![\"Mick](\"http:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/uploads\/dfcf4f7a-c3d8-b944.jpg\")
\nPictured: Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009), has claimed the 2012 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach over reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40.
\nCredit: \u00a9 ASP \/ SCHOLTZ<\/p>\n
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger
\nASP World Championship Tour Event No. 2 of 10
\nRip Curl Women\u2019s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta
\nASP Women\u2019s World Championship Tour Event No. 2 of 7
\nBells Beach, Victoria, Australia
\nApril 3 – 14, 2012<\/p>\n
Mick Fanning Claims Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Slater Takes ASP Ratings\u2019 Lead<\/p>\n
\nPictured: Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009), has claimed the 2012 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach over reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40.
\nCredit: \u00a9 ASP \/ SCHOLTZ<\/p>\n
BELLS BEACH, Victoria\/Australia (Friday, April 6, 2012) \u2013 Mick Fanning (AUS), 30, has claimed the 2012 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger over reigning 11-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater (USA), 40, in offshore three-to-five foot (1 \u2013 1.5 metre) waves at Bells Beach.<\/p>\n
Event No. 2 of 10 on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach culminated in dramatic fashion today with pundits calling it the \u201cbest Final in event history.\u201d
\nThe Australian and American went blow for blow throughout the 35-minute bout, exchanging massive scores and the lead several times before the dust settled.\u201cI\u2019m so pumped,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cKelly (Slater) did that Hail Mary for the 10 and I thought, \u2018oh, here we go.\u2019 I just caught waves and I\u2019m stoked it all paid off. I\u2019m really at a loss for words and I\u2019m just pumped. It doesn\u2019t get any sweeter. The crowd\u2019s been amazing with the whole amphitheater and the history that comes with it. I always picture this event and have had some seconds over the years, so to get this one, I\u2019m so pumped.\u201d<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s win marked Fanning\u2019s 14th elite tour win and his first Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach win since 2001. It also brings the Australian\u2019s record with Slater closer to even at 7 to Kelly\u2019s 8 in their heat matchup history.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m just stoked because it\u2019s been so long,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t seem strange that it\u2019s taken so long to win another one when you\u2019ve got guys like Joel (Parkinson), Jordy (Smith) and Kelly (Slater) on tour and I usually come up just a bit short. Usually against Joel, but I got him today!\u201d
\nThis year\u2019s Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach was dedicated to the memory of three-time event winner Michael Peterson (AUS), who tragically passed away last week, and the Final was preceded by a minute\u2019s applause in memory of the great Australian.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was on the verge of tears out the back,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI just sat out the back before the Final and just took in the whole crowd. It\u2019s not everyday you\u2019ve got the crowd cheering and I could have paddled in after that, but I\u2019m glad I didn\u2019t though.\u201d<\/p>\n
Although finishing an uncharacteristic 13th at his homebreak on the Gold Coast, today\u2019s victory rockets Fanning to No. 3 on the ASP World Championship Tour rankings heading into the next event.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a bit of a meltdown at the first event,\u201d Fanning said. \u201cI knew everything was working well. I knew I just needed to go and simple things up. I took the headphones off and had a lot more fun. I knew there were going to be a lot of waves with the tide dropping out and I guess I just wanted to be on the good ones. You\u2019ve got to just believe in your judgment and I\u2019m stoked.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slater fought back from an early combination situation with an incredible full-rotation aerial for a Perfect 10. The legendary natural-footer backed it up moments later with an 8.07 to take the lead, but would only hold it briefly after an assault from Fanning. <\/p>\n
\u201cI was moving around trying to get active and I was just finding my feet,\u201d Slater said. \u201cI knew Mick (Fanning) was going to be real patient. I knew he got that start and then I tried to talk to him and he put his serious head on and pissed me off, so I thought I\u2019d throw a big rotator on him and it wasn\u2019t enough. That was pretty exciting for me. Even when he had the 9 and 8-something, I had a feeling I was in it. I felt like something good was going to come my way and it started to. I had one more chance and that was about it. I knew it was going to be a bit of a struggle with the waves out there, with the long intervals and long lulls, but that\u2019s just the way it goes.\u201d<\/p>\n
Slater\u2019s Runner-Up finish moves him back to the No. 1 spot on the ASP World Championship Tour ratings.<\/p>\n
Joel Parkinson (AUS), 30, defending Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach winner, was a standout throughout the entire event, dominating the Bells Bowl and Rincon sections with an unmatched affinity. However, the stylish natural-footer would fall to Gold Coast stable mate Fanning in the Semifinals despite an impressive array of scores.<\/p>\n
