The Billabong Pro Maui presented by Hawaiian Airlines at Monolua Bay, Maui  is in its 10th year and will celebrate its anniversary next month on December 8-20.  The crown jewel of surfing marks the final stop of the 2008 ASP Women’s Tour and the Triple Crown of Surfing.  The worlds most elite women surfers will battle it out for a piece of the $85,000 purse while living it up in luxury at the Kapalua Villa.  This event will decide who will be the 2008 Women’s World Champion. 

“It’s been an honor to have this event at Honolua Bay for the past 10 years and we’re looking forward to celebrating its history during our opening dinner,” says Candy Harris Brand manager for Billabong Girls. “It’s always amazing to see the progression of women’s surfing showcased at this spectacular break each year and I’m sure this December the tradition will continue.”

However, when the first round kicks off a few notable names will be missing and won’t be able to watch Slater’s inevitable march into history.

Defending world champion Mick Fanning is returning to Coolangatta, Australia, to rest after suffering a groin injury in South Africa at the J-Bay contest last July.  The injury is expected to keep him sidelined through the Hang Loose contest in late October.

Also missing the event due to injury are Dean Morrison and Neco Padaratz.

Andy and Bruce Irons will also be skipping the event, though they are chalking it up to “personal reasons.”  Bruce, who won the Rip Curl Pro Search contest in August, is retiring from the ASP World Tour this season and three-time world champ Andy is having an off-year, ranked 13th overall on the tour.  Andy also skipped out on his second-round heat last month at the Quiksilver Pro France.

Find out more about the contest at the official site.

Here are the first round match-ups.

Billabong Pro Mundaka Round 1 Heat Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Kai Otton (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)*
Heat 2: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Mick Campbell (AUS), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 5: Bobby Martinez (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Tim Boal (FRA)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Tim Reyes (USA), Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Taylor Knox (USA), Reubyn Ash (GBR)
Heat 9: Taj Burrow (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Marco San Segundo (EUK)*
Heat 10: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Hodei Collazo (EUK)*
Heat 11: Luke Stedman (AUS), Jay Thompson (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 12: Chris Ward (USA), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 13: Dayyan Neve (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA), Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 14: Dane Reynolds (USA), Tiago Pires (PRT), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 15: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Daniel Wills (AUS), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Kieren Perrow (AUS), Royden Bryson (ZAF), Luke Munro (AUS)

Round two of the Billabong Pro J-Bay went down today and there were a few exits of note as Joel Parkinson dispatched wildcard Mark Occhilupo and Aussie Mick Campbell knocked out Damien Hobgood.  Andy Irons and Bobby Martinez also advanced into Round Three, with Martinez nabbing the second perfect 10.0 on one of his waves.  Local Jordy Smith (pictured) posted the highest heat total of the day as he advanced over Neco Padaratz.

Among the other surfers to see their day end were Pancho Sullivan, Dane Reynolds, Ben Dunn and Tiago Pires.

After two straight days of action the contest may be off this weekend as conditions are expected to be uneven.  Check out the official site for more and read on for the press release about Friday’s action from South Africa.

Jordy Smith Whales on the Competition in Round 2 of the Billabong Pro J-Bay

JEFFREYS BAY, South Africa (Friday, July 11, 2008) – South African rookie Jordy Smith gave the local crowd what they came for when he posted the highest heat total of Round 2 to advance to Round 3 of the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay today.

Smith eliminated Brazil’s Neco Padaratz in three to five foot (one and half metre) waves courtesy of the 18.60 heat total he amassed – the second highest of the event thus far. He has drawn Dean Morrison (AUS) in Round 3.

“It’s good to get one nailed away and get the nerves out,” Smith said. “Now I’m just stoked I didn’t get a 33rd and looking forward to the next round.”

Smith scored a 9.00 on his first wave ridden. He sealed the deal with a 9.60 toward the end of the heat.

“I wanted to catch one early in the heat just to feel my board and feel my feet,” Smith said. “The wave was a real nice peeling one and I ended up getting a 9.00. After that score I just realized that I needed to wait for a better one. Luckily I waited and I got it.”

A 30-foot humpback whale was among the locals on hand to support Smith. The massive mammal surfaced just meters away from the surfers a handful of times – set waves rolled through right after each time.

“Hopefully the whale sticks around for a couple more of my heats,” Smith said. “The set came and it was there so I’m hoping to see it again!”

