The ASP World Tour comp that surf spectators look forward to more than any other is nearly upon us. Especially those of us...ahem...I mean those of you sporting a healthy streak of sadism.

I'm talking about the Billabong Pro at Teahupoo of course. The guts and glory competition where spectators scream 'GO!' from the other side of the channel or the other side of the webcast screen. And despite whether the surfer gets pitted or pumped everyone is happy ('cept the hapless surfer that gets pumped of course).

For the last few years the Billabong Pro has had undersized waves for the main event, while maritime mountains have graced the Air Tahiti Nui Von Zipper Trials (that name is a mouthful, so from here on I think I'll call 'em the trials).

The 4th of May (Tahiti time – 20 hours behind EST) is the first day of the waiting period for the trials, and unlike the previous years the outlook is bleak. The current conditions are just 2' with the immediate outlook equally grim. Due to the conditions the trials are postponed today with a chance to run tomorrow.

Pete Tomlinson, who rides for Billabong and is a favourite of the crew here at Swellnet, is in Heat 4. He's up against Jamie O'Brien, Koby Abberton and Shimpei Horoguchi.

Despite the conditions, and despite not even having a webcast for the trials, we'll be holed up in the Swellnet urging Pete to “GO!”.// STUART NETTLE