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Posted on Tuesday May 19th 2009 at 3:09 p.m.
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A rare south-east swell swept past the contest site turning on the long barreling left-hander that has been kept quiet amongst the worlds top ranks for years. However yesterdays epic 6 to 8ft (2.5 metre) waves put it on the surfing map with the media in town for the ASP men's world tour event.
Three time world champion Andy Irons (Haw) thrilled his peers with his tube riding prowess, the 30 year-old over powering the heaving lips with deep take-offs before slotting into barrel after barrel.
Nine time world champion Kelly Slater (USA) was also apart of the serious surfing session that included current world No.1 Joel Parkinson (AUS), 1999 world champion Mark Occhilupo (AUS), tour rookie Dustin Barca (HAW), European wonderkid Jeremy Flores (FRA) and Billabong Pro Tahiti Contest Director Luke Egan.
Slater was also in top form, even managing a switch foot maneuver in the barrel. Slater and Irons renowned rivalry, saw both surfers light up the high voltage free surfing session.
Irons who opted to take a years hiatus from competitive touring was back to his blazing best, ripping apart the heaving Tahitian reef break with fast, aggressive and always huge moves.
Irons who is competing in the Billabong Pro Tahiti as a wildcard won the Pipeline Masters and the Triple Crown and his first ASP World Title in 2002. He also won the world title again in 2003 and 2004.
The Billabong Pro Tahiti presented by Air Tahiti Nui was called off again due to small, one-to-three foot (0.5 metre) waves and onshore winds on offer today at Teahupoo.
While event organizers went on hold for the majority of the day, optimal conditions never manifested and the Billabong Pro Tahiti entered into its fourth consecutive lay day.
Irons will take on last years world tour runner-up Bede Durbidge (Aus) when round two of the Billabong Pro Tahiti competition recommences at Teahupoo.
Slater is one of ten surfers who have yet to commence their Billabong Pro Tahiti campaigns. The Floridian will take on Basque surfer Aritz Aranburu when round two re-commences.
Surfline, official forecasters for the Billabong Pro Tahiti, are calling for a moderate SW swell to arrive either late Monday or early Tuesday.