Today’s elimination of higher-rated rookie Dane Reynolds (USA), leaves opportunity for Smith to close the gap in the ASP Rookie of the Year race. Reynolds is currently rated 16th, Smith 19th.

“Dane is a great surfer but I’m just trying to do my own thing really,” Smith said. “It’s a bit unlucky that he lost earlier. I actually would have liked to see him get through.”

Reynolds went down to Brazilian Heitor Alves in the second highest scoring heat of the day. Alves’16.66 trumped Reynolds 13.83, and sent him home with his first 33rd place result of the year.

“I’m so happy,” Alves said. “To get two 8s in a heat? I can’t believe it. I feel comfortable here. I like this wave.”

The second perfect 10 of the Billabong Pro JBay was earned by Bobby Martinez (USA) today. Martinez hasn’t scored a perfect 10 since Chile in 2006 – and event then, he didn’t win his heat. The deep barrel Martinez emerged from was clearly the wave of the day.

“It was a weird wave because I took off and couldn’t see – the sun was in my eyes,” Martinez said. “I’m not even sure why I went for the barrel because I haven’t been barreled the whole trip but it just happened. I almost fell in there, I got off balance, but luckily I didn’t. I came out. I was lucky to get a wave out there period and then to get a wave like that… it came from someone I think.”

Martinez’s Round 2 victory over wildcard Rudy Palmboom (ZAF) will see him draw Luke Munro in Round 3.

Andy Irons (HAW) also got the better of his wildcard opponent but was quick to disclose that the cold water has been an issue for him.

“You have to pick the right ones and that has been tough for me lately,” Irons said. “I’ve been battling the cold badly. I went to Bali before this and I think that was a bad move because it’s hard to get motivated to get out there. I only surfed once before the contest and then only in heats ever since.”

ASP World No. 2 Joel Parkinson was the highest seeded surfer negotiating Round 2 today. He beat his traveling buddy in 1999 ASP World Champion and wildcard Mark Occhilupo (AUS) in the first heat of the day.

“We were both serious about it,” Parkinson said. “We both wanted to win but Oc broke his fin on the way out and it kind of sent him into a frenzy there for a while. I was kind of laughing because, typical Occy, he had the full panic head on saying, ‘Oh, I’ll be right, I’ll be right,’ then he just grabbed some other kid’s board and surfed it. It was a good heat though.”

Pancho Sullivan (HAW), who was unable to arrive in time to surf his Round 2 heat due to passport problems beyond his control, gave Ben Bourgeois (USA) a bye into a Round 3. Bourgeois will use that saved energy to take on reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) when competition resumes.

Forecasts indicate that conditions may be unsuitable for Billabong Pro competition over the weekend. Still, event officials will meet each morning at 7 to monitor the waves and make an official call.

Additional information can be found on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com.

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 9.67
Heat 2: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.17 def. Granger Larsen (HAW) 11.83
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 16.33 def. Rudy (jnr) Palmboom (ZAF) 4.33
Heat 4: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 13.07 def. Nic Muscroft (AUS) 11.00
Heat 5: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.67 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 11.34
Heat 6: Luke Stedman (AUS) 12.00 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 7.60
Heat 7: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.27 def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 13.94
Heat 8: Travis Logie (ZAF) 15.50 def. Timmy Reyes (USA) 12.00
Heat 9: Ben Bourgeois (USA) adv. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) n/s
Heat 10: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 15.66 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 14.50
Heat 11: Heitor Alves (BRA) 16.66 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 13.83
Heat 12: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 15.10 def. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 13.70
Heat 13: Mick Campbell (AUS) 15.30 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 9.50
Heat 14: Luke Munro (AUS) 16.33 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 12.55
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 18.60 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 11.33
Heat 16: Chris Ward (USA) 13.16 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 12.17

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 3 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 2: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Roy Powers (HAW)
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Jay Thompson (AUS)
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. Daniel Wills (AUS)
Heat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. Mick Campbell (AUS)
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 7: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Taylor Knox (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 10: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 11: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)
Heat 12: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 13: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 14: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Jordy Smith (ZAF)
Heat 15: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 16: Jeremy Flores (FRA) vs. Chris Ward (USA)

The Billabong Pro J-Bay is underway in South Africa with the trials going into round one action. While nothing too exciting is expected to happen (after all, anyone knocked out in round one will get a second chance in round two), it looks as though there will be plenty of action after the day’s event. That’s because according to local retailers the sales of condoms goes through the roof during the contest period.

