Gotcha Pro Tahiti presented by Globe Featuring Gallaz Women’s Pro (MAY 9-18))
Teahupoo, Tahiti (Monday, May 8, 2000). Hawaiian Andy Irons dominated the international field of competitors today in perfect six-to-ten foot conditions at the infamous waves of Teahupoo, taking out the trials event that preludes the third stop on the 2000 World Championship Tour, and earning himself a spot in the main event.
Six-time world champion Kelly Slater (USA), and Tahiti’s own Vetea David, also made the cut today, placing second and third respectively behind Irons, filling the final positions on offer. Hawaiian Tamao Perry finished fourth in the 45-minute final, unfortunately missing out.
Located at the ‘end of the road,’ about an hour’s drive south of Papeete, Teahupoo’s township is a quiet little village, nestled beneath lush green mountains and arguably one of the world’s most intense waves. So intense, in fact, Slater admitted after the final he was feeling quite intimidated leading into the first event he has ever contested in Tahiti.
‘To tell you the truth, I felt a little bit nervous,’ he began to explain. ‘Partly because I haven’t competed, but probably mostly because of the waves. It’s really intense, and coming off a flight from Tokyo (Japan)… basically getting off a 36-hour flight and jumping straight into 10-ft Teahupoo, it’s a big step, especially since I’ve had an injury and haven’t really surfed a whole lot this year. I’m not really that fit right now, so I was out there way over my head, really.
‘I went and caught a few waves before the final and I thought that would loosen me up, but it didn’t, it actually made me more nervous. I had thisreal feeling of intensity about the wave, and hearing all the stories… Shane Dorian (Hawaii) told me he had a really heavy wipeout this morning, and all of that stuff was on my mind, and just watching this wave. Didier Piter (France) hit his head on the reef today and split his head open and got eight stitches… this isn’t a wave that messes around. It’s not just hype, this wave’s gnarly.’
After watching his fellow competitors for the majority of the day, Slater offered the following comment in regard to whom he sees as the favourite so far, and his own chances.
‘From what I’ve seen, obviously Andy is the favourite,’ said Slater. ‘He’s surfing this wave as good as I could imagine anyone would. He’s on a roll right now, winning the trials, he’s not scared, and he wants it. I think for him not being on tour makes him want to prove something.
‘I’m not really mentally psyched right now, but I’ll just have to work on myself tonight and get myself really into it. I want to put a good heat together.’
Featured competitors in the main event of the Gotcha Pro Tahiti, expected to begin tomorrow morning, include defending event and current world champion Mark Occhilupo (Aus), and current rating’s leader Sunny Garcia (Hawaii), who’s coming off an incredible roll of results having just won the previous two WCT events in Australia. The Gallaz Women’s Pro hosts current two-time world champion Layne Beachley (Aus), together with four-time world champion Lisa Andersen (USA), and world number two-rated surfer Serena Brooke (Aus).
Further Information Contact
Jesse Faen, ASP Int’l. Media Director: In Tahiti # (68)-9-574-786 jesse@aspworldtour.com
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