{"id":12174,"date":"2009-12-07T15:10:24","date_gmt":"2009-12-07T23:10:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=12174"},"modified":"2009-12-07T15:10:37","modified_gmt":"2009-12-07T23:10:37","slug":"aussie-showdown-at-the-pipeline-masters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/?p=12174","title":{"rendered":"Aussie Showdown At The Pipeline Masters"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mfjpasp09(Cestari)Big\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The ASP<\/strong> is playing up The Billabong Pipeline Masters<\/a><\/strong> battle of surf titans (which could begin tomorrow) with good reason, but here is the lowdown on the title race between Mick Fanning<\/strong> and Joel Parkinson<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

– Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake.
\n– Fanning finishes 5th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 2nd or better to overtake.
\n– Fanning finishes 3rd at Pipeline, Parkinson needs win the event to overtake.
\n– If Fanning finishes 2nd or better at Pipeline, he will clinch the 2009 ASP World Title.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We know Parko edged him at Sunset, but our money is on Mick Fanning. Follow the jump for all the details in the official press release.
\nShowdown for the ASP Crown at Billabong Pipeline Masters<\/p>\n

PIPELINE, Oahu\/Hawaii (Sunday, December 6, 2009) \u2013 After nine events on the 2009 ASP Dream Tour, the race for the ASP World Title will culminate in a showdown between two lifelong friends at the final event of the season, the Billabong Pipeline Masters from December 8 \u2013 20, 2009.<\/p>\n

Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, will face Gold Coast stable mate and current ASP World No. 2, Joel Parkinson (AUS), 28, in the hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title as the two battle a minefield of the world\u2019s best surfers and Pipe specialists at the Billabong Pipeline Masters.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a few years since the ASP Title has come down to Pipe and I\u2019m really stoked that it\u2019s between myself and Joel (Parkinson),\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI guess it\u2019s like a dream come true coming down to Pipeline and I\u2019m really excited. There isn\u2019t going to be any sand on the reef and hopefully we get a couple of really good days.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Parkinson mounted an impressive assault throughout the first half of the year, an ankle injury sustained while training in Bali saw the Australian\u2019s lead dwindle before being overtaken by Fanning, who has won three of the last four events.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve built up momentum throughout the back half of the year starting at Trestles, and I\u2019m in the lead,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI guess all of the pressure is on Joel now because he needs to get a third. I\u2019m just concentrating on myself and am going to try and make as many heats as possible and make it as hard as possible for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

If Fanning\u2019s incendiary performances this season are any indication, the lightning-fast natural-footer will be a force to be reckoned with heading into the final event, but Pipeline\u2019s elusive and at-times dangerous nature will ultimately decide the victor.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess surfing Pipeline is like meeting a really big guy in a dark alley and sometimes you escape and sometimes you can\u2019t,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cIt\u2019s intimidating. Everyone\u2019s on the beach watching and you\u2019ve got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Fanning possesses a solid ratings\u2019 lead, Parkinson remains collected heading into the final bout of the year, and will draw upon his preternatural affinity with the wave at Pipeline to put forth his best effort.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s definitely exciting to see the ASP title come down to Pipe,\u201d Parkinson said. \u201cMick (Fanning) was in form all throughout Sunset and I feel like I\u2019m in form as well and it\u2019s going to be a great match-up. Pipeline is one of the most awesome waves ever. It\u2019s close to the beach. It\u2019s a natural amphitheatre and it\u2019s only 50 yards out and you\u2019re surfing a wave that could kill you, so it\u2019s pretty exciting.\u201d<\/p>\n

In addition to hunting down his inaugural ASP World Title, Parkinson is also out to defend his Vans Triple Crown Title \u2013 a feat made easier with an emphatic win at Sunset Beach yesterday.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited to defend my Vans Triple Crown title,\u201d Parkinson said. \u201cAfter losing Haleiwa in the Quarterfinals, I thought I\u2019d have to win Sunset and my focus wasn\u2019t 100 percent on the Triple Crown anymore, it was more on Pipe, but now that I\u2019ve won Sunset I\u2019d love to win the Vans Triple Crown again.\u201d<\/p>\n

