Billabong Pro Tahiti Day 2

Today we just finished Round 2 in mediocre surf.  A few upsets were dealt sending a few favorites home early.  Late in the day, event organizers were planning on stopping the contest for the day, but the surfers called for it to go on.  Here are the results and thoughts from todays action. 


H3: 1st Julian Wilson, 2nd Willian Cardoso - after a slow first heat, Julian picked it up and was smart in the water in the first heat of the day. He now moves onto Rd 3.  This was a must win for Julian in order to keep his high ranking.  He seemed more in-tune this heat...hopefully he can maintain this surfing throughout the event. 

H4: 1st Jeremy Flores, 2nd Dusty Payne - Jeremy took it to Dusty in this elimination heat. Dusty goes home early and it will be interesting to see how the second half of the season goes for him.  Flores placed well here last year - I have a feeling he will do so again this year. 

H5: 1st Michel Bourez, 2nd Pat Gudauskas - Pat gave up a crucial wave to Bourez in the beginning and could not recover. Local boy Michel Bourez has never really done as well as he could in the Tahiti contest.  Could this be his year to take the title for his home country on his own soil?  He sure has the ability to do so. 

H6: 1st Alejo Muniz, 2nd Jadson Andre - two countrymen went at it.  So far this year, both surfers have had lackluster results.  I did not see either surfers going far into this event.  

H7: 1st Kieren Perrow, 2nd Tiago Pires - a great heat by KP. Pushes him through to Rd 3.  I originally had KP on my roster, but replaced him last minute...I wonder if I will be kicking myself by the end of the event.  He is looking strong and is known for his good surfing here.  

H8:  1st Miguel Pupo, 2nd Yadin Nichol - The boys up top called it the heat of the day..high scores and barrels. Pupo threw away a 9.0 to give you an idea... Fresh off of a 2nd at the US Open of Surfing, Pupo is in good form.  He showed us in Fiji that he can hang with the veterans in high-quality waves.  He could upset some of the favorites here.  

H9: 1st Damien Hobgood, 2nd Matt Wilkinson - an unfortunately loss for Wilko (first surfer on my team to lose). An all around slow heat wave wise. Great surfing by damo, always a threat in these waves.

H10: 1st Brett Simpson, 2nd Adam Melling - Melling never really got anything going. Good signs for Simpo as he moves on and needed this win for his rankings.  

H11: 1st Fred Pattachia, 2nd Bede Durbidge - Freddy proved to us why he is a top contender for this contest, his surfing was great and he was getting some big scores.  Bede has struggled this year.  He has not surfed like we know he can, I wonder if there is anything going on or if he is just going through a phase.  

H12: 1st Kai Otton, 2nd Travis Logie - mediocre surf in the last heat of the day, Kai won the heat with a high 9 point ride. An unfortunate loss for Logie as he was a semi-finalist last year as a wildcard. Second surfer I lost so far.  Kai is one of my favorite surfers and is constantly forgotten as one of the best goofy-footers.  His carves and barrel riding are some of the best.  Keep an eye out for him in Tahiti.  


These are the results from the day.  I expect a few lay days coming up, so we unfortunately won't have any action.  What are your thoughts on the event so far?  How are your teams holding up?  

Check out the Worn Trails Facebook page for real time heat results and thoughts at: http://www.facebook.com/worntrails

You can watch the event live on your computer, smartphone and iPad here: http://billabongpro.com/tahiti

Here is the video recap of Day 2: