Dingo's Ripping Baby and Germany's First Pro

The action is heating up over at the Billabong Pro, Tahiti. As if Teahupo's tenacious tubes and dreamy seascape isn't enough, Dean Morrison is sweetening the eye candy with his trademark buffalo stance and explosive power in the pocket, not to mention a spectacular wipeout that sent him cartwheeling through the barrel and straight toward the sharp reef below. No worries for Dingo though. He has posted the highest heat score so far and looks to be ripe and ready after a nasty hip problem last year. Will Dingo take this baby?

Not if Andy Irons is back in the saddle. On sabbatical, the former world champ has nothing to prove, and that may just be the element to loosen up that tight Irons grip of the last few years, and really let his talent soar.

All the big names aside...meet Marlon Lipke, Germany's first full time touring professional surfer. Groomed on European beachbreaks and neoprene, Tahiti may be a little unsettling. But how cool is that? And the guy rips hard. But Lipke has a heavy task ahead with his draw of Aussie Taj Burrow in the next round.