Mick Fanning lost out only in the final of the Rip Curl Pro to a resurgent Kelly Slater at Johanna Beach in Victoria, Australia
Fanning had defeated Jordy Smith by a narrow margin in the quarter-finals – an extraordinary 14.20 to Jordy’s 14.00 – and then put paid to ASP Tour leader Taj Burrow’s hopes of back-to-back event wins in the semis, Burrow having himself defeated Adriano de Souza in the quarters.
Slater, meanwhile, ended the spirited run of Michel Bourez in round four, then dispatched Bede Durbidge and Bobby Martinez for his final berth.
Fanning put together a slick series of moves in the final to go ahead after the first run, but a spectacular alley-oop aerial from Slater in the subsequent round gave him an unassailable advantage, all the more impressive considering the hairline fracture he has been carrying since the competition’s early stages.
"A runner-up finish is great, but I would have loved to win," Fanning commented. "I couldn't seem to find a rhythm out there and Kelly 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."
Burrow still tops the standings with 16,500 points, while it’s a close run thing between Slater and Jordy Smith for second and third, with the American and the South African on 13,750 points and 13,250 respectively. Mick Fanning lies fifth, with 11,750 points.
The next round of the ASP Tour is the Santa Catarina Pro in Brazil from April 23. For more information, head to aspworldtour.com
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