“They‘re definitely not only surfing,” joked the manager of one local spot who ended up doubling his stock during the Pro.

Yes, surfers do know how to have fun.

We’ll keep you updated on the key results but feel free to watch the live webcast of the action over at the official site.

Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay Round 1 Match-Ups

Heat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Roy Powers (HAW), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 2: Bobby Martinez (USA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 3: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA), Ben Dunn (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Bruce Irons (HAW), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 6: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 7: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Taylor Knox (USA), Nic Muscroft (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Dane Reynolds (USA), Granger Larsen (HAW)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Rudy Palmboom (ZAF)
Heat 11: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Chris Ward (USA), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 12: Luke Stedman (AUS), Mikael Picon (FRA), Daniel Wills (AUS)
Heat 13: Kai Otton (AUS), Neco Padaratz (BRA), Leonardo Neves (BRA)
Heat 14: Tim Reyes (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 15: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 16: Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Michael Campbell (AUS), Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Brazillian wildcard Bruno Santos defeated fellow wildcard Manoa Drollet in the finals of the Billabong Pro Tahiti today. Surfing stars such as CJ Hobgood, Taj Burrow, Kelly Slater and Joel Parkinson fell to one or the other with Parkinson losing to Drollet and Hobgood to Santos in the semi finals.

Check out a full breakout of the action in the press release below…

Bruno Santos Wins an All-Wildcard Billabong Pro Tahiti Final

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Thursday, May 15, 2008) – Brazilian wildcard Bruno Santos has defeated local wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF) to win the Billabong Pro Tahiti and become the first Brazilian to win an ASP World Tour event in five years.

“I’m really happy, my dreams just came true,” Santos said. “Today is not the perfect day to surf the final, but I don’t care I’m still happy. It’s still the best day of my life.”

Santos, who earned his spot in the Billabong Pro Tahiti with a runner-up finish in the Air Tahiti Nui VonZipper Trials held prior to the main event, got the better of local Teahupoo specialist Drollet in their low scoring affair. Santos beat Drollet 9.16 to 6.83 on a borrowed surfboard in inconsistent three-foot (one metre) waves.

“I got two little barrels and then there were no more waves, I don’t know, maybe Mother Nature was trying to help me,” Santos said. “Today is so small and my 6’3 was too big so I borrowed a board from a French guy in the channel. He saved my life, I want to keep the board.”

Santos defeated last year’s World No. 1 Mick Fanning (AUS), World No. 2 Taj Burrow and 2001 ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), among others, en route to his victory.

“I’ve surfed more than 10 heats if you count the trials,” Santos said, “The waves in the trials were so perfect and I have surfed the best barrels of my life in this event. I got injured in the trials and had to get 15 stitches and not surf for 15 days. My first heat back was the one against Mick Fanning that I won in the last minute so I knew from then that luck was on my side.”

The Billabong Pro Tahiti was the eighth ASP World Tour event for both Santos and Drollet – both surfers have enjoyed multiple wildcards into Pipeline and Teahupoo events among others.

The last Brazilian to win an ASP World Tour event was Neco Padaratz in France in 2003.

Drollet’s best result previous to today, was a semifinal showing at Teahupoo in 1999. He is widely regarded as one of the best surfers at Teahupoo but conditions in the Final weren’t exactly the big hollow barrels he is used to surfing.

“The waves were small but they were small for him too,” Drollet said. “He did better in the final and he deserved to win. Getting so close to winning the event gets you nervous and there were not many waves. Bruno was putting pressure on me and he had priority. I was paying more attention to him than the waves. I let him take that first one which was a big mistake – he won there.”

Drollet beat World No. 1 Kelly Slater and earned two perfect 10s in the Billabong Pro Tahiti but victory at home eluded him.

“Before the final I said to myself, ’it doesn’t matter if I win the final because I have had such a good event and surfed so many amazing heats, I shouldn’t put pressure myself to win,’” Drollet said. “If I don’t win, it’s still a good day of surfing and in the end that is all that matters. I would have loved to have won though. It won’t be easy to ever make it that far again – I think I got quite lucky to get the waves I got in this event.”

Drollet beat Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.33 to 10.27 in the semifinals – the same heat in which he earned the second of his perfect 10 point rides. Parkinson caught four waves to Drollet’s eight.

