Dane, in fine form at last year's Billabong Pro Tahiti. Photo: ASP/Kirstin Scholtz
Dane Reynolds has officially withdrawn from the Billabong Pro Tahiti. After a much-publicized absence at Jeffery’s Bay, Reynolds has chosen to skip out on the event at Teahupoo without reason. “Dane didn’t give an excuse for missing the event in Tahiti, but you will be seeing him in New York,” manager Blair Marlin told Surfline.com. He did, however, show up to the US Open at Huntington Beach last week, and any signs of the rumored injured knee that may have kept him from J-Bay were non-existent.
Reynolds was fined $2,500 for missing the J-Bay event as per the ASP Rule Book, which states: “Failure to attend the World Tour Events entered with warning but no doctor’s certificate (men and women seeds only): First offense $2500; second offence $5000; Third offence automatic suspension to 3 events or remainder of the tour year…”
The ASP hasn’t decided whether they will fine Reynolds the $5000 yet, as his withdrawal only occurred recently.
Cory Lopez is slated to replace Reynolds. Lopez is always an exciting contender at Teahupoo, and with Hurricane Eugene likely to push some SSE swell around Friday and fill in Saturday, there’s a good chance of a classic Tahitian showdown.
