Billabong Pro Surf
Monster waves. Razor-sharp reefs. Adrenaline rush. The Championships. Once a year, the quiet village of Teahupoo offers a perfect condition for professional surfers to challenge the raging waves head-on. Whether you are witnessing on the shore or surfing with the pros, the experience will surely serve that urgent need for thrill.
Regarded as a must-surf location for every enthusiastic surfer, Teahupoo rests in the southwest corner of the smaller of Tahiti’s two dormant volcanoes. The site boasts some of the heaviest waves in the world. The size of these monsters reaches 5-6 metres in height and commands as much awe as respect. “Jaws of Water” is what the locals name the place.
For the first half of May, professional surfers from all parts of the world turn up on this tucked corner of the island to contest their surfing skills. The Billabong Pro Surfing Tournament commences with the trial event on 1-5 May 2007. Here, local as well as professional surfers polish up their boards and compete alongside in the raging swell.
The main event on 6-18 May 2007 is when you can witness the spectacular competition. This is also the opportunity to bump shoulders with some of the world champions – the elite of surfers. Among them, three-time world champion Andy Irons, top-ten surfer Shane Dorian, and local charger Raimana Van Bastoloer, who nearly escaped death in the 2005 championship event.
