{"id":11244,"date":"2009-10-28T08:44:58","date_gmt":"2009-10-28T15:44:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=11244"},"modified":"2009-10-28T08:48:53","modified_gmt":"2009-10-28T15:48:53","slug":"mick-fanning-rocks-through-in-portugal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=11244","title":{"rendered":"Mick Fanning Rocks Through In Portugal"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mfrcsearchpod09(Scholtz)Big\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Hey, look: Mick Fanning<\/strong> won the Rip Curl Pro Search<\/a><\/strong>. It is his third win this season. Is he unstoppable in this title race? If only Owen Wright<\/strong> hadn’t wrecked his ear drum then we’d might have a little better answer. <\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday was one of the best days of competition I\u2019ve ever seen and we all showed up today and had to adjust our frame of mind to deal with the drop in size and quality,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI\u2019ve been surfing conditions like this all summer at home so I knew what I had to do out there. I was able to pick off a couple of good scores at the start and then I basically had to sit on Bede (Durbidge) so he didn\u2019t get any back on me.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Follow the jump for the ASP<\/strong> press release.
\nSUPERTUBOS, Peniche\/Portugal (Wednesday, October 28, 2009) \u2013 Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, has claimed the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search at Supertubos in Portugal, defeating fellow Finalist Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, and cementing his lead in the now two-horse race for the 2009 ASP World Title.<\/p>\n

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2009 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search ran a gamut of conditions and venues ranging from two-foot righthand wedges at Molhe Leste, four-foot offshore lefthanders at Lagido, punchy four-foot peaks at Belgas and death-defying six-to-eight foot barrels at Supertubos yesterday before culminating a dramatic end to competition.<\/p>\n

Fanning, who won the inaugural Rip Curl Pro Search at Reunion Island (2005) and was a standout in yesterday\u2019s massive barrels, readjusted to today\u2019s smaller conditions and was dominant in his Final against Durbidge. With conditions deteriorating, Fanning lacerated the punchy wedges on his forehand to net a solid 6.67 and a 6.00 that would prove unbeatable for his opponent.<\/p>\n

\u201cYesterday was one of the best days of competition I\u2019ve ever seen and we all showed up today and had to adjust our frame of mind to deal with the drop in size and quality,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI\u2019ve been surfing conditions like this all summer at home so I knew what I had to do out there. I was able to pick off a couple of good scores at the start and then I basically had to sit on Bede (Durbidge) so he didn\u2019t get any back on me.\u201d<\/p>\n

A true student of focus and adaptability, Fanning was a fitting champion of the Rip Curl Pro Search, and navigating the changing venues and conditions with aplomb and panache.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Search lived up to its name \u2013 we searched everywhere,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cWe surfed four different waves for the event and even yesterday, I wanted to go and surf down at the wall, but we ran here and it ended up being one of the best days of the year. Congratulations to Rip Curl and all the staff who put in some really tough work all week with all the moves \u2013 it\u2019s been a pretty amazing effort.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Rip Curl Pro Search narrowed down the field of potential contenders for the 2009 ASP World Title from 10 to two throughout the course of the event, with the final event of the year at the Banzai Pipeline playing the decider.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what you always dream of as a kid (competing for an ASP World Title at Pipeline),\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI\u2019m super pumped. I\u2019m going to go home and relax for a couple of weeks and get ready for Pipe. Hopefully we get some big barrels like we did here and we have a real showdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

Durbidge, who now moves to ASP World No. 4 heading into the final event of the season, was a standout throughout the Rip Curl Pro Search, likening the conditions to his home break of North Stradbroke Island on Australia\u2019s Gold Coast. The well-built natural-footer secured an impressive come-from-behind win in his Semifinal today before being stopped by Fanning in the Final.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely the top guys of the event were in the top four,\u201d Durbidge said. \u201cIt was unfortunate that Owen (Wright) couldn\u2019t be in his Semifinal. Mick (Fanning) has been in incredible form the past eight weeks and he\u2019s on fire. The 10 that Joel (Parkinson) got yesterday was phenomenal, and in our heat this morning, he had me on the ropes until the end.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Runner-Up finish marks Durbidge\u2019s second of the season (collecting his first in France), and is a welcome change in momentum from a tough start to 2009. A former winner at the Billabong Pipeline Masters (2007) as well as a former Vans Triple Crown Champion (2007), Durbidge will look to finish the year strong in Hawaii.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m stoked to get second but you always want to win,\u201d Durbidge said. \u201cI have that little bit of disappointment. It was a great event for me and I won some really big heats so the confidence is really high. I love Hawaii and I haven\u2019t had my win this season yet so I\u2019m definitely keen to put one away during the final event.\u201d<\/p>\n

Owen Wright (AUS), 19, wildcard into the Rip Curl Pro Search and current No. 3 on the ASP World Qualifying Series (WQS), was a standout in Portugal, eliminating 2009 ASP Dream Tour rookie Kekoa Bacalso (HAW), 24, nine-time ASP World Champion, Kelly Slater (USA), 37, Californian new school leader Dane Reynolds (USA), 24, and current ASP World No. 9 Damien Hobgood (USA), 30, en route to his Semifinals berth against Fanning.<\/p>\n

However, tragedy would strike during his Quarterfinal win over Hobgood yesterday as the phenomenal goofy-footer suffered a horrific wipeout, rupturing his eardrum and injuring his neck. Although prepared to don a helmet this morning and take on the current ASP World No. 1, event physicians instructed the young Australian against competing.<\/p>\n