“The swell was definitely dying so I was trying to be ive,” Parkinson said. “I still thought I could get a 10.00, anything is possible, but there was only one other wave that came through, right through the inside, and I was up the top with priority. Manoa got it and got an 8.00. I’m stoked I got a third and good for Manoa, it takes the points away, so that’s a good thing.”

Parkinson moves to World No. 2 behind Slater with the result. Behind him, Bede Durbidge (AUS), Andy Irons (HAW) and Mick Fanning (AUS) sit in third, fourth and fifth respectively.

Former winner C.J. Hobgood suffered a similar fate to Parkinson when he lost to Santos 8.67 to 14.34.

“If I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t change a thing,” Hobgood said. “Fifteen minutes left, I had priority and I needed a six so I sat there. If you did that again, nine times out of 10 a wave would come in. A wave didn’t break for 15 minutes. Yea, I’m bummed and I wanted to break my board into a million pieces and kick and scream and cry, but I’m just going to smile.”

Hobgood moves to World No. 12 with the result, but after opening the season with two equal 17th showings, was hoping for more. The fact that ratings points for 1st and 2nd place weren’t doled out since the wildcards aren’t rated surfers was of little consolation for him.

“Two wildcards in the final, if you are Kelly Slater you are laughing,” Hobgood said. “But if you’re the rest of us, it’s a missed opportunity.”

The World’s Top 45 surfers will have another opportunity to earn points when they head to Fiji for Stop No. 4 on the ASP World Tour next week.

Visit www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com for additional information.

Billabong Pro Tahiti Final Results:
Final: Bruno Santos (BRA) 9.16 def. Manoa Drollet (PYF) 6.83

Billabong Pro Tahiti Semifinal Results:
Heat 1: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 18.33 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10.27
Heat 2: Bruno Santos (BRA) 14.34 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.67

Billabong Pro Tahiti Quarterfinal Results:
Heat 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Andy Irons (HAW) 6.14
Heat 2: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 17.84 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 9.83
Heat 3: Bruno Santos (BRA) 9.83 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.07
Heat 4: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.00 def. Bruce Irons (HAW) 10.16

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 4 Results:
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 18.93 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 13.26
Heat 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.50 def. Dane Reynolds (USA) 8.17
Heat 3: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 15.50 def. Dean Morrison (AUS) 14.50
Heat 4: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 15.00 def. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 5.33
Heat 5: Bruno Santos (BRA) 15.34 def. Tim Reyes (USA) 3.70
Heat 6: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.50 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.84
Heat 7: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.00 def. Chris Ward (USA) 2.10
Heat 8: Bruce Irons (USA) 15.16 def. Mikael Picon (FRA) 8.73

Today’s Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Results:
Heat 15: Mikael Picon (FRA) 11.27 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 6.93
Heat 16: Bruce Irons (HAW) 18.17 def. Taylor Knox (USA) 16.34

Top 10 ASP World Tour Rated Surfers after the Billabong Pro Tahiti:
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 2810 points
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 2340 points
3. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 2318 points
4. Andy Irons (HAW) 2196 points
5. Mick Fanning (AUS) 1989 points
6. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 1932 points
7. Taj Burrow (AUS) 1886 points
8. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 1874 points
9. Kai Otton (AUS) 1800 points
10. Dane Reynolds (USA) 1742 points

The day after defending world champ Mick Fanning was knocked out of the Billabong Pro Tahiti a slew of other top surfers were shown the exit as wildcards dominated the day.

Wildcard Manoa Drollet (above) knocked out Slater in Round three today while Taj Burrow fell to Brazilian Bruno Santos but other top surfers did advance including Andy Irons, Joel Parkinson and CJ Hobgood.

Conditions are good in Tahiti and contest organizers hope to finish up the action on Thursday.  You can catch the live webcast on the official site and read more about Wednesday’s action in the press release below..

Wildcards Leave Slater and Burrow in their Wake in Round 3

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Wednesday, May 14, 2008) –Eight-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) and last year’s World No. 2 Taj Burrow (AUS) were Round 3 casualties to Billabong Pro Tahiti wildcards today.

Bruno Santos (BRA), who eliminated reigning World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) in a tight heat yesterday, beat Burrow in a much more convincing fashion today when he earned an early 8.33 to take a lead he never relinquished.

“It’s so good to surf against the best surfers and beat the guys,” Santos said. “This heat was so different than my heat yesterday. I got a big score at the beginning, got priority and then I got another big score, a 9.27, so I am really happy. Hopefully I can keep going, I really want to make the final.”

