Joel Parkinson and Kelly Slater shine on the opening day of Billabong Pro Tahiti
Australia’s Joel Parkinson and America’s Kelly Slater confirmed their spots in the third round at Billabong Pro Tahiti, the latest stop on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, after putting on superb performances to
grab top honours in their respective Round 1 heats at Teahupo’o in Taiarapu, Tahiti, on Thursday, August 16.
Brazil’s Ricardo dos Santos and Australia’s Kai Otton finished behind Parkinson in second and third place respectively during the fifth heat, consequently getting relegated to the second round.
The sixth heat saw South Africa’s Travis Logie and Tahiti’s Alain Riou were forced to take a trip to the relegation round as well after failing to keep Slater from walking away with the win.
Parkinson, current No.2 on the ASP World Champion Tour Rankings, put on an exquisite performance, adjusting exceptionally well to the shifty three-to-five foot waves on offer at the primary event site to get the better of Dos Santos and Otton in the fifth
heat.
The Australian surfer locked his first business-wave late in the heat, earning a 7.33 off his and went on to follow it up with an impressive 8.17-point ride, thus finishing with a two-wave total of 15.50 points.
Dos Santos scored a 5.00 and 6.33 off his best-two waves for a heat-total of 11.33 points, while Otton finished in third place with a two-wave total of 2.83 points, which comprised of a 1.43 and 1.40-point ride.
Slater, reigning 11-time ASP World Champion and current No.2 on the 2012 ASP World Tour Rankings, lived up to his reputation of being the greatest surfer in the world as he comfortably took down Logie and Riou in the sixth heat to confirm his place in the
third round.
The Florida-based surfer opened his account with an 8.50-point ride and immediately followed it up with a 7.50-point ride to finish with a heat-total of 16.00 points. The score remain unchallenged until the end of the heat to seal the fate of the three-man
battle in his favour.
“I actually caught the last plane I could have caught to make my heat and I barely made it this morning,” Slater said after the heat. “It’s not often that the waves in California are better than Tahiti, but there hasn’t been a whole lot of surf here and
we’ve had pretty good waves at home. It doesn’t look like there’s a ot forecast for this year which is a shame, but there’s still fun surf to be had. It’s Teahupo’o and you can sometimes take for granted how beautiful the waves are here.”
Logie finished in third place with a heat-total of 8.30 points, which comprised of a 6.60-point and 1.70-point ride, while the local talent Riou finished at the bottom position after registering a heat-total of 8.10 points.
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