\u201dI had the injury checked out last night \u2013 there\u2019s no real bone or structural damage,\u201d Wright said. \u201cI just feel it through the neck, shoulder, knee and my ear is a bit messed up. We did some tests this morning and we all decided it was better off me not competing as I don\u2019t really have much range in my neck movement. But, it\u2019s all good \u2013 it is all fixable. I will be getting worked on twice a day and I will take a bit of time to relax. I will still go to Hawaii and hopefully get some barrels. I love it there so hopefully we get a good season.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Wright was unable to surf on the final day of competition, he emphatically made his presence felt amongst the world\u2019s best and will be a force to be reckoned with on the 2010 ASP World Tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m definitely disappointed but stoked to see Mick (Fanning) win,\u201d Wright said. \u201cStoked he got another win. I would have loved to have surfed against him, it would have been great, but I\u2019m really happy with my performance in Portugal. It was a great experience and gave me a lot of confidence heading into next year.\u201d<\/p>\n

Parkinson, who experienced what many considered to be an unbeatable start to the 2009 ASP Dream Tour season, witnessed his stranglehold on the ratings chipped away at following three, consecutive Equal 17ths sustained in California, France and Spain. Despite missing out on a Final\u2019s berth, Parkinson\u2019s Equal 3rd place finish is a welcome return to form.<\/p>\n

\u201cI am a little bit disappointed but overall I am pretty happy,\u201d Parkinson said. \u201cThird still keeps me up there and in contention for the title. I\u2019m a little bit disappointed in myself, I made one error that changed the whole heat and they are the little things that you find hard sleeping on.”<\/p>\n

Generally guarded when discussing the 2009 ASP World Title race, Parkinson is one of two contenders remaining this season, and, as the defending Vans Triple Crown Champion, will be a major player in the final event of the year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIn a few days when all the dust settles I\u2019ll look back and see that I have come off the ankle injury and a few bad results, so just to get a third and back into form is a huge confidence boost,\u201d Parkinson said. \u201cThere is not a great deal of points between me and Mick (Fanning) coming into Pipe so it\u2019s still anybody\u2019s to win.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 2009 ASP World Title has now become a two-horse race between Fanning and Parkinson and will conclude at the final event of the season, the Billabong Pipeline Masters. The scenarios for the 2009 ASP World Title are as follows:<\/p>\n

– Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake.<\/p>\n

– Fanning finishes 5th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 2nd or better to overtake.<\/p>\n

– Fanning finishes 3rd at Pipeline, Parkinson needs win the event to overtake.<\/p>\n

– Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.<\/p>\n

Although the men\u2019s event has concluded, the ASP Top 17 will have their crack at the many waves of Portugal for the Rip Curl Women\u2019s Pro Search, event No. 4 of 7 on the 2009 ASP Women\u2019s World Tour, which will commence this afternoon.<\/p>\n

Surfline, official forecasters for the 2009 Rip Curl Pro Search, are calling for the current surf to drop slightly over the next 24 hours before another swell is expected to hit the region.<\/p>\n

Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Search are available via http:\/\/live.ripcurl.com<\/p>\n

Rip Curl Pro Search online media center is available at http:\/\/www.box.net\/shared\/o3avphdb6z<\/p>\n

The Rip Curl Pro Search is partnered regionally by RTP, Eurosport, Fuel TV and ESPN Brazil, who will all be broadcasting live from Peniche throughout the event. For more information on these live television broadcasts, please visit http:\/\/live.ripcurl.com.<\/p>\n

The next and final stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pipeline Masters running on the North Shore of Hawaii from December 8 \u2013 20, 2009.<\/p>\n

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com<\/p>\n

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH FINAL RESULTS:
\n1 \u2013 Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.67
\n2 \u2013 Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.87<\/p>\n

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
\nSF 1: Bede Durbidge (AUS) 14.60 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.27
\nSF 2: Wright Withdraws Due to Injury, Fanning Advances<\/p>\n

CURRENT ASP WORLD TOUR TOP 10 (Following Rip Curl Pro Search):
\n1 \u2013 Mick Fanning (AUS) 7140 points
\n2 \u2013 Joel Parkinson (AUS) 6772 points
\n3 \u2013 Adriano de Souza (BRA) 6148 points
\n4 \u2013 Bede Durbidge (AUS) 6146 points
\n5 \u2013 C.J. Hobgood (USA) 5748 points
\n6 \u2013 Taj Burrow (AUS) 5524 points
\n7 \u2013 Kelly Slater (USA) 5514 points
\n8 \u2013 Bobby Martinez (USA) 5421 points
\n9 \u2013 Damien Hobgood (USA) 5116 points
\n10 \u2013 Jordy Smith (ZAF) 4828 points<\/p>\n

RIP CURL WOMEN\u2019S PRO SEARCH ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS
\nHeat 1: Rebecca Woods (AUS), Jacqueline Silva (BRA), Bruna Schmitz (BRA)
\nHeat 2: Melanie Bartels (HAW), Samantha Cornish (AUS), Alana Blanchard (HAW)
\nHeat 3: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), Amee Donohoe (AUS), Pauline Ado (FRA)
\nHeat 4: Silvana Lima (BRA), Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), Megan Abubo (HAW)
\nHeat 5: Sofia Mulanovich (PER), Chelsea Hedges (AUS), Jessi Miley-Dyer (AYS)
\nHeat 6: Paige Hareb (NZL), Coco Ho (HAW), Rosanne Hodge (ZAF)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Hey, look: Mick Fanning won the Rip Curl Pro Search. It is his third win this season. Is he unstoppable in this title race? If only Owen Wright hadn’t wrecked his ear drum then we’d might have a little better answer. \u201cYesterday was one of the best days of competition I\u2019ve ever seen and we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11244"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11244"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11244\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11245,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11244\/revisions\/11245"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11244"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11244"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11244"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}