Waiting Period Starts At Billabong Pro
E365> Surfing - Thursday May 08 2008
E365 -- The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Tahiti starts today, and according to contest director and former ASP Top 45 surfer Luke Egan, the action could commence right away.
“I had a dream last night that we were going to get a swell like we did for the trials but then I woke up to the reality that I don’t think we are going to,” Egan said. “We still have opportunity for storms to generate in the later part of the waiting period but at the moment we’ve got to get started because there is not too much swell between now and the 18th.”
The Billabong Pro Tahiti has an 11 day window in which to run four full day’s worth of surfing . Though the lefthand reef break is most famous for producing huge, heaving barrels, it is definitely contestable when the waves are smaller.
“It’s come up a little bit today from yesterday,” Egan said. “If it’s the same size as today tomorrow –even if we have to run 35-minute heats— we’ll run Round 1.”
Three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons is ready for his Round 1 bout with Ben Dunn and Tiago Pires. The 2002 Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion knows that he has some ground to make up after going down to eight-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slate in the quarterfinals in the first two events of the year.
“I’ve gotten two fifths,” Irons said. “That would be great start if the top guys were getting a good result and then losing at the next contest, but Kelly has won two, Mick (Fanning) has a second and a fifth, Joel (Parkinson) has got two fifths and Bede (Durbidge) has a second a third. Two fifths aren’t going to cut it this year so I need to start making semis and better. Hopefully I can capitalize at this event. It looks like it might be a slow start but I’ve got good short boards so I’m ready for anything.”
Irons and Joel Parkinson are currently sitting equal 6th on the ASP ratings. Both surfers are favorites anywhere on tour – but neither factored in the title race last year like they have in the past. A strong showing in Tahiti is imperative to keep them in the race for 2009.
“The usual suspects have started pretty strong and they’re all hungry,” Parkinson said. “Coming into the day before an event you just have to take a step back and look at all your preparation and what’s ahead and concentrate on your strengths. All the hard work has been done, now it’s time to get out on the dance floor.”
Parkinson will no doubt be amongst a large contingent of non-Americans eager to win the event. Aside from Australian Mark Occhilupo’s victory at the inaugural Billabong Pro Tahiti in 1999, an American has won the event every year since.
“Last year Mick (Fanning) got second and I’ve gotten a third; Taj (Burrow) has had seconds – we’ve been up there,” Parkinson said. “The win has definitely eluded the Aussies but I guarantee that the hunger is there for us all to do it. I guess it’s just a matter of luck of the ocean and knowledge of the wave.”
Parkinson is slated to take on defending champion Damien Hobgood and Aritz Aranburu – both of whom are rehabbing recent injuries – in Round 1.
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