Local surfer Manoa Drollet (PYF), who won his Round 1 heat over Slater and C.J. Hobgood yesterday, beat the World No. 1 with a 14.00 heat total despite Slater catching the best wave of the heat, a 9.83, in the dying minutes of the heat.

“To beat Kelly Slater is pretty much as good as it gets but to win the contest would be even better,” Drollet said. “I got lucky, again like in the first round, when I got the best wave right at the beginning. I was in the lead and I was more relaxed and there weren’t many waves at the end of the heat, so he couldn’t do anything.”

Slater was handed a priority interference penalty for paddling for a wave Drollet wanted and had priority on so his second scoring ride wasn’t counted. Even if it had, Slater would have come up short 13.26 to Drollet’s 14.00.

“I paddled probably one paddle too much,” Slater said of the interference. “I sort of judged it like Manoa wasn’t going to catch it and I paddled a little more than I obviously would have and then it was too late. That’s the way it goes, I made a little mistake and out here at Teahupoo the chances of coming back from an interference are almost nil.”

Slater will retain his No. 1 rating after the Billabong Pro Tahiti despite his equal 17th finish today. His closest threats still in the competition are Andy Irons (HAW) and Joel Parkinson (AUS), both of whom are rated 6th in the world right now. Should one of them win the event, they would move to World No. 2 behind Slater.

“We’ll see what happens,” Slater said. “Taj went down and Mick went down so that’s good for me if I’m going to look at the whole year,” Slater said. “It gives Andy and Parko a chance to catch up but the best one of them can do is a 5th I think, because they’re going to knock each other out. Then there’s Bede we’ll see how Bede goes. This isn’t his strong wave, but he could get a good result.”
Durbidge, who came into the event World No. 2, didn’t get a strong result and was knocked by an in form Chris Ward (USA) in the second to last heat of the day. Ward earned one of three perfect 10s awarded today, but was the only surfer earning one to advance. Tiago Pires (PRT) earned a 10.00 but lost his heat to Parkinson on an interference mistake and Leonardo Neves (BRA) needed more than a 10.00 and a 6.90 to beat Bruce Irons’ (HAW) 18.33 in Round 2.

C.J. Hobgood, the 2004 winner of the Billabong Pro laid claim to the highest heat score of the event moments after watching Ward blitz – he posted a 9.97 and a 9.67 for a 19.64 heat total in the last heat of the day.

“Wardo pretty much laid the groundwork for that,” Hobgood said. “I was just watching him. What do you do when the waves are cooking? More times than not when you are out here right before dark you get this little window and I was just hoping the waves would turn on and they did.”

ASP Rookies Dane Reynolds (USA) and Jordy Smith (ZAF) went head to head in Heat 3 of Round 3. Reynolds, who is the highest rated rookie on tour at equal 11th, got the better of the exchange and is through to Round 4.

“When I saw that I had Jordy I was like, ‘Oh, no,’ I was so nervous just because of all the hype surrounding us,” Reynolds said. “I didn’t really care who won, I just didn’t want to get smoked and be all embarrassed. I’m stoked I won that one, I’m sure there will be plenty of matchups, probably at JBay and then I’m sure it will be the other way around, so it will be fun.”

There are 18 heats of Billabong Pro Tahiti action remaining and contest officials are hoping to finish the competition by 4pm local time tomorrow. An official call will be made at 6am.

All the action will be webcast LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com.

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Results:
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) 15.50 def. Royden Bryson (ZAF) 12.47
Heat 2: Luke Stedman (AUS) 17.53 def. Jay Thompson (AUS) 12.4
Heat 3: Dane Reynolds (USA) 18.17 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.23
Heat 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.06 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 10
Heat 5: Dean Morrison (AUS) 17.94 def. Michael Campbell (AUS) 15
Heat 6: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.63 def. Ben Bourgeois (USA) 16.40
Heat 7: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 17.66 def. Dayyan Neve (AUS) 11.37
Heat 8: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 14.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 9.83
Heat 9: Bruno Santos (BRA) 17.60 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 13.00
Heat 10: Tim Reyes (USA) 16.74 def. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 12.33
Heat 11: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.94 def. Heitor Alves (BRA) 9.40
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 17.83 def. Danny Wills (AUS) 9.17
Heat 13: Chris Ward (USA) 19.17 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 7.30
Heat 14: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 19.64 def. Luke Munro (AUS) 14.06

