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Billabong Pro Tahiti 2005
www.billabongpro.com
Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP)
World Championship Tour (WCT)
Teahupoo, Tahiti
May 5th – 17th, 2005
Air Tahiti Nui/ Von Zipper Trials April 25th-29th
Billabong Pro Tahiti Men's May 5-17th
Billabong Pro Tahiti Girl's May 5-15th
AUSTRALIAN SURFER ACCEPTS XXL MONSTER TUBE AWARD FROM TEAHUPOO TAHITI
Monday 25th April (Teahupoo Tahiti): Australian surfer Dylan Longbottom (Gold Coast) has had the perfect confidence boost heading into tomorrow's Air Tahiti Nui/Von Zipper Trials by winning the Monster Tube Award at the XXL Ceremony in California on Saturday night.
The 31-year-old accepted the accolade via an international phone call to the small fishing village of Teahupoo Tahiti, where the lone Australian to be nominated for one of the prestigious big wave awards has been granted a wildcard into the Air Tahiti Nui/Von Zipper Trials and will enter in round three along with other seeded surfers.
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Dylan Longbottom (Gold Coast, QLD, Aus) advanced to round 4 of the Tahiti Nui/VZ Trials at Teahupoo, Tahiti. Winner of the Monster XXL Tube of the Year Award, Longbottome will face Teahupoo standout Kalani Chapman (Haw) in his next heat.
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A solid swell has begun to push through at the famed reef break of Teahupoo (Cheo-poo) but with 10ft (3-4m) waves predicted by tomorrow morning, organizes have opted to wait. The world's most prestigious trials will grant two wildcards into the World Championship Tour (WCT) event which commences on May 5th.
Some of the most notorious big wave surfers will line up from the opening round including fellow XXL award winner and former world number four Shane Dorian (Haw), Maroubra's Koby Abberton (Aus) and the Hawaiian Ho brothers Michael and Derek.
Longbottom pocketed US$5000 for the huge tube ride which he rode at Shipsterns Bluff off the southern tip of Tasmania two months ago.
"It's good to get recognized for doing those sort of things all the time and I am just so happy with the award," said Longbottom. "I was up against Raimana from over here in Tahiti which was a really big wave and a couple of guys from Jaws in Hawaii so to beat those guys I am pretty stoked."
With the swell predicted to equal the monster Longbottom rode at Shipsterns, the father of two is realistic about facing the Tahitians at their home break.
"I wouldn't say I would have an advantage over these guys here but we are all in the same boat and I'm looking forward to the big swell coming. Everyone is scared but you just have to conquer that fear and give it your best shot. I get a couple of rounds to just watch so its good to just kick back and see where the guys are sitting and then get ready."
The Billabong Pro Tahiti delivered by Air Tahiti Nui is proudly supported by Von Zipper, Bose, Kustom and The Tahitian Surfing Federation
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