Teahupoo, Tahiti (Tuesday, May 16, 2000). Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) today added the Gotcha Pro Tahiti title to his illustrious list of career victories. Slater took on Hawaiian Shane Dorian in the final, but out-classed his close-friend to claim his 22nd World Championship Tour (WCT) event since he started competing on the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) in 1991.

Slater, 28, entered the Gotcha Pro Tahiti as a wildcard entrant, having decided to spend some time away from competition over the past two years. Nonetheless, his performance this past week at Teahupoo offered no signs of diminished talent. He surfed the infamous break with complete control, also posting the highest total heat score of the day during his semi-final against current world champion and defending event champion Mark Occhilupo (Aus) (25.60 to 19.75 points).

During the 35-minute final Slater picked off the best rides and found deeper tubes, as well as performed more critical maneuvers in the clean 3-4 ft conditions. He and Dorian both rode their first rides switch-foot (with their right legs forward, instead of left as usual), however, just as they had in the last man-on-man final they surfed against each other back in 1992 in Australia-s premier junior event. All fun aside, Slater got down to business and convincingly dominated the finale (25.55 to 20.25-points).

‘The wave-s kind of pulsed for the final,’ he began saying once he-d paddled over to the media boat. ‘I-d noticed for my last couple of heats that the second waves of the sets were a little hollower, with a cleaner face, so with Shane having priority pretty much every time and taking the first ones, I just lucked into three really good ones. They were pretty much the best waves that came in.’

Dorian, who finished 1999 in 11th position, was rapt with today-s second placing, especially since his start to the 2000 season has been far from ideal, finishing 33rd and 17th respectively, in the first two events. His 9.80 ride against current rating-s leader Sunny Garcia (Haw), however, during their round four match-up this morning, turned out to be the highest of the day, and got the ball rolling.

Also finishing third was Australian Luke Hitchings, being defeated by Dorian. Hitchings, 23, who finished last year rated 26th, has now moved up into eighth position on adjusted points after today-s result.

Garcia, 30, still leads the ratings despite his fourth round loss, with 1999-s world number-two Taj Burrow (Aus), holding down second place 640 points behind.

Official Results of the Gotcha Pro Tahiti Final Day

1st K Slater (USA) US$15,000

2nd S Dorian (Haw) US$8,000

=3rd L Hitchings (Aus); M Occhilupo (Aus) US$4,000

=5th C Hayes (Haw); L Egan (Aus); M Campbell (Aus); C Lopez (USA) US$3,000

=9th Y Sodre (Brz); N Hedge (Aus); B Bourgeois (USA); S Garcia (Haw); G Herdy (Brz); CJ Hobgood (USA); B Emerton (Aus); F Padaratz (Brz) US$2,300

Further Information Contact

Jesse Faen, ASP Int-l. Media Director: In Tahiti # (68)-9-574-786
jesse@aspworldtour.com
PH/Fax Service: 1-212-699-3827 ext. 4282

Or visit: www.bluetorch.com or www.asplive.com

Complimentary digital images available to all newspapers, websites, and magazines. Contact Pierre Tostee / ASP World Tour Photographer:

pierre@tostee.com