Moody Conditions Mark Opening Weekend of the Tahiti Pro

This weekend, the Tahiti Pro at Teahupo’o experienced fluctuating conditions, impacting the competition. While there were moments of high scores, the event faced interruptions due to deteriorating weather on both Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday, 11-time world champion Kelly Slater, at 54 years old, made a significant return to the Championship Tour, achieving a nine-point ride and the first excellent heat score of the contest at 16.23 during his round-one heat against Eli Hanneman. Slater expressed the challenge of competing at Teahupo’o after a break from the tour, emphasizing the need to adapt to the competitive environment.

Slater's performance set the stage for a highly anticipated matchup against Gabriel Medina in round two, which was also affected by the weekend's conditions. The Tahiti Pro remains a key event for surf enthusiasts, with hopes that the waves will cooperate as the competition progresses.