Billabong Pro Teahupoo

Billabong Pro Teahupoo is a professional surfing competition of the World Surf League held at the break Teahupo'o in Taiarapu, Tahiti. The Billabong Pro Teahupoo was founded in 1999 and has been recognized as "one of the world's heaviest big wave competitions". This is because Teahupoo is the only known natural wave break in the world that breaks below sea level. The Billabong Pro Teahupoo has not claimed any lives since the surf competition began in 1999, but the wave has claimed lives over the years.

The surfing event takes place in Teahupo’o, a village on the south west coast of the island of Tahiti, French Polynesia, southern Pacific Ocean. Teahupo'o is a reef break. The swells that hit the reef mainly break left, but the outer reef also creates right breaks that surfers must be cautious of when paddling out. Therefore, Teahupo'o is also "renowned for the consistent number of barrels it delivers". However, "only experienced surfers in peak physical condition should attempt Teahupo'o". The breaks heavy waves combined with a shallow shoreline can result in serious injuries and even death in a wipeout.

The Billabong Pro Teahupo'o's reputation for wave riding is due partly to its unique form. An extremely shallow coral reef which ranges up to 20 inches beneath the waters surface is responsible for a very hollow breaking wave. The wave's unique shape, with an effect of almost breaking below sea level, is due to the specific shape of the reef beneath the wave. Its semi circular nature which drops down sharply creates a 'below water' effect and the extreme angles in descent create an instant instability to the wave. A steep wall of reef causes the entire mass to fold onto a scalloped semi circle breaking arc. The wave bends and races along into a dry reef closeout and the lip of the wave is often as thick as it is tall. Combined, these unique properties have earned Teahupo’o the reputation as one of the most dangerous surf breaks in the world.

The ASP Billabong Pro Teahupo’o consists of four parts based an elimination process. The first is composed of the competitive heats. The second is composed of the Quarter Finals. The third is composed of the Semi Finals. The fourth and last part of the competition is the Finals. Once this process of the Billabong Pro Teahupoo competition is completed, then a Billabong Pro Teahupoo Champion is named.

Since the birth of this competition it had different names.

The Billabong Pro Teahupoo event names a new champion each year. The past champions of the listed WSL competition are located below. YearWinnerNationScoreRunner UpNationScorePrizemoney1999Mark Occhilupo 14.50CJ Hobgood 9.50$120,600 2000Kelly Slater 25.55Shane Dorian 20.25 $135,600 2001Cory Lopez 25.05CJ Hobgood 23.85 $250,000 2002Andy Irons Hawaii22.65Luke Egan 20.50 $250,000 2003Kelly Slater (2) 19.57Taj Burrow 14.83 $250,000 2004CJ Hobgood 16.66Nathan Hedge 8.67$260,000 2005Kelly Slater (3) 20.00Damien Hobgood 17.5 $270,000 2006Bobby Martinez 16.27Fred Patacchia Hawaii16.07 $280,000 2007Damien Hobgood 16.60Mick Fanning 16.20 $300,000 2008Bruno Santos 9.16Manoa Drollet 6.83$320,000 2009Bobby Martinez (2) 18.46Taj Burrow 16.10 $340,000 2010Andy Irons (2) Hawaii14.67CJ Hobgood 8.33 $400,000 2011Kelly Slater (4) 18.43Owen Wright 17.10 $425,000 2012Mick Fanning 18.87Joel Parkinson 18.37 $425,000 $425,0002014Gabriel Medina 18.96Kelly Slater 18.93 $500,000 2015Jeremy Flores16.87Gabriel Medina13.202016Kelly Slater (5)19.67John John Florence Hawaii15.232017Julian Wilson18.96Gabriel Medina Brazil17.872018Gabriel Medina (2) Brazil13.50Owen Wright 12.07 2019Owen Wright 17.07 Gabriel Medina Brazil 14.93 $607,800 2022Miguel Pupo 17.17 Kauli Vaast 15.00 2023Jack Robinson 15.66 Gabriel Medina 15.00

16. Billabong Pro Tahiti. (2013). ASP World Tour – The Association of Surfing Professionals. 17. Steve Robertson and Kim Kempton. Celebrating perfect 10’s at Billabong Pro Teahupoo. (2010). http://www. surfersvillage. com/surfing news/48143#. Ucz9vuDraFI

18. Billabong Pro Teahupoo. (2012). http://www. redbull. com/cs/Satellite/en INT/Event/Billabong Pro Teahupoo 021242894680885