The best photos from the second day of Tahiti Pro

Twenty images of one of the best days of surfing at CT 2023 by the official WSL photographers


August 16 2023
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Special coverage presented by Lineup.Surf 

Photos by WSL Official Photographers Matt Dunbar and Beatriz Ryder

Yesterday was one of the best days of competitive surfing in 2023. Teahupoo wasn't perfect but it provided some incredible moments with several tubes worthy of admiration.

The men's quarter-finals were determined as follows:

HEAT 1: Kauli Vaast (FRA) vs. Leonardo Fioravanti (ITA)
HEAT 2: Yago Dora (BRA) vs. Jack Robinson (AUS)
HEAT 3: Mihimana Braye (PYF) vs. Barron Mamiya (HAW)
HEAT 4: Gabriel Medina (BRA) vs. John John Florence (HAW)

And the female ones were left waiting, which are the following:

HEAT 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Tatiana Weston-Webb (BRA)
HEAT 2: Caroline Marks (USA) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
HEAT 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Vahine Fierro (FRA)
HEAT 4: Molly Picklum (AUS) vs. Caitlin Simmers (USA)

Below is a selection of photos from the day:

Barron Mamiya, who has not had many expressive results this year, but this changes radically when the sea is tubular and heavy as it was yesterday.
It wasn't perfect Teahupoo but it was clearly Teahupoo on. Barron Mamiya on wave.
Filipe continues to mess up when it comes to surfing at Teahupoo. This four was the best he managed on the day.
Griffin started off well, taking out Matahi Drollet, but then failed to beat Kauli Vaast.
Griffin Colapinto's moment of inspiration.
Ian Gentil couldn't beat Barron Mamiya, but he did get a couple of home runs.
Sunshine and tubes time, Tahiti looking like it normally does, with Ian Gentil.
Jack Robinson had faded a bit after his injury that kept him out of Margaret, but these waves always turn him on. The Australian had the second highest total and the second best wave of the day.
Robinson adding another tube to his tally.
One of the big surprises of the day was the defeat of Chumbinho Chianca, who could not find his rhythm against Kauli Vaast and left the door open for Yago and Medina or John John to leave him out of the finals and the Olympic Games.
Art in the surfer, art in the wave and art in the photo.
Kanoa is laughing in the photo but had a bad result, finishing last but ultimately securing a spot in Paris 2024 through the CT and opening the door for Reo Inaba, his compatriot. There will be three Japanese in Paris 2024.
Kauli Vaast sailing inspired to beat Griffin Colapinto in the round of 16.
Kelly had a ticket to the quarterfinals in his hands, but in the last series of his series against Dora, in the last seconds, he went to the first and the one behind was better and Yago turned it around. Will this have been Slater's last performance as a permanent member of the tour?
Slater is always the one who attracts the most attention.
Slater seemed unbeatable, but Yago Dora had other plans.
Earlier, Slater eliminated Ryan Callinan with a great performance.
Fioravanti boxed in. The Italian, very calmly, made it to the quarter-finals where he will face Kauli Vaast.
Liam O'Brien, calm, hit some tubes and gave Jack Robinson some strength, not enough, but he left with his head held high.
Rio Waida failed to become an Olympian through the CT due to a series of events. She still has the ISA next year in Puerto Rico to dream of Paris 2024.
What these championships are like: You say goodbye last but you surfed some good waves, like Ryan Callinan, in the photo.
Dora pumping on the wave that turned the series around for Kelly.
Dora celebrating with dad Leandro and Volcom team manager Matt Bemrose.

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