Injured Slater Bests Fanning to Claim Fourth Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Title

Injured Slater Bests Fanning to Claim Fourth Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Title

JOHANNA BEACH, Victoria/Australia (Thursday, April 8, 2010) – 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 no surpass.

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

Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach Update

WINKIPOP, Victoria/Australia (Wednesday, April 7, 2010) – The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by SNICKERS, Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, relocated to Winkipop for Round 3 and the opening four heats of Round 4 today where perennial threats went ballistic in the rippable three-to-four-foot (1 metre) reeling righthanders.

Taj Burrow (AUS), 31, current ASP World No.1, has been in sensational form lately with nearly a flawless competitive record over the past five months, and showcased exactly why throughout two heats today. In a hard-fought battle against explosive rookie Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 21, Burrow surfed flawlessly, netting a 17.04 out of a possible 20.

The lightning-fast Western Australian then went on a rampage against former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons (HAW), 31, in Round 4, posting the highest score of the day, a 17.77 out of a possible 20.

Burrow will take on an in-form Adriano de Souza (BRA), 23, in the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

Jordy Smith (ZAF), 22, current ASP World No. 2, posted an impressive win over rookie sensation Owen Wright (AUS), 19, in Round 3 before putting on a progressive surfing clinic in an emphatic win over Roy Powers (HAW), 29, in Round 4.

Smith secured the highest single-wave score of the event against Powers, lacerating a running righthander and punting multiple aerials before executing a “Superman” air to finish – the score dropped to the tune of a near-perfect 9.80 out of a possible 10.

Smith will take on reigning two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, in the Quarterfinals of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

Fanning, a former winner at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach (2001), showed no mercy against wildcard Gabriel Medina (BRA), 16, in their Round 3 clash. The reigning champ dominated with a blend of his patented forehand gaffs as well as an injected dose of aerial creativity, netting an 17.20 out of a possible 20, to advance through to Round 4.

Fanning went on to survive a tight heat at the end of the day against European battler Tiago Pires (PRT), 30, in Round 4.

Kelly Slater (USA), 38, former nine-time ASP World Champion, survived a closely-contested Round 3 heat against rookie phenom Dusty Payne (HAW), 21, to advance through to Round 4. Slater, who spent the day in hospital getting scans on his right foot (inflamed ligaments suspected), battled back after Payne secured an excellent 9.17 out of a possible 10.

Slater will face Michel Bourez (PYF), 24, in Heat 8 of Round 4 of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach.

Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am for a possible 7:30am start.

When competition resumes, up first will be defending Rip Curl Pro winner Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, up against compatriot Adrian Buchan (AUS), 27, in Heat 5 of Round 4.

Highlights from today’s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by SNICKERS will be available 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

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

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