick Campbell (AUS), 36, in his opening round bout.

The major storyline threading its way through the upcoming Billabong Pro Tahiti is the mid-year field reduction of the ASP Top 45 to 34 (Top 32 finishers plus two wildcards) following the battle at Teahupo’o.

Tanner Gudauskas (USA), 22, 2010 ASP World Tour rookie and current ASP World No. 33, will look for a major result at the infamous lefthander to keep his Dream Tour hopes alive, but the young Californian retains a positive outlook when facing the challenge.

“Rookie for life,” Gudauskas said. “I am a grommet at heart. Rookie year has been a blast and I have learned as quickly as I could. I have had a couple of heats that felt really close after I lost and a couple where I needed to go back to the drawing board for another perspective. Mother Nature will ultimately be the biggest opponent in Tahiti. I have been feeling really happy looking towards Teahupo’o and can’t wait to sit in the channel and harness the vibe before heats.”

Gudauskas will face fellow rookie Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 21, and Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), 28, in Round 1 of the Billabong Pro Tahiti.

A full breakdown of ASP World Title Rankings possibilities for the Billabong Pro Tahiti are available at ASPWorldTour.com

The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti will begin Monday, August 23 and run through September 3, 2010.

Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a slow start to the contest waiting period with a very modest mix of southwest swells providing contestable, but small scale, surf on Monday and Tuesday.

The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE via http://www.billabongpro.com/tahiti10/

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

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)

2009 winner Bobby Martinez : photo ASP / CI / Robertson via Getty Images

18 August, 2010 : – - For the fourth year-in-a-row, Nixon will award one surfer a customized watch valued at over $10,000 for riding the heaviest wave during the event. regardless if they ultimately make it into the finals or not.

WTA celebrates an achievement in the contest that may have otherwise gone forgotten. Surf contests are often plagued by uncontrollable factors such as tide, wind and wave lulls. The WTA makes sure to capture and reward a special moment in the event that usually coincides with the events best conditions.

For the Tahiti WCT, the Nixon WTA awards the heaviest wave ridden at the event. The Nixon WTA is a winner-takes-all event along three stops of the 2010 ASP (Association of Surfing Professionals) World Tour. Challenges in this years Nixon WTA include Highest Heat Score (Jeffreys Bay, South Africa), Heaviest Wave (Teahupoo, Tahiti), and Triple Crown Winner (Oahu, Hawaii).

One winner in each category at each location will be awarded a Nixon watch valued at over $10,000 USD. This years watches will feature custom engraved casebacks, a Swiss tide movement, and either an emerald (Jeffreys Bay), ruby (Teahupoo) or diamond (Oahu) at the hour indices making this years watches truly unique and one-of-a-kind.

Previous Nixon WTA Tahiti Winners for Heaviest Wave include:
2009-Bobby Martinez
2008- Ryan Hipwood
2007- Manoa Drollet

AT THE NORTH FACE BIG MOUNTAIN 2010..and The North Face team riders rock the podium in the men’s and women’s categories!

The Volkl NZ Freeski Open came to a spectacular close at Treble Cone Ski Area today with The North Face athlete
Janina Kuzma (Wanaka) and Alex Lynden (Auckland) crowned champions in the women’s and men’s divisions of The North Face Big Mountain Event.

The North Face Team Rider, Janina Kuzma, made it her sixth consecutive freeride tournament victory in a row, taking out the women’s category with a score of 8.65.
She skied in her normal strong style, linking a couple of good airs together and skiing aggressively from top to bottom, showing the judges why she’s earned a spot on the Freeride World Tour.

“It was a great day, the women were straight off the bat and there were solid conditions but great smooth run outs.
We had to watch out for the avalanche debris at the bottom but all in all it couldn’t have been better,” said Kuzma
“I’m stoked to hold my title and be six time champion.”

Kuzma added “Having Mitchey Grieg there added a bit of pressure, she’s an Olympian.
Having a name like that competing in a different discipline brings so much hype for women in our sport and keeps us on our toes.
I hope she keeps doing the big mountain comps.”

New Zealand’s Mitchey Greig, also The North Face Team Rider and Skier Cross Olympian, placed second, and Lorraine Huber, Austria, took out third.

In the men’s category, Lynden’s line was extremely technical, he skied the fall line from top to bottom, linking the most airs in one run.
He ended with a score of 8.425 out of 10. Hot on his heels was American B Devine, a park skier who as a youth trained in moguls and ski racing with a score of 8.325.
He showed progression in the sport, while choosing an easier line he incorporated his park style throughout the run and skied strongly to the finish.
Kiwi skier and The North Face team rider, Fraser McDougall, secured third with a score of 7.850.

“The eighth time’s a charm,” said Lynden. After eight shots at the podium, Lynden earned his spot at the top today.
This is his second win at a Big Mountain competition, the first being at the inaugural Export Extreme Big Mountain competition at his home mountain Ruapehu.

Establishing itself as the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere and attracting athletes from across the globe,
the Volkl NZ Freeski Open has now been officially recognised on the international freeski World Tour alongside the world’s biggest freeski events.

The North Face Big Mountain became a qualifying event for the Freeride World Tour last year and continues this year as a three star event on the tour.

The terrain in the Motatapu Chutes offered riders a huge variety of line choices with some of the steepest and most challenging terrain in the backcountry of Treble Cone ski area.

‘The North Face Sessions’ is back again this year with a heli-accessed back country expression session hosted by Southern Lakes Heli for winners of The North Face Big Mountain competition.

The North Face Sessions are scheduled for Saturday, 21 August, weather permitting.