Billabong Pro, Tahiti
Last Modified: 11 August, 2010Location: Teahupoo, Tahiti
Event Date: 23 Aug - 3 , 2010
There are four events on tour I haven’t won before and the Billabong Pro in Tahiti is one of them. In 2007 I got close, finishing runner-up to Damien Hobgood in the final. Teahupoo is one of the most challenging waves on the planet, especially when the swell gets up over the six foot mark, and that makes a victory here extra special. I’ve not always had great results in the Billabong Pro but it’s a wave I love and an event I’m psyched to win.
© ASP Images
Danger Men
Manoa Drollet - Wildcards have probably done more damage at Teahupoo than at any other event. Manoa Drollet has won the trials a couple of times and finished runner-up in the main event. He's straight into the main event this time so look out.
Kelly Slater - The bigger the waves get the more dangerous Kelly could be.
The Hobgoods - Doesn’t matter which one you come up against, they’re both incredible out there.
Billabong Pro, Jeffreys Bay
Last Modified: 11 August, 2010Location: Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
Event Date: 15 - 25 Jul, 2010
This is probably my favourite event on tour. J-Bay is such a fun place to visit: the locals are so friendly and South Africa is just a cool country to explore. I’ve had two wins at Jeffreys and they are victories I’m really proud of. I had a lousy result at here last year and had to watch the boys score on some of the best waves I’ve ever seen for a World Tour event. It was torture so this year I’ll try and hang around a bit longer.
Danger Men
Kelly Slater - It's almost unfair how well Kelly surfs J-Bay. When listing the dangermen for each event I can sometimes, maybe once or twice a year, leave him out. But not at J-Bay.
Joel Parkinson - He's had an average start compared to last year and J-Bay is the last event he won. I've been surfing with him quite a bit and he's back to his best.
Jordy Smith - The only surfer on tour that has made the final series of each event in 2010. With that kind of momentum and confidence going into J-Bay, a wave he knows so well, he'll be one to keep an eye on
Santa Cantarina Pro, Brazil
Last Modified: 1 July, 2010Location: Sanata Cantarina, Brazil
Event Date: 23 Apr - 2 May, 2010
I’m heading into this event in fifth position on the ratings. I had a shocker in the first event on the Gold Coast but turned it around with a second at Bells. I’ve always enjoyed competing in Brazil, I’ve had two wins there and it is also where I wrapped up my first World Title in 2007. The beachies around Santa Cantarina can get good but can also be a little unreliable for waves. Last year the ASP shifted the event from the second last stop and made it earlier in the season and we got decent waves as a result. Hopefully we luck into a good swell again this year.
© ASP
Danger Men
Owen Wright - Hasn't had the start I expected but is surfing incredibly well. Has all the moves and can pull airs with ease in competition. Saw him take out the Boost Surf Sho specialty event in junky beach break waves.
Adriano de Souza - Came close here last year finishing second to Kelly. Has been one of the most consistent performers this year. Wants the Brazil title more than anyone on tour.
Wildcards - Always lethal on the beachies, spurred on by massive home crowds. Particularly dangerous in smaller conditions.
Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach
Last Modified: 1 July, 2010Location: Bells Beach, Australia
Event Date: 30 Mar - 10 Apr, 2010
I love Bells. Every year I get really sucked in to the spirit of the Rip Curl Pro, it has such a unique vibe about it because of its history. The wave is one of my favourites on tour when it’s firing. It might not be a top to bottom barrel but it’s a wave that forces you to rethink your approach and I enjoy the challenge. I’ve got some good boards this year. I look for something with a lot of drive and something that can hold through a nice big drawn out carve at Bells. If the waves are six foot and pumping I’d probably step up to a 6′1″ X 18 1/4″ X 2 3/16″. Any longer than a 6′2″ and I’ll go for a pin-tail over a rounded-square.
© ASP IMAGES
Danger Men
Kelly Slater - Can't look past Kelly at Bells, especially if the waves are big and clean.
Joel Parkinson - Last year's champ. Owns some of the best drawn out power carves on tour and they suit the Bells walls perfectly.
Jordy Smith - Coming off the back of his best ever tour result. Made the semi's here last year. Gonna be the man to watch.
Quiksilver Pro, Gold Coast
Last Modified: 1 July, 2010Location: Gold Coast, Australia
Event Date: 26 Feb - 10 Mar, 2010
Game on! Stop one on the 2010 calendar is the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. Last year I made the semi finals but was beaten by the eventual winner in Parko. My wins in this event [2005, 2007] mean a lot to me and – maybe I’m being greedy, but – I want more. A strong result in the first event has proven key for a strong world title campaign. This event will also see the introduction of the new judging criteria, so it’s gonna be interesting to see how it all unfolds.
Danger Men
Dane Reynolds - Dane's heat strategy is simple: go for it. In 2008, his rookie year, it paid off occasionally. In 2009 he looked more comfortable in heats and it paid of more often. This year I'm expecting him to step things up again, starting on the Gold Coast.
Taj Burrow - Coming off the back of a World Tour win at Pipe and a WQS win at Burleigh just a week before this event, Taj will be full of confidence and ready to go.
Joel Parkinson - I expect last year's event winner and world title runner up to be eager to kick off his 2010 campaign the same way he started 2009.