Teahupoo, Chopes, The End of The Road, call it what you will is the surfing equivalent of a gladiatorial arena. The left hand reef slab defies the laws of physics to throw up the most impossibly hollow and thick waves in the world.

From 2-5 feet the wave is actually quite mellow, you can get barrelled and do a turn or an air, but when it hits a magic marker of around six feet it turns into a breathing sick mutant, where making the drop requires superhuman abillty let alone making barrels.

Who to watch out for?.

You would think Goofy footers would have an advantage here, but whilst barrel specialists like CJ Hobgood are dangerous, back hand tube hounds like John John Florence and Kelly Slater excel in difficult conditions.

It’s one of the few waves where trialists also have a chance. Being such a specialist wave local Tahitians and Hawaiians get to compete for a wild card slot, and it’s one of the few places one of these guys can do some serious damage to WCT hopefuls.

2011 Billabong Tahiti Pro From the Air Video:

How to watch?

The whole of the tour is broadcast live on a free webcast, just go to www.aspworldtour.com and follow the link.

Bali is  GMT -8, so it’s another late night for us. The event runs typically over the best three days of the holding period.