The scenarios for the 2009 ASP World Title heading into the Billabong Pipeline Masters 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

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

Surfline, official forecasters for the Vans Triple Crown, are projecting for the current fetch of 20-25 foot surf to build through tomorrow before declining over the next several days.<\/p>\n

Event organizers will convene tomorrow at 6:30am to assess conditions for a possible 8am start.<\/p>\n

The Billabong Pipeline Masters will be webcast LIVE via www.billabongpro.com and www.triplecrownofsurfing.com<\/p>\n

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

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 1 MATCH-UPS:
\nHeat 1: Jihad Khodr (BRA) vs. Gavin Gillette (HAW)
\nHeat 2: Gabe Kling (USA) vs. Kalani Chapman (HAW)
\nHeat 3: Andy Irons (HAW) vs. Marcus Hickman (HAW)
\nHeat 4: Aritz Aranburu (EUK) vs. Dusty Payne (HAW)
\nHeat 5: Nathaniel Curran (USA) vs. Liam McNamara (HAW)
\nHeat 6: David Weare (ZAF) vs. Hank Gaskell (HAW)
\nHeat 7: Bruce Irons (HAW) vs. Reed McIntosh (HAW)
\nHeat 8: Nic Muscroft (AUS) vs. Sunny Garcia (HAW)
\nHeat 9: Michael Picon (FRA) vs. Manoa Drollet (PYF)
\nHeat 10: Shane Dorian (HAW) vs. Kamalei Alexander (HAW)
\nHeat 11: Dayyan Neve (AUS) vs. Jonah Morgan (HAW)
\nHeat 12: Luke Stedman (AUS) vs. Flynn Novak (HAW)
\nHeat 13: Dustin Barca (HAW) vs. Sion Miloski (HAW)
\nHeat 14: John John Florence (HAW) vs. Danny Fuller (HAW)
\nHeat 15: Jay Thompson (AUS) vs. Mason Ho (HAW)
\nHeat 16: Phillip MacDonald (AUS) vs. Jamie O\u2019Brien (HAW)<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 2 MATCH-UPS:
\nHeat 1: Chris Davidson (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 2: Roy Powers (HAW) vs. TBA
\nHeat 3: Greg Emslie (ZAF) vs. TBA
\nHeat 4: Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) vs. TBA
\nHeat 5: Tim Reyes (USA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 6: Tiago Pires (PRT) vs. TBA
\nHeat 7: Josh Kerr (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 8: Kai Otton (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 9: Dean Morrison (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 10: Chris Ward (USA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 11: Michel Bourez (PYF) vs. TBA
\nHeat 12: Heitor Alves (BRA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 13: Mick Campbell (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 14: Tim Boal (FRA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 15: Ben Dunn (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 16: Drew Courtney (AUS) vs. TBA<\/p>\n

BILLABONG PIPELINE MASTERS ROUND 3 MATCH-UPS:
\nHeat 1: Adrian Buchan (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 3: Damien Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 4: Bobby Martinez (USA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 5: Adriano de Souza (BRA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 7: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) vs. TBA
\nHeat 8: Kelly Slater (USA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 9: Bede Durbidge (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 10: Kieren Perrow (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 11: Taj Burrow (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 12: Jordy Smith (ZAF) vs. TBA
\nHeat 13: Taylor Knox (USA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 14: C.J. Hobgood (USA) vs. TBA
\nHeat 15: Joel Parkinson (AUS) vs. TBA
\nHeat 16: Dane Reynolds (USA) vs. TBA<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The ASP is playing up The Billabong Pipeline Masters battle of surf titans (which could begin tomorrow) with good reason, but here is the lowdown on the title race between Mick Fanning and Joel Parkinson: – Fanning finishes 33rd through a 9th at Pipeline, Parkinson needs a 3rd or better to overtake. – Fanning finishes […]<\/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\/12174"}],"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=12174"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12174\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12175,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12174\/revisions\/12175"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=12174"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=12174"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.boardistan.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=12174"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}