Kelly Slater lays a classic snap at his favorite
break. Photo jsullivan

2nd place finisher Joel Parkinson blasts a huge air
in the quarterfinals and gives the pirates a show.
Photo jsulliva

Mick Fanning takes to the air and finished equal 3rd
- preserving his world tour #1 ranking. Photo
jsullivan11-time world champion Kelley Slater won his 50th ASP World Tour event today at the Hurley Pro in San Clemente, CA - the 6th stop of the 2012 ASP World Tour.

Facing world number 2 ranked Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the final, Slater showed why he remains the world's most accomplished surfer. Catching nine waves to Parkinson's four, Slater dominated the heat, executing powerful turns, technical aerials and securing the two high scores he needed for the win in a heat marked by inconsistent wave frequency.

"I've had so many good years at Lowers. I feel the pressure is really on to make the final," Slater remarked. "It's cool to win the 50th one here. I won my first event as a pro here. It feels like a nice wrap up for me. It's nice."

Overall the final day of competition saw solid 4-6 foot waves rolling across the famed cobblestone reef at Lower Trestles, southern California's most prized surf break.

RELATED - HURLEY PRO 2012 - FINAL DAY GALLERY

Mick Fanning who came into the event ranked number 1 after his his victory at last month's Billabong Pro in Tahiti looked strong throughout the four days of competition. He defeated fellow Australian Julian Wilson and Taj Burrow early Thursday en route the semi finals. But the world's top ranked surfer could not out pace the world's best surfer, Kelly Slater, who controlled the heat and spoiled Fanning's hope for a Tahiti finals rematch against Parkinson.

"I was having trouble picking waves," Fanning said. "It was a tricky lineup, which is uncharacteristic for Trestles...but I'm happy overall with a 3rd."

Parkinson had hoped Fanning's loss to Slater in the semis would open a window for him to take the overall tour lead, but that required a win. Unfortunately the wave starved final left parkinson with slim pickins.

"It's a good result. I really thought I was on a good run this week. Every time I paddled out I had a lot of waves, but sure enough (for the final) it was a slow one."

Despite finishing runner-up Parkinson moves closer to tour leader Mick Fanning. With four events remaining both are poised to make a run for the title.

Slater, who now sits 3rd in tour rankings, has surfed world class waves across the globe, could not say enough about his luck at Trestles - having won here six times.

"I've always loved Lowers...it's the first point break I ever surfed. You get long rides and can pretty much do anything in your repertoire. It really is a skate ramp for surfing."

Known as a high performance wave, the break at Lower Trestles is named after a nearby Amtrak train trestle and sits within a protected estuary and CA state park. It came under threat in 2008 via a proposed toll road development, which was subsequently defeated by a "Save Trestles" coalition of surfing enthusiasts, community activists and environmental groups like the Surfrider Foundation.

 

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