Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion, has claimed his fourth Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by SNICKERS title over reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at the backup venue of Johanna Beach.
The second stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach was completed over four different venues this year, with Round 1 at Bells Beach, Round 2 at Thirteenth Beach, Round 3 and the opening half of Round 4 at Winkipop before the final day was completed at Johanna Beach.
Following a relatively slow start to the highly-anticipated Final, Fanning unleashed with a 7.17 to take the lead. The lightning-fast Australian strung together a series of high-speed maneuvers to pull ahead and put the Floridian on the ropes.
However, Slater would answer back with an incredible Alley-oop aerial maneuver, boosting so high his feet separated from his board before he recovered for an 8.93. Slater then paddled out into another excellent wave, scoring an 8.10 to bring his total to 17.03 out of a possible 20 – a lead that Fanning would not surpass.
“It was a lot more difficult than it looked out there,” Slater said. “The tide came up and the takeoff was a lot deeper than we thought it would be. I was getting bumped and bounced and falling, and I had five or six waves before I got something going. On that 8.93, I was up in the air and when I landed, I kind of fell on my butt and did the one-footed shuffle, but I recovered there. Then I paddled straight into that second wave and that was it.”
Despite suffering a hairline fracture in his right foot three days ago, Slater was able to push himself to a record 42nd elite tour victory, and today’s win marks his fourth at Bells Beach, matching the historic record set by legendary Australian Mark Richards in the 1970s.
“I’m really excited because I remembered that before this contest I promised myself that if I won, I would give to trophy to the Wathaurong (local aboriginal tribe) people,” Slater said. “I didn’t remember that until I was out in the water and right when I did, those waves came. So before I give it to them, I want to pass the trophy around for everyone to give a ring because that’s never been done before.”
Today’s win sees Slater vault from 9th to 2nd on the elite ASP World Tour rankings, setting up his campaign for an unprecedented 10th ASP World Title.
“It’s a long year but I’m excited to put up a result here,” Slater said. “I felt like I was surfing well on the Gold Coast but didn’t get the result I was looking for. So to come here and back it up is a step in the right direction.”
Fanning’s Runner-Up finish is a welcome result compared to his season opener on the Gold Coast where he finished Equal 9th. Despite the disappointment of not ringing the bell this season, Fanning now sits at ASP World No. 5 and is in an excellent position to defend his ASP World Title.
“A Runner-Up finish is great but I would have loved to win,” Fanning said. “I couldn’t seem to find a rhythm out there and Kelly (Slater) can do anything, even when he’s injured. Still though, it was a great finish for the event and I want to thank all the locals down in Johanna for letting us surf out here today.”
Bobby Martinez (USA), 28, was one of the form surfers at Johanna Beach, opting to surf the lefthanders down the beach with unparalleled style and aggression, linking razor-sharp turns with massive aerials to best 2010 ASP Dream Tour rookie Jadson Andre (BRA), 20, and defending Rip Curl Pro Bells winner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, before falling to Slater in the Semifinals.
“I’m not very happy with how I performed out there,” Martinez said. “I wanted to win. I wanted to opportunity to surf, but I didn’t get it. This is my best start I’ve ever had, but yeah, I’m disappointed.”
Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, has been near unstoppable since December, making the Finals in his previous four events (collecting three victories), before falling short against Fanning in today’s Semifinals. Despite the loss, Burrow’s Equal 3rd sees him retain his position as ASP World No. 1.
“I’m happy with a third but disappointed because I fell on a couple of good ones,” Burrow said. “It was really challenging out there. It looks okay, but there’s a lot of bump on the face of the waves. I had a couple of good ones, but fell and that’s frustrating. Still though, I’m happy with my result and I’m looking forward to the next one.”
Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by SNICKERS will be webcast LIVE via www.live.ripcurl.com
The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be televised LIVE in Australia on FUEL TV. For more information, check out http://www.foxsports.com.au/fueltv
The next stop on the 2010 ASP World Tour will be the Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil from April 23 through May 2, 2010.
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 17.03
2 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.00
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.33 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 12.50
SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 14.66 def. Bobby Martinez (USA) 3.80
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Taj Burrow (AUS) 11.34 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 4.87
QF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 14.20 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.00
QF 3: Bobby Martinez (USA) 15.10 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.40
QF 4: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.10 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 13.00
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH REMAINING ROUND 4 RESULTS:
Heat 5: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 11.84 def. Adrian Buchan (AUS) 10.83
Heat 6: Bobby Martinez (USA) 13.67 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 8.77
Heat 7: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 12.20 def. Luke Stedman (AUS) 7.00
Heat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) 16.50 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 8.00
CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (After Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach):
1 – Taj Burrow (AUS) 16500 pts
2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 13750 pts
3 – Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13250 pts
4 – Bobby Martinez (USA) 13000 pts
5 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 11750 pts
6 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 10500 pts
6 – Bede Durbidge (AUS) 10500 pts
6 – Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10500 pts
9 – Dane Reynolds (USA) 8250 pts
10 – Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 7500 pts
10 – Adrian Buchan (AUS) 7500 pts
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