Billabong Pro Mundaka

**Sluff** · 09-27-2008, 03:10 PM

Holding period runs from Sept 29 to Oct 12. Slater wraps it up.

http://www.billabongpro.com/

**webb** · 09-28-2008, 02:17 PM

he just needs a 9th, which shouldn't be too hard for him since he's won this event. but this will be an interesting contest- 4 guys in the top 17 aren't even showing (and I heard a few more might drop as well), and there's no losers round. so there's a lot of new talent and (hopefully) more time at mundaka and less time at bakio.

**hop** · 09-28-2008, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by webb

he just needs a 9th, which shouldn't be too hard for him since he's won this event. but this will be an interesting contest- 4 guys in the top 17 aren't even showing (and I heard a few more might drop as well), and there's no losers round. so there's a lot of new talent and (hopefully) more time at mundaka and less time at bakio.

Is AI gonna be there? Who else is a no-show?

**webb** · 09-28-2008, 03:41 PM

brucey, AI, fanning, dingo, + neco have all offically bailed, bede + parko are rumored to be considering it as well.

if this many guys aren't bothering with mundaka, I'm thinking that brazil is going to be half wild cards.

**hop** · 09-28-2008, 03:43 PM

Damn, that's some serious talent just giving up right there. I guess there really are no points for second best.

**webb** · 09-28-2008, 03:55 PM

they're over it- bruce is retiring after this year, AI's allegedly been dealing with substance abuse issues, dingo got seriously f-ed up earlier this season, and neco's injured as well. fanning though- he's a little bit of a surprise considering how professional he was last season. but he got married, didn't do super well during the australian leg and pretty much has been coasting (for him) ever since. slates has had it locked up for so long, I think it's pretty tough for the rest of the contenders to get fired up about competing, especially with how wide open the race was last year.

**Brocktoon** · 09-28-2008, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by webb

(hopefully) more time at mundaka and less time at bakio.

I heard they are making Sopalena the alternate spot this year rather than Bakio. It's supposed to be farther away (right outside of Bilbao proper) but better and more consistent than Bakio.

**webb** · 09-28-2008, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Brocktoon

I heard they are making Sopalena the alternate spot this year rather than Bakio. It's supposed to be farther away (right outside of Bilbao proper) but better and more consistent than Bakio.

I read that after posting. surfline has some shots of sopalena from 2006- at least at that point it looked way better than bakio.

**gonzo** · 09-28-2008, 11:48 PM

someone has been doing some serious research for his fantasy team. ha!

**webb** · 09-29-2008, 10:33 AM

yeah... I'm only ranked 3000th this year.

lay day today. sopalena tomorrow/tonight.

**Long duc dong** · 09-29-2008, 11:21 AM

Originally Posted by webb

if this many guys aren't bothering with mundaka, I'm thinking that brazil is going to be half wild cards.

Yeah, it surprises me to see them skip Mundaka if they already surfed in France. If you are already over there why not surf a world class left with only a few people out? Of course Mundaka might not show, they might not want to risk surfing whatever the backup place is.

Brazil would be a place I would definitely not want to skip....but that has nothing to do with surfing...

**webb** · 09-30-2008, 10:20 AM

lay day again. sopalena tomorrow, and mundaka thursday and friday.

gabe kling (wildcard) dropped as well. the list of no-shows gets longer and longer.

**Brocktoon** · 09-30-2008, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by webb

lay day again. sopalena tomorrow, and mundaka thursday and friday.

gabe kling (wildcard) dropped as well. the list of no-shows gets longer and longer.

Where the hell does Gabe Kling get off? His ass should be thankful he gets to show his goofy mug at a CT venue. Is he injured?

**webb** · 09-30-2008, 11:21 AM

I heard that he couldn't make it. but yeah, I was pretty surprised he was even considered, since he sucked so bad last year.

but that being said, he still has a chance of requalifying for next year. he could be back.