The guys are heading to Paradise for round three of the Foster's ASP World Tour, the Billabong Pro Tahiti at Teahupoo, Taiarapu, May 4-14, 2007 and preceded this week by the Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials. This six-day trial competition will feature an 80-surfer draw consisting of 40 local Tahitian Teahupoo specialists as well as 40 respected international invitees, all competing for two highly-coveted wildcard entries into the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Breaking 700 metres out to sea, "
Chopes", as the Teahupoo break is affectionately known, is regarded as one of surfing's most challenging waves. A 100 metre drop-off just 50 metres away from a half-moon-shaped reef creates phenomenal, treacherous, left to right peeling, reef-break barrels. Thick, bone-crushing barrels, accessible only via a very-vertical takeoff. Once standing upright, surfers must survive being spat out of the tube 50 metres later, avoiding the razor sharp reef which sits high and dry, directly in front of the wave.
But it is a beautiful wave and the scenery is breathtaking. Look forward to some spectacular action shots from photographers who shoot from a suicide tower, perched on the reef in front of the break.
One man has scored two perfect 10 rides, to accumulate an incredible scoreline of 20 out of a possible 20 points on Chopes, guess who? Yep, Kelly Slater in 2005. Last year's winner was the smiling assassin, Bobby Martinez, in his first year on the tour.
Labels: Billabong Pro Tahiti, Chopes, Tahiti, Teahupoo