Today’s Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 2 Results:
Heat 5: Taylor Knox (USA) 11.83 def. Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 7.44
Heat 6: Dane Reynolds (USA) 14.50 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 12.26
Heat 7: Royden Bryson (ZAF) 13.33 def. Neco Padaratz (BRA) 9.60
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.67 def. Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 6.17
Heat 9: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 15.84 def. Daniel Ross (AUS) 9.40
Heat 10: Mikael Picon (FRA) 15.07 def. Ben Dunn (AUS) 9.83
Heat 11: Tim Reyes (USA) 10.50 def. Jihad Khodr (BRA) 5.53
Heat 12: Ben Bourgeois (USA) 17.00 def. Roy Powers (HAW) 10.00
Heat 13: Bruce Irons (HAW) 18.33 def. Leonardo Neves (BRA) 16.90
Heat 14: Luke Munro (AUS) 17.76 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 17.24
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13.77 def. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 11.17
Heat 16: Jay Thompson (AUS) 17.10 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 16.67

Remaining Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 3 Match-Ups:
Heat 15: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. Miky Picon (FRA)
Heat 16: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 4 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Luke Stedman (AUS)
Heat 2: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Joel Parkinson (AUS)
Heat 3: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 5: Bruno Santos (BRA) vs.Tim Reyes (USA)
Heat 6: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 7: Chris Ward (USA) vs. C.J. Hobgood (USA)
Heat 8: TBA

It’s been two years since Mick Fanning was knocked out of an ASP World Tour contest in the second round and Tuesday it happened again…  at the same place.  In 2006 Fanning made an early exit in Tahiti and this year Brazilian wildcard Bruno Santos made his stay a short one.

Kelly Slater, who won the first two events of the season, also had a scare after being sent to the second sound for only the second time in more than year   Wildcard Manoa Drollet delivered him to the second round and there he dispatched another wildcard, Jamie O’Brien, 18.70 to 13.90.  Reporters were speculating whether or not Slater would even show up since he was a no show the last few days but fellow surfers didn’t doubt he would show up.

For a full recap of all the action check out the press release below (including all of the match-ups).  Then check out the live webcast tomorrow (Wednesday) — the contest is expected to run again.

Fanning Bows Out of the Billabong Pro Tahiti Slater Survives Round 2

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Tuesday, May 13, 2008) – Reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) suffered his first last place finish in two years at the Billabong Pro Tahiti this afternoon. After waiting for six days to commence competition, all of Round 1 and the first five heats of Round 2 were run in perfect four to six foot waves at Teahupoo today.

Fanning was relegated to the sudden death round after finishing a tenth of a point behind Pancho Sullivan (HAW) in a low scoring Round 1 heat. He failed to find his rhythm in Round 2 too, losing to Brazilian Wildcard Bruno Santos in the dying seconds of their duel.

“Things could be better,” Fanning said. “Every wave was a battle for fours and fives out there. They weren’t opening up and then I was either too wide or too deep – I couldn’t find the happy medium, but it happens. The waves were good, I wasn’t good.”

Fanning made the Final of the Billabong Pro Tahiti last year and finished in the semifinals or better in 11 of the last 13 ASP World Tour events. His equal 33rd finish today is his first since bowing out early at Teahupoo two years ago. Surfers can discard two results at year’s end.

“It’s been a couple years,” Fanning said. “I’m just going to throw this one away – there are a lot of events left so I’m going to go home and get focused again.”

Santos trailed Fanning the entire heat but only needed a 3.34 to change the situation. He beat Fanning 10.00 to 9.17 when he earned a 4.17 on wave he caught as the heat-end hooter blew.

“It was a really bad heat because the waves were so good and I couldn’t find a wave better than five points,” Santos said. “It was a bad heat but at the end I just found a little barrel. I almost fell but I made the barrel and I got the score.”

Eight-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA) was also forced to surf Round 2 after finishing second to local wildcard Manoa Drollet (PYF) in Round 1. Slater, the 2000, 2003 and 2005 winner of the event, beat wildcard Jamie O’Brien (HAW) 18.70 to 13.90 this afternoon.

“Jamie is a great surfer and one of the best tube riders of all time so I knew it was going to be a tough heat,” Slater said. “The thing I thought about going into Round 2 was that I’ve got another wildcard now, who is probably the best wildcard. Instead of thinking about losing earlier I was thinking that there were three waves at the end of the last heat that Manoa kept me off that I could have easily got my scores on, so the heat was a lot closer than it looked since we were basically even on one wave. You’ve got to play on your strengths and be realistic about your situation.”

