SURF’S PERFECT GLASS AT 4-6+’ SO FAR… REAL THICK & HEAVY SETS FOLDING IN ON THEMSELVES TOWAR THE END. SOLID 8+’ ON THE WAY. EVENT TO FINISH BY WEDNESDAY. SNN

Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o pres. by Hurley ON in Serious Swell on the Rise

World’s Best Surfers to Take on Heavy Conditions at World-Famous Teahupo’o Reef Pass
WSL Title Race and Requalification Battle at Critical Stage in Tahiti

Trials Winner Kauli Vaast (FRA) will face world No. 1 Kolohe Andino (USA) in Heat 9 of the Round of 32 Credit: © WSL / Dunbar

TEAHUPO’O, Tahiti (Tuesday, August 27, 2019) – The Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o presented by Hurley has been called ON this morning with the Round of 32 commencing at 7:05 am (local time) in building six-to-eight foot (2 – 2.5 metre) waves at Teahupo’o. The event can view viewed LIVE at WorldSurfLeague.com.

“Some great waves coming through already this morning and we’ll be on at 7:05 am,” Kieren Perrow, WSL Competition Director, said. “We have the Round of 32 and the Round of 16 and we’ll be running overlapping heats all day. We expect the surf to build through the day and looking forward to an awesome day of surfing.”

Event No. 7 of 11 on the 2019 WSL Championship Tour, the Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o pres. by Hurley occupies one of the most critical points on the schedule with both the 2019 WSL Title Race and the 2020 WSL Championship Tour requalification battle both in play in Tahiti.

Californian Kolohe Andino (USA) is the first male Californian to lead the world’s best surfers as the WSL Jeep Frontrunner in 23 years and he’ll look to consolidate his position with a strong performance in Tahiti. Andino faces wildcard Trials Winner Kauli Vaast (FRA) in the Round of 32 today.

Reigning two-time WSL Champion and defending Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o winner Gabriel Medina (BRA) is currently ranked 7th on the 2019 WSL Championship Tour rankings, but the Brazilian phenom has a history of catching fire in the back half of the season. Coming off a win at the previous event in South Africa and with a strong history of performance in Tahiti, Medina takes on Ezekiel Lau (HAW) in today’s Round of 32.

The Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o presented by Hurley will be broadcast LIVE on WorldSurfLeague.com and on the free WSL app. Also, check local listings for coverage from the WSL’s broadcast partners.

WSL Heritage Heat Confirmed for Hobgood Showdown
Former Championship Tour standouts C.J. Hobgood (USA), 2001 World Champion, and Damien Hobgood (USA), 2007 Tahiti Pro winner, are in Tahiti to compete in a WSL Heritage Heat in the upcoming days. The twin brothers were long-time standouts at Tehaupo’o, but never competed against one another at the famed reef pass. The WSL Heritage Heat will be scheduled for tomorrow afternoon following the close of CT competition.

Pro Surfers Team Up with Coral Gardners to Restore Nearby Reefs
For the Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o, WSL collaborated with ‘Glowing Glowing Gone’, a global campaign advocating for greater funding and action for coral reef conservation by highlighting the global danger signaled by fluorescing corals. The collaboration features a complete takeover of the Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o presented by Hurley event branding to incorporate the exact colors of fluorescing corals, in addition to WSL’s support of Coral Gardeners, a youth-led non-profit organization that is actively restoring coral reefs in the area.The experience included the coral planting, along with an educational discussion around the importance of coral health to ocean health and solutions for improving the ecosystem. To learn more about how to get involved with Glowing Glowing Gone and the Coral Gardeners, please visit WSLPURE.org.

Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o pres. by Hurley Round of 32 Matchups:
Heat 1: Kanoa Igarashi (JPN) vs. Jadson Andre (BRA)
Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. Deivid Silva (BRA)
Heat 3: Owen Wright (AUS) vs. Soli Bailey (AUS)
Heat 4: Michel Bourez (FRA) vs. Sebastian Zietz (HAW)
Heat 5: Italo Ferreira (BRA) vs. Adriano de Souza (BRA)
Heat 6: Joan Duru (FRA) vs. Willian Cardoso (BRA)
Heat 7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. Ricardo Christie (NZL)
Heat 8: Julian Wilson (AUS) vs. Yago Dora (BRA)
Heat 9: Kolohe Andino (USA) vs. Kauli Vaast (FRA)
Heat 10: Wade Carmichael (AUS) vs. Jeremy Flores (FRA)
Heat 11: Ryan Callinan (AUS) vs. Griffin Colapinto (USA)
Heat 12: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. Ezekiel Lau (HAW)
Heat 13: Filipe Toledo (BRA) vs. Jesse Mendes (BRA)
Heat 14: Seth Moniz (HAW) vs. Peterson Crisanto (BRA)
Heat 15: Conner Coffin (USA) vs. Caio Ibelli (BRA)
Heat 16: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. Jack Freestone (AUS)

Tahiti Pro Teahupo’o Past Winners:
2018: Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2017: Julian Wilson (AUS)
2016: Kelly Slater (USA)
2015: Jeremy Flores (FRA)
2014: Gabriel Medina (BRA)
2013: Adrian Buchan (AUS)
2012: Mick Fanning (AUS)
2011: Kelly Slater (USA)
2010: Andy Irons (HAW)
2009: Bobby Martinez (USA)
2008: Bruno Santos (BRA)
2007: Damien Hobgood (USA)
2006: Bobby Martinez (USA)
2005: Kelly Slater (USA)
2004: C.J. Hobgood (USA)
2003: Kelly Slater (USA)
2002: Andy Irons (HAW)
2001: Cory Lopez (USA)
2000: Kelly Slater (USA)
1999: Mark Occhilupo (AUS)

Watch Round of 32 Action @ 7:00 am TAHT

(5:00 pm GMT / 2:00 pm BRT / 3:00 am AEST / 10:00 am PDT / 7:00 am HST)
Watch the event on WorldSurfLeague.com, our free WSL app, or on Facebook Live.