After a high-ankle sprain put him out of the last two contests, JJF is back and confirmed he will be competing at this year’s Billabong Pro. Photo: WSL / Kirstin Scholtz
The 2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti, stop number seven of the 11-event 2015 WSL Samsung Galaxy Men’s World Championship Tour, begins on Friday, August 14th, and has a 12-day window that runs through Tuesday August 25th.
Teahupo’o and the Billabong Pro Tahiti have been synonymous with some of the most memorable moments in competitive surfing history, including the notorious 2011 Code Red Swell and last year’s mind-blowing Semifinal heat of the year between Kelly Slater and John John Florence.
Defending event champion and current World Champion, Gabriel Medina, will be intently focused on defending his event title and turning around his enormously lackluster 2015 campaign. Additionally, former event champions vying for the 2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti title include: Adrian Buchan (2013), Mick Fanning (2012), Kelly Slater (2011, 2005, 2003, and 2000), Bruno Santos (2008), and C.J. Hobgood (2004).
Owen Wright and John John Florence are two obvious favorites to win the 2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti. Both Owen and JJF have experienced great results from their hard-charging bravado at arguably the heaviest wave on tour; the end of the road may well see a new champion in 2015.
Matt Banting and Jordy Smith have withdrawn from the 2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti due to injury. Consequently, the replacement surfers Aritz Aranburu and Garrett Parkes will fill their vacated spots in the heat draw.
Air Tahiti Nui Billabong Pro Trials winner Taumata Puhetini and runner up Bruno Santos have earned the two final and lowest seeds into the 2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti, rounding out the field of 36.
Surfline’s forecast is calling for medium size, mid- to short-period, jumbled SSW swell for the first few days of the event, which will be followed by easing surf for early next week. Long-range models indicate a series of SW swells in the modest- to medium-size range for the final days of the waiting period.
My WSL Fantasy Surfing picks for the 2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti are as follows: Tier A: Owen Wright and Kelly Slater. Tier B: John John Florence, Gabriel Medina, Kai Otton, and Adrian Buchan. Tier C: Freddy Patacchia and C.J. Hobgood.
All the live and on-demand action for the 2015 Billabong Tahiti Pro can be viewed on the WSL website.
