Billabong Pro Tahiti lay day called on Friday, forecast suggest improved conditions within 48 hours
With only small surf on offer at Teahupo’o in Taiarapu, Tahiti, on Thursday, August 23, the organisers of the fifth of ten stops on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, Billabong Pro Tahiti, were compelled to call
lay day.
The most recent forecast models presented by Surfline suggest that the swell will continue to build during the next two days to eventually reach a point where it would be possible to resume the event.
“Smaller than yesterday out there this morning so we’ve called competition off for the day,” Rich Porta, ASP International Head Judge, said. “We don’t anticipate much to fill in until mid-to-late Saturday, but will be back tomorrow morning to make another
assessment at that time.”
Kicking off in shifty waves on August 16, the competition featured a series of exquisite battles on the opening day of the competition as the elite ASP talent exchanged blows while eyeing to secure their place in the third round of the competition without
having to go through the second round.
The top seeds did not fail to live up to the expectations of the fans, putting on a spectacular show while unleashing a huge array of breath-taking manoeuvres while attempting to get their hands on top honours.
America’s 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater, Hawaii’s John John Florence, Brazil’s Adriano de Souza and Australia’s Joel Parkinson, the big fishes delivered a memorable performance in shifty conditions, making some of the most technical tricks look
extremely easy. Brazil’s young sensation Gabriel Medina was nothing short of outstanding on day 1 of the latest elite tour either, getting the better of seasoned ASP World Tour contenders to jump straight into the third round.
Australia’s Mick Fanning was unable to make much of an impact during the opening day of the event and ended up succumbing to America’s Taylor Knox, but managed to bounce back in Round 2 on day 2 of the competition to successfully secure his place in the
next round.
The second day of the competition saw the completion of Round 2, sending the out-of-form surfers home while completing the Round 3 line-up.
When Billabong Pro Tahiti resumes, Fanning will be seen in a one-on-one battle against Hawaii’s Fredrick Patacchia for the Round 4 spot.
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