Ace In The Hole

Ace’s first ride in the final was a doozy, and began with this elevator freefall. Photo ASP/Kirstin

Adrian ‘Ace’ Buchan has taken top honours at the Billabong Pro Tahiti with a precision display of tuberiding and cool-headed contest smarts. This is the second tour win of the Central Coast goofy’s eight-year career, and it couldn’t have been a more deserving one. A clearly stoked but emotional Ace struggled to keep composure during his post victory interview, a sign of just how much the win meant.

“I can’t believe it,” Buchan said. “Kelly (Slater) is incredible and I thought he snatched it for me at the end. I couldn’t go right…but I probably should have. I still can’t believe it. It hasn’t sunk in. What an incredible day though. The sun came out during the last five minutes and it’s all just really special right now.”

Ace was looking the goods all day. The 4-6 foot Teahupoo tubes appeared tailor-made for his approach and the list of defeated opponents left in his dust read like a form guide of favourites to take out the event – Mick Fanning , JJF and Kelly Slater and all falling.

 “I knew I had to step it up today,” Buchan said. “I Had to plow through some big names today. Every time I paddled out, I told myself that I only had to catch two waves. That was my mantra through each heat and it worked out well for me.”

Slater dug deep to make a contest out of the Final but the Floridian didn’t have the easiest of days at the office. Earlier in the day after surfing a right into the shallows, Kelly was pinned between a wayward jet-ski and the reef after a failed rescue attempt. He also suffered a shoulder injury, took some of the days biggest poundings and had a contentious priority call made against him in the final.

Kelly Slater, your new ratings leader. Photo: ASP/Kirstin

“I Took a few poundings out there today for sure,” Slater said. “Felt like I dislocated my shoulder at one point but it feels okay now. The waves were really fun today and Ace (Adrian Buchan) just happened to get those two gems at the start of the heat. Those two were the ones and I would have preferred a win, but Ace has been in really good form all day and he’s a deserving winner.”

He may not have taken victory, but today’s result moves Kelly to pole position in the race for the world title.  

“Trestles, Europe and Pipe is a pretty strong leg for me historically,” Slater said. “It’s pretty close at the top right now so it will be an interesting finish to the season.” Kelly mused.

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.94

2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 17.90

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 18.67 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.80

SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.73 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 7.67

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.07 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 7.06

QF 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 19.17 def. John John Florence (HAW) 17.33

QF 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 16.54 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.90

QF 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.86 def. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 8.66

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 5 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.20 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 13.40

Heat 2: Adrian Buchan (AUS) 14.16 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.30

Heat 3: Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.00 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 17.27

Heat 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.74 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.97

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 4 RESULTS:

Heat 1: Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.67, Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.47, Jordy Smith (ZAF) 8.67

Heat 2: John John Florence (HAW) 18.67, Adrian Buchan (AUS) 17.80, Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.10

Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 18.93, Julian Wilson (AUS) 18.74, Kelly Slater (USA) 14.77

Heat 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 18.53, Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.47, C.J. Hobgood (USA) 16.70

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI REMAINING ROUND 3 RESULTS:

Heat 9: Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.34 def. Adam Melling (AUS) 0.73

Heat 10: C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.60 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 7.10

Heat 11: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 16.70 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 16.16

Heat 12: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Alain Riou (PYF) 15.76

CURRENT ASP WCT TOP 5 (Following Billabong Pro Tahiti):