Ian Walsh is charging Teahupoo in O’Neill’s The Mission. He has a nice long drainer barrel at Teahupoo to his credit and last night performed a big frontside air to fakie revert at Little Pass Pass that was incredible. There is three more days to go (ending June 3rd) and competition is heating up and Ian is ready for whatever the ocean and competitors will throw his way. Ian is weaving into position to get the biggest barrel or punt the biggest air and has a few more days to make that happen. Another notable Team O’Neill rider Noi Kaulukukui performed some solid double grab airs to settle into the mix last night. All the surfers are pushing themselves and are feeling loose after five days of continual surfing.
The event has been going for four days and has primarily been held at Teahupoo but all the reefs around Tahiti are being utilized by the ocean faring surfers with O’Neill The Mission event.
The new event concept is based on pure free surfing and is staged on the 120ft luxury Haumana Yacht that has accessed a number of quality reef breaks. The judging features a system of peer based and online judging, the first of its kind, and is sure to prove a hit with some of the world’s current top World Qualifying Series (WQS) competitors and most gifted free surfers.
The event has a solid purse of US $50,000 in prize money to offer and the winner will be taking home US$ 25,000. Also, viewers can have their say online at oneilleurope.com. The concept is simple, go on line and view each surfer’s top rides and vote for who you think is ripping the hardest and should win.
Don’t pass up on the opportunity to vote for Ian because he is ripping! Check out Noi’s recent clips because the kid loves to let the fins fly!
There are only three more days to go so check out all the action and vote! Surfers for the O’Neill Mission are as follows:
Russell Winter GBR 1st O’Neill Highland Open Thurso, Scotland
Bernardo Miranda BRA 2nd O’Neill Highland Open Thurso, Scotland
Aritz Arunburu ESP 3rd O’Neill Highland Open Thurso, Scotland
Luke Munro AUS 4th O’Neill Highland Open Thurso, Scotland
Ian Walsh USA Invited
Ry Craike AUS Invited
Noi Kaulukukui USA Invited
Hugo Savalli FRA Invited
Voting is on now so check it out and vote for who you think has got the sickest pit and biggest move at oneilleurope.com/themission
