EARLY ACTION LIKELY AT BILLABONG PRO TEAHUPOO

TEAHUPOO, Tahiti (Thursday, May 3rd, 2007) – The waiting period for the Billabong Pro Teahupoo begins tomorrow, May 4, and a solid swell forecast to build overnight may see the ASP Foster's 45 hit the water as soon as early as 7:30am.

Former World Tour stalwart turned Billabong Pro Teahupoo event director Luke Egan (AUS) is hoping to get the action for event No. 3 on the 2007 Foster's ASP World Tour underway on the first day of the 11-day waiting period.

"For the opening day of the waiting period, we're telling everyone that we're going to be pushing extremely hard for a start tomorrow morning," Egan said. "Surfline is indicating that the bump is coming tonight and it will be enough to get us a start tomorrow morning. We're looking at sitting through a bit of average weather with average swell so we're pushing very hard to get the first heat out in the water at 7:30am Tahitian time."

Local surfer Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF), 25, was awarded the Billabong Pro Teahupoo wildcard for his stunning performances in previous years. Teriinatoofa will join Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials winner Manoa Drollet (PYF) and runner-up Anthony Walsh (AUS) in the main event.

"I am really happy to get the wildcard but I kind of wish I would have been in the Trials too because they had such great surf," Teriinatoofa said. "I am back in there and my goal is to beat the result I got last year. I have got to do better than that. Once I do that, I will just take it day by day."

The young Tahitian, who lost to Fred Pattachia (HAW) in the quarters last year, will have his work cut out for him when he draws current Foster's ASP World Tour ratings leader Taj Burrow (AUS) and '07 rookie sensation Jeremy Flores (FRA) in his Round 1 heat.

Locals taking it all in from the famous Teahupoo channel will no doubt be cheering wildly when their home-grown hero paddles out for his Heat 10 battle.

"The local advantage here is really cool because having all the people here to cheer for me makes it really comfortable," Teriinatoofa said. "It doesn't matter if there are big names in my heat or not. They are all good anyway – they are all Top 45, that's why they're here. I just need to be careful and not be overconfident. I'm just going to take it one by one and with the support of Tahiti, I hope to do well."

When action hits the water, past Billabong Pro Teahupoo champions Bobby Martinez (USA), Andy Irons (HAW), Kelly Slater (USA), Cory Lopez (USA) and Mark Occhilupo (AUS) will be looking to once again take top honors at what is widely considered 'the world's heaviest wave.'

Surfline.com, the official forecaster of the Billabong Pro Teahupoo, is calling for surf to remain in the head-high range tomorrow before dropping slightly over the weekend. It is very possible that Round 1 of competition may hit the water at 7:30am local time.

The Billabong Pro Teahupoo will be webcast LIVE on www.aspworldtour.com and www.billabongpro.com.

ROUND 1 BILLABONG PRO TEAHUPOO MATCH-UPS:
Heat 1: Bobby Martinez (USA), Josh Kerr (AUS), Shaun Cansdell (AUS)
Heat 2: Bruce Irons (HAW), Chris Ward (USA), Trent Munro (AUS)
Heat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA), Adriano de Souza (BRA), Victor Ribas (BRA)
Heat 4: Tom Whitaker (AUS), Royden Bryson (ZAF), Troy Brooks (AUS)
Heat 5: Bede Durbidge (AUS), Leonardo Neves (BRA), Neco Padaratz (BRA)
Heat 6: Joel Parkinson (AUS), Greg Emslie (ZAF), Gabe Kling (USA)
Heat 7: Andy Irons (HAW), Frederick Patacchia (HAW), Luke Munro (AUS)
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA), Phillip Macdonald (AUS), Manoa Drollet (PYF)
Heat 9: Mick Fanning (AUS), Raoni Monteiro (BRA), Anthony Walsh (AUS)
Heat 10: Taj Burrow (AUS), Jeremy Flores (FRA), Hira Teriinatoofa (PYF)
Heat 11: Daniel Wills (AUS), Cory Lopez (USA), Rodrigo Dornelles (BRA)
Heat 12: Michael Campbell (AUS), Pancho Sullivan (HAW), Bernardo Miranda (BRA)
Heat 13: Ben Dunn (AUS), Ricky Basnett (ZAF), Dayyan Neve (AUS)
Heat 14: Travis Logie (ZAF), CJ Hobgood (USA), Adrian Buchan (AUS)
Heat 15: Taylor Knox (USA), Kai Otton (AUS), Mark Occhilupo (AUS)
Heat 16: Dean Morrison (AUS), Michael Lowe (AUS), Luke Stedman (AUS)

