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Tuesday 24th April 2007 (Teahupoo, Tahiti): TWO prestigious wildcard slots into the Billabong Pro Tahiti are on the line at the world’s heaviest wave, Teahupoo this week as forty international big guns and forty local specialists battle it out in the Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials. The four-day event rewards the winner and runner up with the opportunity to face the world’s top 45 surfers on May 4 and commenced in perfect 1.5-2m tube rides at the famed left-hander today. Trialists from Hawaii, Australia, Japan, Brazil, Mainland USA and the always-tough Tahitians took advantage of the idyllic conditions to begin their respective campaigns in the opening two rounds. Australian free surfer and respected Teahupoo charger Dylan Longbottom (Gold Coast) comfortably won through two heats of today’s trials to stay in contention of a prestigious main event wildcard
The 33-year-old has competed the Billabong Pro Tahiti precursor for the past three years, he best result an impressive 9th place finish in 2005. A talented backside tube rider, Longbottom defeated fellow Australian Anthony Walsh (Lennox) and local Tahitian pair Ramze Gemgembre and Matahi Aunoa. “I just wanted to get through today,” said Longbottom. “I love getting big barrels, the bigger the better really, I just can’t get enough of that feeling. “The waves today are better than your average day anywhere else on earth but I’m hoping it gets a bit bigger and we can score some bigger barrels. “Teahupoo is my number one spot in the world, I really enjoy coming back here. Longbottom progressed in front of fellow Aussie Walsh who fought through two rounds despite being severely grazed on the reef four days ago. Walsh is another big wave seeking regular who forgoes World Qualifying Series events to compete the trials in Tahiti. A solid goofy footer who is right at home in the tube, the Lennox Head local reached the quarterfinals in 2006 and is on target to repeat the performance. “It was a little bit difficult in my second heat because the light onshore came in and it started to wreak havoc in the barrel,” he said. “You just had to wait for the right ones and when they came they were still pretty good. “When it’s like this it is really fun, but when it hits that 8-10ft (3-3.5m) it is definitely one of the heaviest waves in the world. “It is the kind of place that really makes you pay for your mistakes.” In round three, 24-year-old Walsh will surf against Fabrice Gelez (France) along with Raiponi Pua (Tah) and Heimoana Zaveroni (Tah). “This waves is one of the best you will ever surf in a contest,” he said. “Everyone can get barrelled but it’s all about getting the two best waves in every heat. “If you can do that, then you are doing well.” Showing true talent never fades, former full time free surfer Brendan Margieson (Burleigh Heads) also progressed through two rounds. The 34-year-old retired in 2006 to take up a full time position with his long time sponsor Billabong and is in Tahiti working on the event. Never one to pass up a shot at scoring some uncrowded waves, the natural footer put his name in the trials at the last minute and surfed his first competitive heat for five years in the opening round, which he won. He then narrowly progressed through round two to stay in the event. Also keeping the dream alive was Sunshine Coast surfers Ryan Campbell and David Scard who won through their respective round two exchanges. Not so fortunate was fellow coaster Mark Visser who was ousted in round one by Japanese competitor Wakita Takayuki and fellow Australian Ry Craike (Kalbarri). Also eliminated in round two was 15-year-old Dean Bowen (Gerroa). Other Australian surfers scheduled to compete in the seeded rounds include former Teahupoo winner Koby Abberton (Maroubra) alongside a trio of Australian juniors Laurie Towner (Angourie), Heath Joske (Coffs Harbour) and Nick Vasicek (Coolangatta). It is ten years since Abberton won the Gotcha Tahiti Pro World Qualifying Series (WQS) event in heaving 3-4m surf over Hawaiian Conan Hayes. Hawaii’s Reef Macintosh, Jason Fredrico and Liam McNamara all progressed through two rounds to remain in contention. |
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