Teahupo'o: the world's most famous wave needs no introduction.

Ever since its early incarnations as the Black Pearl Horue Pro in '97 and the Gotcha Pro in '98, the Billabong Pro Tahiti has produced some of the most incredible waves - both in and out of competitions - of the last fourteen years. 

Teahupo'o is, hands down, the most eagerly anticipated event on the WSL calendar for viewers. And a handful of the competitors.  

Forecast:
Swellnet's early forecast issued last Friday indicated that there'll be plenty of swell for the first half of the waiting period, but mostly mid-period energy, from a variety of directions and with poor winds. If the competition runs in these conditions we can expect consistent, jumbled and raw waves - not the perfect mechanical Teahupoo we're used to seeing on the screen.

Conditions should clean up into early next week but the swell will be from the south and easing, meaning the wave will run more down the reef like a point rather than heaving big ugly west bowls.

A new mid-period SW swell due later next week looks to be spoilt by cross-onshore SE winds again, while there's hope for a better long-range S/SW groundswell the the final day of the event.

In: 
John John Florence is back from injury and made a strong performance last year, pushing all the way to the semis ($2.40 semis).

Jeremy Flores is also back from injury and has been an Andy Irons Forever award winner in the past ($3.00 quarters).

Garett Parkes ($81.00 win) and Aritz Aranburu ($201.00 win) are in for the injured Matty Banting and Jordy Smith.

Out: 
Matt Banting and Jordy Smith with ongoing injuries sustained during free surfing sessions at JBay.

2014's winner Gabriel Medina is looking out of sorts this year. This time last year Gabs was looking almost unbeatable and this year he's struggling to make the top ten ($2.25 quarters) .

In Form:

Runner up Kelly Slater is looking the goods for my mind. We'd written him off at J'Bay and ol' Slats went on to make the semis. Not this time. Kelly draws Jadson Andre ($11.00 quarters) and Brett Simpson ($19.00 quarters) in his first heat and should win comfortably. I have Kelly picked for a semi final finish ($6.50 win).

There's no going past Owen Wright in these slabbing lefts. Owen has proven he's the prince of Chopes this year and in big waves, clean or choppy, he's the man the beat. He also made a couple of trips to Tahiti before Cloudbreak, and this put him in good stead in the bigger barrelling lefts seen on Finals Day. We also saw how devastating he was at The Box after a sold warm up session in heaving rights before the event on the South Coast. This time he's been chasing heaving lefts. Owen should win this event ($8.00 win).

Adriano de Souza is certainly having his best year on tour. However, without the interference of the man in the big grey suit at J'Bay, he wouldn't be holding onto that yellow jersey going into Tahiti. I'm not sure big lefts are ADS's forte but look for a solid finish in the later rounds ($4.00 quarters).

Mick Fanning cannot be underestimated at any wave or in any conditions. Mick seems to have got his head on right after the J'Bay encounter and being such a professional, he'll get in there and do his job and do it well. Look for a finish in the quarters or semis ($2.60 semis) .

The biggest unknown for me is Julian Wilson - he was clearly the most shaken up at J'Bay. You just never know what to expect with Julian and what makes him kick. Julian is/was on a roll and I hope he continues this at Tahiti. I'm hoping for a finals finish but he has a long way to get there ($12.00 win).

Ones To Watch:

Ace Buchan's win in 2013 will stay with many surf fans for years to come. The emotion that poured out onto the boat was genuine stoke. Chopes demands that kind of respect if you want to do well out there and Ace has all that and a bit. Lefts of any description - Ace has it covered. Look for a finals finish ($12.00).

His partner in crime Kai Otton is also one to watch. There's something very interesting about Kai's approach this year. Given the forecast I think Kai has some kind of psychological advantage over many over surfers in the upcoming conditions: you know he's just going to go hard. I have Kai picked for a semi final finish ($6.00 semis).

Truth be told, given the forecast conditions, it's really anyone's this year. Chopes is about the barrel and there's only a small take-over zone. It'll come down to wave selection and who happens to have priority when the right ones come through. 

Round 1

The high point of Round 1 is most certainly Heat 2 featuring Ace Buchan, Owen Wright and CJ Hobgood ($3.25 quarters). There's a good chance it'll be held in big messy Chopes; so grab your popcorn and warm the edge of your seat because it'll surely be on the Day 1 highlights reel.

Also keep an eye out for the Wildcards. Taumata Puhetini eats Chopes coral for breakfast and Bruno Santos is a master out there. They'll be paying good odds against the top ranked 1 and 2.

Check the latest Teahupo'o forecast here.
Photos courtesy WSL / Kirstin Scholtz.
Tune into the live webcast from Saturday morning here.

Like a punt? Swellnet doesn't encourage it, but if you’re like Danny and want to wager some coin on the tour, the 2015 Billabong Pro Tahiti Punters Club is brought to you by William Hill.