MASTERS FALL TO THE APPRENTICES AT OXBOW PRO WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP

ANGLET, France (Thur., May 3, 2007) – Once again it was the sandbanks at les Cavalier, the fabled European beachbreak near Anglet, which provided many of the highlights on the third day of the Oxbow Pro World Championship.

In a day of incredible waves, one wave stood out though, caught by Hawaiian Keegan Edwards. Edwards took off on a pristine righthander and pulled in behind the curtain. For what seemed an eternity he travelled through tube only to exit to the roar of the crowd.

"Well, I am from Hawaii, so that's we do, we ride tubes," said Edwards matter-of-factly. "I saw that little double up and it was there, so I just rode it out. When I came out I gave a little shaka, like, 'bring on France' you know. I was pretty stoked."

That wave scored a 9.50 from the judges and was the highest score of the day.

In other heats, it tended to be a tale of youth and endeavour taking out the aged and the experienced.

The last heat of Round 2 saw the elder statesmen of Brazilian surfing Alex "Picaruta" Salazar taking on the next big thing in Brazilian surfing, the powerful 24-year-old Phil Rajzman (BRA). This time though the young gun was too strong for his good friend and mentor.

"It was difficult because I have learned so much from Picaruta. He is my master," Rajzman said." Still, I wasn't too nervous, I've been surfing competitions since I was 14 and also the beach in front of my house in Brazil is a lot like this, powerful beachbreaks, so I really enjoy these type of waves."

In the following heat, Round 3, Heat 1, it was similar sets of circumstances with 18-year-old local hope Antoine Delpero (FRA) taking on the 41-year-old veteran Amaro Matos (BRA). Matos was the form surfer having scored the highest two-wave heat score yesterday. Again though, it was a case of youth overcoming experience with the wildcard Delpero advancing.

"It was a hard heat, with quite difficult waves," said Delpero, "but I was lucky that I found some waves with nice open walls."

After the heat, his father, coach and a whole host of friends congratulated Delpero, who was born in Marseille but has been adopted by this part of the Basque coast, on the beach. The most conspicuous of the entourage though was one man who was dressed in a head-to-toe white-feathered suit.

"Yes, that is my friend Jilou, he is perfect," laughed Delpero. "He came to congratulate me with his super suit and will be there for every heat. He is my lucky charm."

The other upset of the round saw perennial contender Duane de Soto (HAW), knocked over in the final minutes by Brazilian goofyfooter Jamie Viudes. The big Brazil contingent on shore went absolutely crazy when Viudes scored an 8 point ride to sink the respected Hawaiian's hopes.

The winner of the Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship will be crowned the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) 2007 Men's World Longboard Champion, the highest accolade in longboard surfing. The event is set to continue tomorrow with organizers aiming for a 9.30am start. For more information go to www.oxboworld.com

Remaining Round 3 match ups
Heat 7: Ben Skinner (GBR) vs Carlos Bahia
Heat 8: Josh Constable (AUS) vs Harrison Roach (AUS)
Heat 9: Ned Snow (HAW) vs Jackson Close (AUS)
Heat 10: Colin McPhillips (USA) vs Roger Barros (BRA)
Heat 11: Bonga Perkins (USA) Dodger Kremel (USA)
Heat 12: Jonas Lima (BRA) vs Eduardo Bage (BRA)
Heat 13: Harley Ingleby (AUS) vs Bryce Young (AUS)
Heat 14: Romain Maurin (FRA) vs Tom Lloy (USA)
Heat 15: Mathew Moir (ZAF) vs Kai Sallas (HAW)
Heat 16: Danilo Rodrigo (BRA) vs Anri Nabeshima (JPN)

