Mick Fanning has been talking more about his Rip Curl Pro Search win in Portugal this week and his hopes for the final ASP World Tour event in Hawaii in December.
The 28-year-old 2007 ASP world champion and current ASP world number one claimed the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search at Supertubos in Peniche, Portugal yesterday, beating 26-year-old fellow finalist and compatriot Bede Durbidge. With his victory, he extended his lead on second-placed Joel Parkinson, heading into the big showdown at Hawaii’s Billabong Pipeline Masters on December 8–20.
“That’s what you always dream of as a kid [competing for an ASP world title at Pipeline],” Fanning said. “I’m super-pumped. I’m going to go home and relax for a couple of weeks and get ready for Pipe. Hopefully, we’ll get some big barrels like we did here and we have a real showdown.”
Fanning showed a solid performance throughout the whole competition, surfing in various conditions. The Rip Curl Pro Search moved around four different spots in the 10-day waiting period in Peniche.
“If you sit there and stress, you’re losing energy,” Fanning said of the surfing uncertainty. “I was having a lot of fun.”
'I’m going to go home and relax for a couple of weeks and get ready for Pipe' – Mick Fanning
Finally, one of the world-famous waves, Supertubos, was pumping, giving the world’s best surfers the opportunity to show outstanding surfing on the day before the final, with one of the best days in competition surfing in recent memory. The crowd saw three perfect 10s, the highest score for a single wave in 6–8ft (2–3m) perfect barrels.
Fanning dominated the final in punchy waves, putting a solid 6.67 and a 6.00 on the scoreboard that would prove unbeatable for his opponent Durbidge.
The 2009 ASP World Title is now a two-horse race between Fanning and Parkinson – the latter finished third in the Rip Curl Pro Search, missing the chance to close the gap to Fanning at the top of the standings.
The possible scenarios for the 2009 ASP world title are as follows: if Fanning finishes between 33rd and ninth at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a third place or better to overtake; if Fanning finishes fifth, Parkinson needs a second or better; should Fanning finish third, Parkinson needs win the event. A win or second at Pipeline will clinch the 2009 title for Fanning regardless of his countryman’s best efforts.
For more on the ASP World Tour, go to the official aspworldtour.com website.
ASP World Tour standings
Mick Fanning (AUS) – 7,140pts
Joel Parkinson (AUS) – 6,772pts
Adriano de Souza (BRA) – 6,148pts
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