HEIFARA TAHUTINI (PYF) LEADS ON DAY 1 IN OPT-TAHITI PRO LONGBOARD !
Heifara Tahutini : photo Masurel/ASP Europe.com
The first day of competition got underway with more than 50 surfers entered
in the OPT Tahiti Pro Longboard. In a classic Polynesian style, all
competitors gathered for a prayer before paddling out and waging battle. The
first heat brought Scott Fong Jnr (Haw) up against two locals.
The Hawaiian surfer dominated easily this test with nice controlled classic nose-riding, using the hollow west section to go vertical on his nine-footer. “Pretty stoked to be in Tahiti. We came in the last minute but it’s always cool to be here, just relaxing and why not get some good results off course,” said Fong.
Under blue skies, the surfers enjoyed the 26°C water, surfing the 3 ft waves with great style and commitment. The river mouth of Papara offering a nice peak, the competitors could choose both right or lefthanders to impress the ASP judging panel.
Local Pierre Tahutini (Pyf) surfed in heat 2 and looked very confident using all the repertoire to beat fellow island mates and advance to round 2, to face one of the best world longboarders Duane De Soto (Haw). Leader of the Hawaiian crew that made the trip to Tahiti with former world champion Bonga Perkins (Haw), De Soto is already one of the favourites of this first edition of the OPT – Tahiti Pro Longboard.
“It’s really fun to finally surf a contest in warm water, nice waves and the spirit here is just so relaxing,” started Perkins. “When we Hawaiians come down to Tahiti, it’s like home.
But it’s great that Brazilians, French, British have made the trip as well as they never really come to these places because it’s far away and expensive. So the opportunity is just great and having 15 internationals is just great for a first edition,” finished former ASP longboarding world champion Bonga Perkins (Haw).
The first outstanding performance happened in heat 6, when local Heifara-Peter Tahutini (Pyf) took off on his first ride destroying the right-hander with amazing speed to fly over the sections and score an excellent 9 pointer and take a clear advantage over his opponents. Keoni Perkins was the only one to resist the local’s attack finding some good rides to secure a qualification, still dominated by the 15.93 heat score of Tahutini.
Round 2 started straight after, using the off-shore conditions to offer the crowd a great time at the beach. Scott Fong Jnr (Haw) was the first qualifier for round 3 when he overtook Brazilian Robledo Oliveira (Bra) in a close heat, both men advancing to the next round. Fong finished secured his victory with a blowing 8.30 pointer thanks to some radical vertical re-entries before finishing in style with a long hang-five “tose-on-the-nose” classic manoeuvre.
One of the best French riders of the moment Damien Castera (Fra), contending here for both event crown and ASP European Longboard championship paddled out in heat 2. Losing no time, he took off on a perfect lefthander to secure a beautiful hang-five before going on a drop-knee on-the-rail cutback to get a 5 pts reward.
Keeping up his good work, Castera managed to better his ride with a convincing 8 pointer and stay in front of the pack to reach round 3 and show the rest of the field he had some serious skills to get far in the OPT – Tahiti Pro Longboard, an ASP 4 Star WLT event offering $20 000 prizemoney.
Duane De Soto (Haw) had a tough battle against Brett White (Aus), both men scoring some good rides, De Soto eventually taking over with a 7.17 out of possible 10, with 10 minutes remaining, before killing any hopes with a 7.20 pointer. “So good to be in Tahiti. I started slow in my heat and I have a small knee injury that doesn’t help when I’m pushing my turns so I wasn’t that comfortable in the beginning,” said De Soto.
“Having this first event here is just amazing; every event held in Polynesia just seem to happen where surfing first appeared, and as an Hawaiian, to surf with our cousins is always a pleasure. However, definitely here to win this event if I can,” finished a smiling Duane.
Behind took place a close fight between locals including Pierre Tahutini (Pyf) remaining close to the second qualifying spot until Aussie White rode a great wave with a long hang-ten that gave him a 6.70 pointer making sure he would resurf in round 3.
This first day of competition ended with no big surprises, ASP World Longboard #3 Carlos Bahia (Bra) qualifying for tomorrow’s clashes with the best; Bahia surfed with the youngest surfer of the event Taaroa Sanford (Pyf), 13-year-old rising local longboarder, the young man being stopped by fellow island mate Noel Chave (Pyf).
In changing conditions, the rising wind made officials stop the event after heat 6 of round 2. When asked about this first ever event here in Papara, contest organiser Christophe Hollozet was just all smiles out. “This project was built in three months in association with the ASP and all the partners present with us.
It’s so touching to have some of the best longboarders in the world, to see all the Tahitian sons have a go in a professional event; I am really grateful to all the surfers to come all the way to French Polynesia and make this 4 Star WLT event possible,” said Christophe Hollozet.