Today's Results
Round 3: 1st progress to Round 4, 2nd eliminated
Heat 1: Antoine Delpero (FRA) 12.75 d Amaro Matos (BRA) 6.10
Heat 2: Jeremias de Silva (BRA) 7.65 d Josh Baxter (USA) 6.00
Heat 3: Phil Rajzman 13.75 d Timothee Craignout 10.85
Heat 4: Taylor Jensen (USA) d Jonathan Larcher (FRA) 6.00
Heat 5: Jamie Viudes (BRA) 13.75 d Duane de Soto (HAW) 10.85
Heat 6: Keegan Edwards (HAW) 11.25 d Marcelo Freitas (BRA) 6.00
Round 2, 1st place progress, 2nd place eliminated
Heat 9: Noah Shimabukuro (HAW) 9.05 d Dodger Kremel (USA) 11.50
Heat 10: Ben Skinner (GBR) 10.40 d David Kinoshita (JPN) 6.25
Heat 11: Keegan Edwards (HAW) 15.75 d Kekoa Uemura (HAW) 8.75
Heat 12: Carlos Bahia (BRA) 14.50 d Brett Heimstra (USA) 5.90
Heat 13: Roger Barros (BRA) 11.50 d Dennis Bourg (USA) 4.60
Heat 14: Tom Lloy (USA) 9.15 d Joe Aaron (USA) 6.40
Heat 15: Anri Nabeshima (JPN) 7.15 d Jed Morouse (USA) 5.50
Heat 16: Phil Rajzman (BRA) 11.75 d Alex Salazar (BRA) 6.00

ESTABLISHED STARS AND YOUNG GUNS TAKE TO THE WATER IN OXBOW PRO WORLD LONGBOARD CHAMPIONSHIP

ANGLET, France (Thur., May 3, 2007) – The Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship, the event which will determine the Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) International World Longboard Champion for 2007, is set to start again today at les Cavaliers, Anglet, an area that is known as the cradle of European surfing.

The event has already seen some remarkable performances, both from the established stars of the sport, and from a new generation who have taken the deep surfing heritage that longboarding represents and made it their own.

For example young Australian Bryce Young is set to surf later in the day. The 16-year-old is a surfer with more heritage than most, being the son of legendary surfer and patron of this event Nat Young, as well as brother to two-time world champion Beau Young. He will face fellow Australian and current number three in the world, Harley Ingleby in his Round 3 heat.

Meanwhile Young's good friend, 17-year-old Harrison Roach (AUS) came through the trials, before winning his first round heat in his debut in a world rated event. Both young surfers represent a new era in longboarding and a significant threat to the old world order.

That was reflected when Roach was asked whom he was afraid of in the event.

"Nobody. It's great to be around all these great surfers, but I'm going to just keep doing my own thing," Roach responded confidently.

But the threat of the established guard must never be underestimated. For example defending world champion Josh Constable (AUS) won his heat yesterday in a commanding display.

"I didn't feel any nerves and I surfed strong, so right now, it's all good," said Constable, ominously.

But in a stacked field including former world champions Colin McPhillips (USA), Bonga Perkins (HAW) and Mathew Moir (SAF), plus three-times runner up Alex Salazar (BRA), it is almost impossible to pick a winner.

With an amazing field and prime location, this event has all the hallmarks of being a classic. The Oxbow Pro World Longboard Championship is scheduled to run through to Sunday May 6. For more information go to www.oxboworld.com

Remaining Round 2 Match Ups
Heat 9: Noah Shimabukuro (HAW) vs Dodger Kremel (USA)
Heat 10: Ben Skinner (GBR) vs David Kinoshita (JPN)
Heat 11: Kekoa Uemura (HAW) vs Keegan Edwards (HAW)
Heat 12: Carlos Bahia (BRA) vs Brett Heimstra (USA)
Heat 13: Roger Barros (BRA) vs Dennis Bourg (USA
Heat 14: Tom Lloy (USA) vs Joe Aaron (USA)
Heat 15: Jed Morouse (USA) vs Anri Nabeshima (JPN)
Heat 16: Phil Rajzman (BRA) vs Alex Salazar (BRA)