Photos of 2012 Billabong Pro Teahupoo

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Ricardo Santos

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The Billabong Pro Tahiti 2012 Champion - Mick Fanning ASP/ Robertson

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Joel Parkinson (left) with Mick Fanning sharing a moment after Fanning won the Billabong Pro Tahiti ASP/ Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) wins the Billabong Pro Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Mick Fanning wins Billabong Pro Tahiti 2012 ASP/ Kirstin

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The Billabong Pro Tahiti 2012 Champion - Mick Fanning ASP/ Kirstin

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Joel Parkinson placed 2nd and moves to 2nd in the world rankings ASP/ Kirstin

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Joel Parkinson (AUS) placed runner up behind Mick Fanning (AUS) cementing the No. 2 position on the ratings. ASP/ Kirstin

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Joel Parkinson (AUS) placed runner up behind Mick Fanning (AUS) cementing the No. 2 position on the ratings. ASP/ Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) wins the Billabong Pro Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) wins the Billabong Pro Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) wins the Billabong Pro Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Most agreed that Fanning was the form surfer all event. ASP/ Robertson

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Owen Wright placed 3rd overall. ASP/ Kirstin

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Fanning scored his two winning rides in the final 10 minutes of the final. ASP/ Kirstin

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Full flotilla of spectators today ASP/ Kirstin

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Another impressive performance from Florence in his rookie season. ASP/ Kirstin

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Gabriel Medina of Brazil placed equal 5th in the Billabong Pro Tahiti held in excellent surf. Medina went down to Hawaiian John John Florence in the quarters and this result has him in 13th place on the 2012 ASP world rankings. ASP/ Kirstin

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John John Florence placed 3rd and also moved to number 3 on the 2012 World Rankings. ASP/ Kirstin

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Jeremy Flores (France) made the quarter finals and placed equal 5th at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. Flores was narrowly defeated in a controversial quarter final by Australia's Joel Parkinson on a scoreline of 16.50 to 16.42 ASP/ Kirstin

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Owen Wright (Australia) placed 3rd at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. In a high scoring semi final Wright was defeated by the eventual event winner Mick Fanning of Australia. ASP/ Kirstin

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Owen Wright (Australia) placed 3rd at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. In a high scoring semi final Wright was defeated by the eventual event winner Mick Fanning of Australia. ASP/ Kirstin

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C J Hobgood went down to Owen Wright in the quarter finals. ASP/ Kirstin

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Wright was in superb form all event. ASP/ Kirstin

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Owen Wright (Australia) placed 3rd at the Billabong Pro Tahiti. In a high scoring semi final Wright was defeated by the eventual event winner Mick Fanning of Australia. ASP/ Kirstin

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C J Hobgood charged all event and paid the price occasionally. ASP/ Kirstin

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Incredibly close quarter final against Fanning. ASP/ Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) wins the Billabong Pro Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Another great result for Florence ASP/ Kirstin

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ASP/ Kirstin

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Dos Santos placed equal 5th going down to Fanning in quarters. ASP/ Kirstin

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Paradise setting for an amazing Billabong Pro Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Surfed superbly all event but eliminated in round 5 ASP/ Robertson

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Kieren Perrow went down to Jeremy Flores in round 5 ASP/ Robertson

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Julian Wilson (AUS) was eliminated by Owen Wright (AUS) during round five. ASP/ Robertson

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Ricardo Santos (BRA) proved a giant killer reaching the quarterfinals where he was eventually eliminated by Mick Fanning. ASP/ Robertson

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A well claimed 10 point ride.

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Medina on his 10 point ride

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Jeremy Flores on his 10 point ride.

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Both Hobgoods revel here in Tahiti

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Extreme weather all day at Teahupoo today

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Kieren Perrow (AUS) advanced into round four where he placed third and will surf again in round five. ASP/ Kirstin

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Rainbow across the horizon. ASP/ Kirstin

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Alejo Muniz (BRA) eliminated during round three. ASP/ Kirstin

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Gabriel Medina (BRA) had a dream competition day posting a perfect ten to advance directly into the quarterfinals. ASP/ Kirstin

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Gabriel Medina (BRA) wins his heat to advance in round four. ASP/ Kirstin

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Perfect Teahupoo. ASP/ Kirstin

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John John Florence (HAW) narrowly edged out Brett Simpson. ASP/ Kirstin

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John John's Mom out to support her boy. ASP/ Kirstin

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Damien Hobgood (USA) advanced into round four. ASP/ Kirstin

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Josh Kerr (AUS) picked off one of the bigger waves of the early afternoon to advance into round four. ASP/ Kirstin

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Jeremy Flores (FRA) marches through his round three heat enroute to a perfect ten in Round 4. ASP/ Kirstin

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Joel Parkinson (AUS) wins his round three heat. ASP/ Kirstin

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Kelly Slater (USA) was a shock elimination in round three at the Billabong Pro in Tahiti today. The current world champion, number one seed and defending event champion was defeated by Brazilian wildcard surfer Ricardo Dos Santos.

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Ricardo Dos Santos of Brazil caused a huge upset at the Billabong Pro Tahiti by defeating Kelly Slater in round three.

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Great round three heat win

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Behind the break today

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Miguel Pupo (Brazil)

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Owen Wright mastering the Tahiti tubes today where he won his round three heat of the Billabong Pro defeating Brazilian Miguel Pupo

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Majestic mountain views. ASP/ Kirstin

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Remote coastline beyond Teahupoo. ASP/ Kirstin

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Beautiful mountain view from the end of the road. ASP/ Kirstin

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Palm trees and rainbows this is Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Palm forrest. ASP/ Kirstin

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Road to nowhere. ASP/ Kirstin

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Mountain view. ASP/ Kirstin

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Stingrays swim amongst snorklers on Morea. ASP/ Kirstin

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Stingrays giving a photographer a welcoming on Morea. ASP/ Kirstin

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Beautiful stingray cruising the sand floor on Morea. ASP/ Kirstin

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Needle fish on Morea. ASP/ Kirstin

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Black Tip Reef Sharks cruise the deep blue on Morea. ASP/ Kirstin

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The beautiful dance of the stingray. ASP/ Kirstin

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Surfers finding something to sink their fins into on a lay day in Tahiti. ASP/ Kirstin

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Crystal clear water of French Polynesia. ASP/ Kirstin

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Shallow reefs of French Polynesia. ASP/ Kirstin

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Taking a break at the market. ASP/ Kirstin

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Coconuts drying in the sun. ASP/ Kirstin