Mick Fanning wint de Billabong Pro Tahiti

De finale van het evenement was tussen de twee landgenoten Mick Fanning en Joel Parkinson. In de finale wist Joel Parkinson al vroeg op een voorsprong te komen door een 9.50 en een 8.87 te scoren op zijn eerste twee golven. Mick Fanning wist echter terug te komen met een 9.37 en later met een 9.50 hij wist zijn voorsprong tot het einde van de heat vol te houden.

“It’s a 35 minute Final so I knew the waves were going to come,” Aldus Mick Fanning. “I just had to be patient. It’s Teahupo’o so it goes on and off. You can get two 10s in two minutes so I knew I just needed to keep my composure throughout the Final. Joel (Parkinson) is such an incredible surfer and he’s gotten so good out here. He raced out to an early lead and I knew I needed to focus on my own game plan. I got that good score about mid-heat and then was able to sell him when he had priority on one that didn’t pan out for him. The second wave was the one and it’s an incredible feeling to come back and get the win. I’m stoked.”

De overwinning van de Billabong Pro Tahiti is alweer de vijftiende event overwinning in de carrière van Mick Fanning. En met deze overwinning plaatst hij zichzelf op nummer 1 van de ASP Rankings.

“Teahupo’o is one of the spots that I’ve worked hard on throughout my career to improve at,” legt Mick Fanning uit. “I made a Final out here before, but to come away with the win is great for my confidence and I’m in a good position heading into the next half of the year. Early days though and there are a lot of guys right up there. It’s still anyone’s game at this point.”

Ondanks zijn verlies in de finale heeft Joel Parkinson bewezen één van ´s werelds beste backhand tube-riders te zijn.

“I held the lead in a 35-minute Final until the four minute mark,” aldus Joel Parkinson. “It’s frustrating to lose that way, but you cannot fault Mick (Fanning). He’s been a true champion through the event and has proven that he’s one to watch out at Teahupo’o for sure.”

Joel Parkinson staat momenteel tweede op de ASP Rankings.

“It’s the second Final of the year for me and another good result,” legt Joel Parkinson uit. “I feel like I’m strong at all the remaining events on tour and I’ll shake this one off and start focusing on Trestles.”

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De volgende stop van de ASP World Tour is de Hurley Pro bij Trestles van 16-22 september.

Meer informatie zie: www.ASPWorldTour.com

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI FINAL RESULTATEN:

1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.87
2 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.37

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI SEMIFINAL RESULTATEN:

QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.93 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 18.10
QF 2: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.14 def. John John Florence (HAW) 15.17

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI QUARTERFINAL RESULTATEN:

QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 19.07 def. Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 18.64
QF 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 18.90 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 15.60
QF 3: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.50 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 16.43
QF 4: John John Florence (HAW) 16.17 def. Gabriel Medina (BRA) 4.17

BILLABONG PRO TAHITI ROUND 5 RESULTATEN:

Heat 1: Ricardo dos Santos (BRA) 16.17 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 10.27
Heat 2: Owen Wright (AUS) 18.96 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 10.70
Heat 3: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 15.66 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 9.50
Heat 4: John John Florence (HAW) 16.66 def. Damien Hobgood (USA) 14.64

ASP RANKING (NA DE BILLABONG PRO TAHITI):

1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 34,750 pts
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 31,700 pts
3. John John Florence (HAW) 27,450 pts
4. Kelly Slater (USA) 25,450 pts
5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 24,950 pts