Tahiti Pro: Kauli Vaast and Kelly Slater in the quarters, Michel Bourez eliminated

Announced for a week as a day approaching the specter of the unforgettable 2014 edition, this third day of competition for the Tahiti Pro did not prove the forecasters wrong. The conditions were indeed extraordinary this Thursday in Teahupoo. What make Tony Estanguet regret having left for the Metropolis 24 hours too early.

If the show was intense, it is because the wave of Teahupoo bombarded tubes of madness with each series. And in this little game, a Frenchman stood out. Local of the event, Kauli Vaast pulled out all the stops to qualify for the quarter-finals, the best result of his career. The little prince of Teahupoo (20), who had already won his series of the 1st round, this time released the current world number 3 Ethan Ewing.

The heartthrob of Michel Bourez (see below) led almost the entire series thanks to a 7.17 and 8 on his first two waves. But that was without counting on the stubbornness and above all the very precious experience of Vaast on this spot, even though it was even a combo time. A few minutes from the end, the surfer from Vairao, who already had an 8.57 in his pocket, won the holy grail on a small but long tube, scoring 8.50 when he needed 6.60 to go into head.

When the score was announced by the announcer, the series ended cleanly. To the applause of the channel’s audience, Vaast did a lap of honor on a jet-ski before speeding off on Raimana van Bastolaere’s boat, which guided him well throughout the series.

The grandpas are resisting

In the quarter-finals, Kauli Vaast will face Matthew McGillivray, who distinguished himself by winning the first “perfect 10” of the competition in his 8th against Samuel Pupo. If the Tahitian eliminates the South African, then he will probably cross paths with Kelly Slater in the semis. His Majesty was again the author of a recital on one of his favorite spots.

After having rolled Nathan Hedge (8.67) and Filipe Toledo (1.87) in round 1 (16 for Slater), the Floridian was stunning in the 8th against Connor O’Leary (17 – 16.83). With a 9 and an 8, the 50-year-old surfer thought he was safe, but it was without counting all the same on the dexterity of the Australian who, pushed by the overexcited Aussie clan, made the legend Slater tremble by finding at the end two huge tubes (8.43 and 8.40), however not sufficient.

At the same time as this 8th final overflown – the “overlapping heats” were out – the other veteran of the competition, the wildcard Nathan Hedge (43 years old), eclipsed one of the big favorites, Jack Robinson. Put in a combo in the middle of the series by a Robinson who was still off the ground and who thought he had killed the suspense by scoring a 9.10 then an 8.50, Hedge turned the situation around in two flashes with a hit that grazed the perfection (9.87) and another just as crazy (8.47), synonymous with qualifying for the quarters in front of ecstatic Australian supporters in the forefront of which Owen and Tyler Wright.

Still drunk cursed

One who will not see the quarters is Michel Bourez. Unfortunately for him, the years pass and look alike. No one being a prophet in his country, the Tahitian was still prematurely eliminated. In repechage, while he was on track to qualify after finding a tube rated 8.10, the surfer Paea, who is returning from knee surgery, missed the walk at the very end of the series. Ethan Ewing found an extraordinary last hit, scored 8.67, signing the end of the Spartan’s adventure.

Released then by Kauli Vaast, the Australian will console himself with his place which he has just secured for the play-offs in Trestles (California), from September 8 to 16. Italo Ferreira and Kanoa Igarashi also while Filipe Toledo is certain to finish the regular season with the status of world number one.