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JAMIE O'BRIEN WINS AIR TAHITI NUI VON ZIPPER TRIALS
Jamie O wins in MORE pumping surf; Bruno Santos scores second wildcard
Photos: All photos: Steve Robertson/ASP
SURF NEWS JAMIE O'BRIEN WINS AIR TAHITI NUI VON ZIPPER TRIALS
April 29, 2008
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CONDITIONS: Are you sick of perfect Teahupoo yet? The third day of pumping surf greeted Trialists today, and while it wasn't as death defying as Saturday's tow session, the six to eight-foot blue slabs were plenty enough for this international barrel hunting crew.
 
OUTSTANDING PERFOMERS: Well, Jamie O, obviously. From giant tow shacks to getting the highest score of pretty much each day, the 24-year-old Pipe Master ruled at Teahupoo this year. Plus, he won the final in the last 40 seconds with a perfect ten. "I've never came from behind the eight ball like that in the last minute," said O'Brien. "I figured it's the kind of stuff Kelly (Slater) does, so I thought I would give it a try." Runner up Brazilian hell charger Bruno Santos got arguably the ride of the event against Australian Damien Wills in the semis, as well as a perfect ten yesterday.
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JAMIE O'BRIEN WINS AIR TAHITI NUI VON ZIPPER TRIALS
Goodall was eliminated in his quarterfinal against Kalani Chapman. Goodall was in good spirits at days end following his stitches from the local doctors and is in good condition. Photo: Robbo/ASP
HIGHLIGHTS: Who said pro surfers are wimps? In the semis, after scoring the ride of the event, Bruno Santos was crushed inside a giant closeout tube and was gashed by his surfboard on his upper thigh. After simply taping the wound in the line-up, he paddled back out to win the match-up and surf with the cut still open and bleeding throughout the final. He was treated with multiple internal and external sutures on site after the event and will be resting until the main event starts in 10-days. "I'm still happy because I still get my place in the main event, so I want to get barrelled some more," he said. "I enjoyed every heat of this contest because I got to surf perfect Teahupoo with just me and one other guy."

QUOTES:
"I knew the swell was going to be bombing when I came down here and the wind looked insane, so the whole event was super special. One of the things I have always wanted to win was a Teahupoo Trials and I put that on my list a few years ago. I've nailed that and now I have a chance to be in the main event and have fun. I'm down for the main event, I'll take them down."" --Jamie O'Brien

RESULTS:

Round Five

Heat 1: Danny Fuller (HAW) 18.33 def. Dean Bowen (AUS) 16.50
Heat 2: Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 19.23 def. Germain Tuataa (PYF) 10.17
Heat 3: Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 17.33 def. Dylan Longbottom (AUS) 12.80
Heat 4: Vetea David (PYF) 12.84 def. Taumata Puhetini (PYF) 10.47
Heat 5: Bruno Santos (BRA) 15.40 def. Heiarii Williams (PYF) 15.10
Heat 6: Stephane Koehne (HAW) 15.67 def. Laurie Towner (AUS) 14.50
Heat 7: Kalani Chapman (HAW) 16.14 def. Wade Goodall (AUS) 8.50
Heat 8: Damian Wills (AUS) 16.33 def. Anthony Walsh (AUS) 9.57

Quarter Finals

QF1: Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 19.93 def. Danny Fuller (HAW) 9.20
QF2: Vetea David (PYF) 13.10 def. Tamaroa McComb (PYF) 11.30
QF3: Bruno Santos (BRA) 18.47 def. Stephane Koehne (HAW) 11.17
QF4: Damien Wills (AUS) 13.17 def. Kalani Chapman (HAW) 4.67

Semi Finals

SF1: Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 15.47 def. Vetea David (PYF) 14.00
SF2: Bruno Santos (BRA) 18.87 def. Damien Wills (AUS) 17.76

Final: Jamie O'Brien (HAW) 18.50 def. Bruno Santos (BRA) 17.43
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