Dusty Payne (HAW), 23, is back from injury and will be competing in his first event of 2012, the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Payne has drawn Taj Burrow (AUS), 34, and Damien Hobgood (USA), 33, in Round 1 of competition.
TEAHUPO?O, Taiarapu/Tahiti (Thursday, August 16, 2012) ? The Billabong Pro Tahiti, Event No. 5 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, will commence this morning at 9:30am with Round 1 taking on three-to-four foot (1 – 1.5 metre) surf at Teahupo’o.
“We have plenty of waves coming through in the three-to-four foot (1 – 1.5 metre) range this morning and competition will commence at 9:30am,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “Unfortunately, the forecast for this year’s event will not enjoy the same conditions as last year, but we will put the Top 34 out in the best surf possible and, with their impressive talents, I’m sure we’re going to see some exciting surfing. Good luck to all our competitors.”
Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for longer period, inconsistent/lully SW swell filling in through the afternoon with 5-6? faces and occasional max sets up to 7-8?. Local, shorter period south windswell in the mix to give the surf a jumbled up and somewhat stormy feel.
