Slater watching Ace on his way to the top. Photo: ASP/Robertson
Adrian “Ace” Buchan’s compatriots in Australia were not alone in boisterously cheering on Adrian’s victory at the 2013 Billabong Pro Tahiti. You see, a goofy foot surfer had not won an ASP Men’s WCT event since Gabriel Medina claimed the 2011 Rip Curl Pro Search in San Francisco. That’s sixteen straight CT events, and just short of two calendar years, since a goofy foot surfer had stood victorious on the podium at an ASP Men’s WCT event. So surely there were plenty of loud shouts of exaltation emanating from goofy foot surfers the world over, relishing in this long overdue goofy footer ASP WCT event victory.
Adrian’s “end of the road” glory run to the 2013 Billabong Pro Tahiti title included heat wins against regular stance adversaries Jordy Smith in Round 5, John Florence in the quarters, Mick Fanning in the semi’s and ultimately concluding in the finals against Kelly Slater. The significance of Adrian’s victory over Kelly in the final of the 2013 Billabong Pro Tahiti is twofold; firstly, Kelly had never lost in four previous finals berths at the Billabong Pro Tahiti, secondly, this was Adrian’s second ASP WCT event finals victory over Kelly in as many tries, with the 2008 Quiksilver Pro France being the first instance.
Also worth noting, Adrian’s win broke the Goofy vs. Regular Footer Billabong Pro Tahiti titles tie that existed pre event that had been an equal seven titles won by each of the respective stances. Additionally, Adrian ended the three year title reign of the regular footers at Teahupo’o; the largely left breaking and by most surfing aficionado’s estimation “most perfect wave in the world.”
By winning the 2013 Billabong Pro Tahiti, Adrian has propelled himself up the ASP WCT and World Rankings to 10th and 4th respectively, and is looking in fine form for completing a successful 2013 CT campaign.