Slater only surfed Round 2 once last year and prior to his Round 1 loss today, hadn’t lost a heat this season. He has won the first two stops on the 2008 ASP World Tour.

“Obviously streaks are nice but all streaks come to end,” Slater said. “The thing about it is that you just have to take your losses and learn something out there and I think I did that. I had the waves to win in that first heat but I just got held off on a couple. I figured with priority I would be able to be a little more ive, take my time and be where I want on the wave. I probably caught eight closeouts in that first heat because I had to go so deep every time.”

Slater will meet Drollet again in Round 3, but the local surfer will go into their bout with added confidence having won today.

“It’s excellent to beat Kelly,” Drollet said. “I feel bad, he was a bit pissed, but it’s a contest. I was lucky to get the best two waves of the heat, Kelly got one in the end and he almost came back. In this competition, the guy who gets the good waves is going to win the heat, and that was me today.”

Drollet is the only local surfer in the 2008 edition of the Billabong Pro, the Tahitians often eliminate World Tour surfers at Teahupoo, but a local has never won the event.

“I got third once and C.J. Hobgood knocked me out of the contest that year, that was nine years ago,” Drollet said. “Of course, I dream of winning this contest but I don’t want to get ahead of myself. They’re all good and they all know the wave as well as I do. I will take it wave by wave.”

The heat of the day was surfed by Adriano de Souza (BRA) who found two deep barrels to post a near perfect 19.53 out of 20.00 and advance over Kieren Perrow (AUS) and Miky Picon (FRA). His heat total today is by far the highest of his three year ASP World Tour career.

“I’ve come here many times to Teahupoo and I always get good waves but I can never show that in my heats so today I’m pretty happy, it’s my day,” de Souza said. “I’m really happy to get the huge scores, hopefully I can keep the same determination and the same focus for the next heat because I’m hoping to finish this contest near the Final.”

Top seeded surfers Andy Irons (HAW), Joel Parkinson (AUS) and Taj Burrow (AUS) made their Round 1 heats today and move straight to Round 3. World No. 2 Bede Durbidge (AUS) fought back in Round 2 to advance as well.

Event organizers will endeavor to run the remaining 11 heats of Round 2 and most of Round 3 tomorrow. Conditions are expected to be as good as they were this afternoon tomorrow morning so competition is slated to start at 6:30am with Heat 6 of Round 2.

The Billabong Pro Tahiti will be webcast LIVE on www.billabongpro.com.

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Results:
Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS) 16.16, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 12.73, Ricky Basnett (ZAF) 9.17
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.07, Luke Munro (AUS) 13.40, Royden Bryson (ZAF) 11.17
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 14.74, Travis Logie (ZAF) 13.50, Leonardo Neves (BRA) 6.73
Heat 4: Tiago Pires (PRT) 15.17, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 10.44, Roy Powers (HAW) 3.07
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW) 11.27, Tim Reyes (USA) 10.50, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 6.63
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.94, Chris Ward (USA) 12.87, Ben Dunn (AUS) 10.77
Heat 7: Dayyan Neve (AUS) 16.16, Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.00, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 5.20
Heat 8: Manoa Drollet (PYF) 18.60, Kelly Slater (USA) 15.30, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.00
Heat 9: Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 9.50, Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.40, Jamie O’’Brien (HAW) 8.03
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS) 14.50, Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.73, Bruno Santos (BRA) 6.70
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 11.43, Daniel Ross (AUS) 8.73, Jay Thompson (AUS) 7.00
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 19.53, Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.20, Mikael Picon (FRA) 9.20
Heat 13: Heitor Alves (BRA) 15.27, Taylor Knox (USA) 6.83, Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA) 4.93
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS) 15.33, Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 11.93, Jihad Khodr (BRA) 3.16
Heat 15: Michael Campbell (AUS) 18.24, Bruce Irons (HAW) 16.5, Dane Reynolds (USA) 11.77
Heat 16: Daniel Wills (AUS) 14.83, Neco Padaratz (BRA) 14.10, Ben Bourgeois (USA) 10.26

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 2 Results:
Heat 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.70, Jamie O’’Brien (HAW) 13.90
Heat 2: Bruno Santos (BRA) 10.00, Mick Fanning (AUS) 9.17
Heat 3: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.74, Nic Muscroft (AUS) 2.97
Heat 4: Chris Ward (USA) 14.50, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 12.90
Heat 5: Taylor Knox (USA) 11.83, Aritz Aranburu (EUK) 7.44

