Congratulations Kelly Slater for winning the Billabong Pro Tahiti 2011!

After sending home the Australian Josh Kerr (AUS), 27 during the Semifinals, the 5th stop of the ASP World Title Tour had Kelly Slater and the impressive Owen Wright surfing perfect conditions on the finals. The waves were clean 4 to 6 foot at Teahupo’o in Tahiti.

Surfing like he was having fun after a few gnarly wipe outs, the 10 times world champion Kelly Slater got some awesome backside barrels and scored an 18.43 heat total out of a possible 20 leaving Owen Wright - even though he had an amazing performance - in second place with a score of 17.10 points.

“I felt like I finally hit my stride in the Semifinals this morning. In the Final, I fell on a couple of waves that were maybe better than what I ended up getting scored on. It put the pressure on me, and took the pressure off him (Wright). He got that really big one at the end that could have gotten pretty close to the score. These are the best conditions this event has ever run in. It’s been a phenomenal week. It’s one of those weird events where you have to scramble through the early rounds. Every year at this event, there are few of the top guys that lose in the early rounds and you have to scramble if you want a result here. You have to be in tune with the tides, swell direction and everything to make sure you get those waves that get you the score.”, Slater said.

Besides the 1st place on the competition,  the victory gave Slater enough point to jump to the number one spot on the ASP World tour title with 26,950 pts, followed close by Jordy Smith and Joel Parkinson. Adriano de Souza is in fourth and Owen Wright now has the 5th position on the ASP Rankings. By the way, this was his 47th victory out of 67 finals appearances on the tour.

Owen had been a stand out all through out the competition and has got the best result of his career so far and for sure this is just the start for the young Ozzy surfer.

“I thought it was an incredible Final,” Wright said. “We both got really good waves and I felt like I did what I needed to on them. Kelly (Slater) just happened to find ones that opened up a little better. Congrats to him, and hoping I can get him in the next one.”

Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23  surfed a perfect 20 points heat in huge surf conditions. He was awarded the Andy Irons Award for most committed performance of the event. This was the inaugural year for the award, honoring the late ASP and Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion Andy Irons.

“Andy (Irons) meant everything to me,” Flores said. “He has been the guy I’ve looked up to my whole life. In heavy waves, in all waves, he was the best and to earn this award is so special for me. He inspired everyone on tour and he’s been my inspiration in Tahiti. I know he was smiling on this event. Thank you Andy.”

The event had some epic waves waves with the best lay days they have ever seen, some huge tow in surfing and heats that for sure will stay in surfing history for a long time as one of the best waves in a competition.

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.43
2 – Owen Wright (AUS) 17.10

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.50 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.60
SF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 19.50 def. Travis Logie (ZAF) 14.40

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) 11.94 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 11.83
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.50 def. Matt Wilkinson (AUS) 6.17
QF 3: Travis Logie (ZAF) 18.07 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 17.14
QF 4: Owen Wright (AUS) 16.74 def. Raoni Monteiro (BRA) 13.10

ASP WORLD TITLE RANKINGS TOP 5 (After Billabong Pro Tahiti)
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 26,950 pts
2. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 26,500 pts
3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 26,200 pts
4. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 22,750 pts
5. Owen Wright (AUS) 21,900 pts

Written by Marcio Ferreira