The race to secure a World Surf League finals berth is about to get red hot, but small conditions at Teahupo'o means surfers will first have to cool their heels.
The opening two days of the event window for the Tahiti Pro have been called as lay days, and it could taken even longer for competition to get underway with only a small increase in swell forecast on Saturday (Sunday AEST) and Sunday (Monday AEST).
The event is the 10th stop of the season, and will determine which five male and female surfers qualify for the year-ending finals in California.
In the women's draw, only world No.1 Carissa Moore and world No.2 Johanne Defay have locked in their spot for the WSL finals.
Seven-time world champion Stephanie Gilmore currently sits in fourth spot and the top-ranked Australian is well placed to qualify for the finals.
Two-time world champion Tyler Wright is seventh after effectively missing three events due to COVID-19 and visa issues.
It means Wright needs a huge result in Tahiti in order to leapfrog her way into the top five.
On the men's side of the draw, world No.1 Filipe Toledo and Australian Jack Robinson have already secured their spots.
The Australian duo of world No.7 Callum Robson and world No.9 Connor O'Leary face an uphill battle to sneak into the top five.
Fellow Australian Ethan Ewing, who won J-Bay last month, sits third in the world and is a good chance to secure his spot.
Star duo John John Florence and Gabriel Medina were forced to pull out of the Tahiti Pro due to injury.