Remaining Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 2 Match-Ups:
Heat 6: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 7: Neco Padaratz (BRA) vs. Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 8: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 9: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 10: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 11: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 12: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 13: Leonardo Neves (BRA) vs. Bruce Irons (HAW)
Heat 14: Luke Munro (AUS) vs. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW)
Heat 15: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 16: Jay Thompson (AUS) vs. Kieren Perrow (AUS)

Damien Hobgood has officially withdrawn from the Billabong Pro Tahiti after breaking his shoulder last month.  He had been hoping to be healed enough to make the event, but with it expected to kick off today, time ran out.

“I wanted to wait until the last minute to see if it would be possible for me to surf but my arm was too weak to be able to pull that off,” Hobgood said. “Also if I would have hit my shoulder again, that could have put me out for a lot longer and after making that mistake last year, I didn’t want to repeat it. I should be able to surf Fiji so I am really looking forward to getting back in the water for that event.”

Hobgood is the defending champ at the contest (he’s pictured above in ’07) and will be replaced by Aussie Nic Muscroft.  The next ASP World Tour event is the Globe Fiji and Hobgood is the last winner of that contest which was last held in 2006.

Because of the change in seeding, first-round matchips have changed for the Billabong Pro. Check out the latest order below and then catch the webcast later today on billabongpro.com.

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Match-Ups:

Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Tim Reyes (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Jamie O’Brien (HAW)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Bruno Santos (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Neco Padaratz (BRA), Bruce Irons (HAW), Daniel Wills (AUS)

Once the competition does kick off, it can be watched live on BillabongPro.com. Tahiti is three hours behind the west coast and six hours behind the east coast so it should be easy to watch most of this contest online.

If you want something to keep you occupied until then, check out this article from Australia’s The Age that says the Aussies plan to win this contest for the first time since 1999.

The Billabong Pro Tahiti started its holding period today and due to less than optimum conditions a lay day was called.

“We had a good look at it and we are opting not to run today,” Contest Director Luke Egan said. “I watched it for an hour last night and if it looked like that this morning then I was definitely going to run. Time is on our side with the waiting period so we are going to utilize it fully.”

Conditions could be small for a few days and last year’s champ, Damien Hobgood, who was apparently going to miss the contest due to injury, may still sneak in if he feels up to it.

When action does kick off, you can watch it live on www.billabongpro.com. Until then, you can go to the site to see some pretty pictures of the Tahitian people. Like the woman above.

Here are the first round match-ups.

Billabong Pro Tahiti Round 1 Match-Ups:
Heat 1: Dean Morrison (AUS), Luke Munro (AUS), Daniel Ross (AUS)
Heat 2: Kai Otton (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Ricky Basnett (ZAF)
Heat 3: Bobby Martinez (USA), Roy Powers (HAW), Royden Bryson (ZAF)
Heat 4: Jeremy Flores (FRA), Tim Reyes (USA), Travis Logie (ZAF)
Heat 5: Andy Irons (HAW), Ben Dunn (AUS), Tiago Pires (PRT)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Damien Hobgood (USA), Aritz Aranburu (EUK)
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Dayyan Neve (AUS), Chris Ward (USA)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), C.J. Hobgood (USA), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Jamie O’Brien (HAW)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Tom Whitaker (AUS), Bruno Santos (BRA)
Heat 11: Adrian Buchan (AUS), Jordy Smith (ZAF), Mikael Picon (FRA)
Heat 12: Adriano de Souza (BRA), Jay Thompson (AUS), Heitor Alves (BRA)
Heat 13: Taylor Knox (USA), Kieren Perrow (AUS), Jihad Khodr (BRA)
Heat 14: Luke Stedman (AUS), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA), Michael Campbell (AUS)
Heat 15: Dane Reynolds (USA), Fredrick Patacchia (HAW), Ben Bourgeois (USA)
Heat 16: Neco Padaratz (BRA), Bruce Irons (HAW), Daniel Wills (AUS)

And here’s my fantasy surfing match-ups. I still have Damien in there. I may regret it. Last month I took out Kelly Slater because it looked like he was going to miss the Gold Coast event and look what happened then.

Mick Fanning
Bobby Martinez
Damien Hobgood
Bede Durbidge
Adriano de Souza
Dane Reynolds
Tiago Pires
Jamie O’Brien