Surfing Soapbox: Pressure is on in ASP World Tour

As of Tuesday, the Billabong Pro being held at Teahupoo, Tahiti, again saw small surf in the one- to two-foot range and has forced event organizers to call another lay day.

However, a slightly improved forecast for later in the week could see the world’s best surfers slotting themselves into the perfect barrels of Teahupoo in the coming days.

The Billabong Pro Tahiti, which will be No. 5 out of the 10-event tour on the 2010 ASP World Tour, is a crucial venue for the ASP Top 45.

With the ASP World Tour halfway through its season and soon to see a drastic reduction from the Top 45 surfers to the Top 34 (Top 32 finishers plus two wild cards), it adds even more pressure for those competitors who are sitting on the bubble in hopes of continuing on the world tour.

The Billabong Pro, along with the Pipeline Masters, are two events that are looked upon by both spectators and competitors as the Wimbledon and French Open of surfing, given the dangerous conditions that surfers must compete in, the high drama and the spectacular tubes that are most often witnessed at these two events.

Three surfers I like to win this event are Kelly Slater, dark horse Andy Irons if the swell gets big, and local wild card Manoa Drollet.

Keep your fingers crossed in hopes of seeing another exciting Billabong Pro.

Peace.

JAMES PRIBRAM is a professional surfer and John Kelly Environmental Award winner. His websites include AlohaSchoolofSurfing and ECOWarrior Surf.com. He can be reached at Jamo@AlohaSchoolofSurfing.com.