\u201cI told Mick (Fanning) to ring that thing,\u201d Parkinson said. \u201cHe beat me and I hope he beats Kelly (Slater). No one is more deserving. He\u2019s come close so many times and put more time in here than anyone. If it wasn\u2019t me, I couldn\u2019t think of anyone else I\u2019d want to see win it. We\u2019ve had lots of battles and today I couldn\u2019t get a good turn in. I was hoping for more waves and I was hoping to surf it out rather than sit it out. It\u2019d be great to see Mick win it today. He\u2019s a Kirra boy and he deserves it in memory of him, Michael (Peterson) was such a Kirra legend and Mick too, and I couldn\u2019t think of a more fitting end to the day.\u201d<\/p>\n
Parkinson\u2019s Equal 3rd today bumps him to No. 4 on the ASP World Championship Tour ratings heading into the next event.<\/p>\n
Jeremy Flores (FRA), 23, posted two massive wins today over lethal rookie John John Florence (AUS), 19, and form goofy-footer Owen Wright (AUS), 22. The young Frenchmen dissected the Bells walls with unmatched precision, but a priority interference in his Semifinal bout with Slater would see Flores bundled out with an Equal 3rd.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m disappointed with the result,\u201d Flores said. \u201cI feel like I was surfing really well and I didn\u2019t agree with the interference call. That\u2019s surfing though so I just have to brush it off and focus on the next one.\u201d<\/p>\n
Highlights from the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach will be available via http:\/\/live.ripcurl.com <\/p>\n
Event organizers will reconvene tomorrow morning at 7am and assess conditions for a possible 7:30am start to the Rip Curl Women\u2019s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta.<\/p>\n
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com<\/p>\n
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
\n1 \u2013 Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.80
\n2 \u2013 Kelly Slater (USA) 18.07<\/p>\n
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
\nSF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.10 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 7.83
\nSF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.83 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.43<\/p>\n
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
\nQF 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.06 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.66
\nQF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.97 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.10
\nQF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.00 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.27
\nQF 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.63 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.63<\/p>\n
RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 5 RESULTS:
\nHeat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.93 def. John John Florence (HAW) 14.00
\nHeat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.40 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.36
\nHeat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.27 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.90
\nHeat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.27 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.04<\/p>\n
CURRENT ASP TOP 3 (After Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach):
\n1. Kelly Slater (USA) 13,200 pts
\n2. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12,000 pts
\n3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 11,750 pts
\n3. Mick Fanning (AUS) 11,750 pts<\/p>\n
RIP CURL WOMEN\u2019S PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 4 RESULTS:
\nHeat 1: Sarah Mason (NZL) 15.84 def. Paige Hareb (NZL) 13.94
\nHeat 2: Stephanie Gilmore (AUS) 17.17 def. Laura Enever (AUS) 8.90
\nHeat 3: Coco Ho (HAW) 15.77 def. Courtney Conlogue (USA) 14.50
\nHeat 4: Lakey Peterson (USA) 15.43 def. Sofia Mulanovich (PER) 11.73<\/p>\n
RIP CURL WOMEN\u2019S PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL MATCH-UPS:
\nQF 1: Tyler Wright (AUS) vs. Sarah Mason (NZL)
\nQF 2: Malia Manuel (HAW) vs. Stephanie Gilmore (AUS)
\nQF 3: Carissa Moore (HAW) vs. Coco Ho (HAW)
\nQF 4: Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS) vs. Lakey Peterson (USA)<\/p>\n
For additional Rip Curl videos and images please visit https:\/\/ripcurl.box.com\/2012ripcurlprobellsbeach<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger ASP World Championship Tour Event No. 2 of 10 Rip Curl Women\u2019s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta ASP Women\u2019s World Championship Tour Event No. 2 of 7 Bells Beach, Victoria, Australia April 3 – 14, 2012 Mick Fanning Claims Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, … Continue reading “Mick Fanning Claims Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, Slater Takes ASP Ratings\u2019 Lead”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[24],"class_list":["post-13971","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-asp-surfing-news","tag-surfing-news-archive"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13971","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13971"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13971\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13971"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13971"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.saltwater-dreaming.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13971"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}