Adrian Buchan (AUS), 30, claims the 2013 Billabong Pro Tahiti.
TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti (Sunday, August 18, 2013) – Adrian Buchan (AUS), 30, has claimed the 2013 Billabong Pro Tahiti over 11-time ASP World Champion and four-time Billabong Pro winner Kelly Slater (USA) in solid four-to-six foot (1.5 – 2 metre) waves at Teahupo’o.
Event No. 6 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), this season’s Billabong Pro Tahiti saw the famed South Pacific reef pass of Teahupo’o turn on throughout the event with the world’s best surfers redefining high-performance barrel-riding, culminating in a electric, marathon 19-heat final day.
Full Report coming soon…
Kai Otton (AUS), 33, proved one of the form goofy-footers of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, consistently notching excellent scores and heat totals en route to the Semifinals. The Australian’s passionate and committed forehand tube-riding approach was no match for Slater however, with Otton settling a matched career-best Equal 3rd.
“It’s a pretty pivotal moment for me in my year,” Otton said. “I think I can confidently say that this result sets me up pretty well for requalification for next year. I obviously wanted to beat Kelly (Slater) there, but sometimes things don’t go your way. Still happy with the result though.”
Otton vaults from 17th to 13th on the 2013 ASP WCT rankings.
Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, two-time ASP World Champion and defending Billabong Pro Tahiti winner, was in fine form throughout the event, but ultimately fell to a rampaging Buchan in this evening’s Semifinals. Despite an impressive 9.13 of his own, Fanning was unable to overcome an early onslaught from his compatriot and settled for Equal 3rd.
“Big picture is all going well,” Fanning said. “Another Semifinal? You can’t be disappointed with that. Ace (Buchan) had a great heat with a phenomenal start and I had a couple of opportunities to come back but the tube monster got me. That said, I had a couple of close heats so to finish Equal 3rd is a good result.”
“The forecast was looking pretty dim before the event started but I think it’s been one of the better years for waves we’ve had,” Fanning said. “We finished early and I’m looking forward to a little more time at home before the next big leg.”
John John Florence (HAW), 20, has been in sensational form since his return from an early-season injury. One of the event favorites in Tahiti, Florence nailed an incredible double barrel Perfect 10 to open his Quarterfinal bout against Buchan this morning but was ultimately unable to overcome a massive heat total from the Australian. Although having to settle for Equal 5th in Tahiti, Florence was awarded the Andy Irons Most Committed Award for the event – honoring the late three-time ASP World Champion and Tahiti’s favorite adopted son.
“I’m very honored to be awarded the AI Most Committed Award,” Florence said. “He was a mentor to me and all my friends growing up. We all miss AI. We all still look up to him and what he did in the water. I obviously wanted to do better in the event, but if I couldn’t make it any further, this award is pretty much the most special one I could win. Looking forward to the next one.”
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS: 1 – Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.94 2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 17.90
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS: SF 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.80 SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.73 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 7.67
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS: QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.07 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.06 QF 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 19.17 def. John John Florence (HAW) 17.33 QF 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.54 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.90 QF 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.86 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.66
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 5 RESULTS: Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.20 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.40 Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.16 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.30 Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.00 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 17.27 Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.74 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.97
BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 4 RESULTS: Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.67, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.47, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.67 Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 18.67, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.80, Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.10 Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 18.93, Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.74, Kelly Slater (USA) 14.77 Heat 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 18.53, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.47, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.70
CURRENT ASP WCT TOP 5 (Following Billabong Pro Tahiti):
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 38,950 pts 2. Mick Fanning (AUS) 37,900 pts 3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 30,700 pts 4. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 29,200 pts 5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 25,400 pts
