Overview of TAH/07 -2017 BILLABONG PRO TAHITI - Teahupo'o - French Polynesia by Paulo Piqueres - surfworldtour.blogspot.com
The World Circuit of Surfing arrived in the South Pacific Islands of French Polynesia, in Teahupo'o, where the waves are big and tubular with reefbreak so close the shore so shallow.
Fortunately I could watch this stage by WSL -World Surf League -videos on Youtube. I guess this stage was one of the fastest of the Circuit, if it was not the fastest. Exactly three days as follows:
Day 1 - Friday, August 11th, 2017
16 heats - Round 1 till Round 2 -heat 4
Day 2 - Saturday, August 12th, 2017
20 heats -Round 2 heat 5 to heat 12 and Round 3
Day 3 -Sunday, August 13th, 2017
15 heats -Round 4, Round 5, Quarterfinals, Semifinals and Final
At my opinion the best day of the contest with better condictions, with the barrels so perfect without strong wind. Unfortunately the defending champion Kelly Slater(USA)that was injured and could not compete the Billabong Pro Tahiti.
Round 1
The world champions Adriano de Souza(BRA), Gabriel Medina(BRA), Joel Parkinson(AUS) and John John Florence(HAW), the Brazilians Italo Ferreira(BRA) and I. Gouveia(BRA),the australians , Adrian Buchan(AUS) C. O'Leary(AUS), J. Wilson(AUS), K. Andino(USA), and J. Duru(FRA)and the leader-yellow jersey- Matt Wilkinson(AUS)overcame their opponents and passed direct to Round 3.
Round 2 the recap -
On this round,the World champion M. Fanning(AUS)and the top surfers J. Smith(RSA),O. Wright(AUS)besides the Tahitian M. Bourez(PYF) , W. Dantas(BRA)won their heats and passed to Round 3. Unfortunately the Brazilians F. Toledo(BRA) and M. PUpo(BRA)were eliminated and stopped in the Recap.
Round 3
Almost all top surfers defeat their opponents and passed to Round 4 except the 2015 World Champion A. de Souza(BRA)was defeated by his compatriot W. Dantas(BRA)that was surfing very well the barrels in Teahupo'o. The Australians A. Buchan(AUS),C. O'Leary(AUS), J. Wilson(AUS)also passed to next round. The surprise was C. Coffin(USA)that defeated the local M. Bourez(TAH)
Round 4
In this important Round of three men, the top 4 O. Wrigth(AUS), K. Andino(USA), the 2016 World Champion J.J. Florence(HAW)and the French J. Duru, that was surfing very well in Tahiti, overcame their rivals and passed direct to the Quarterfinals. G. Medina(BRA)did interference when M. Wilkinson(AUS)had the priority so the Brazilian had only the score of his best wave in the heat.
Round 5
At opening heat of the Recap G. Medina (BRA)faced C. O'Leary(AUS)top 10 of the Ranking. The 2014 World Champion surfed good barrels and passed to the Quarterfinals. W. Dantas(BRA)surfed very well and defeated the leader of the Tour M. Wilkinson(AUS).The top 3, J. Smith(RSA) and top 8, J. Wilson(AUS)with great performance also passed to the Quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals
At opening heat G. Medina(BRA)surfed a wave with score "10.00", and overcame the top 4 O. Wright(AUS).In the heat 2, K. AndinO(USA)was surfing very well in Teahupo'o and defeated the Brazilian W. Dantas(BRA).In the heat 3, a great duel between the top 2 J.J. Florence(HAW) and top 3 J. Smith(RSA).This time the South AFrican won the heat, for small difference and in the last heat top 8 J. Wilson overcame his rival J. Duru(FRA).
Semifinals
At opening heat was a great duel between two great surfers:G. Medina(BRA)and K. ANdino(USA), the Brazilian overcame his opponent and was guaranteed in the final.
In the heat 2, J. Wilson(AUS)surfed very well and overcame his rival, top 3, J. Smith(RSA).
Final
G. Medina(BRA)is so focused to conquer the bi World Championship this season. He surfed nice barrels with good scores but J. Wilson did not gave up and in the last three minutes turn over the heat, and clinched the 2017 Billabong Pro Tahiti. This heat was so exciting with great performance of the best surfers in the world inside the beautiful tubes.That is why the surf is most beautiful sport at my opinion.
Surf - "the most beautiful sport"
*The text above was written by Paulo Piqueres - Postgraduated in Advanced English by PUC - Pontifície Universidade Católica - Porto Alegre -RS - Brazil
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