Mick Fanning Claims Back-to-Back Contests, Wins Quik Pro France

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September 28, 2009

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Photo: Willbailey/Quiksilver
Fanning in winning form.

Mick Fanning just claimed his second consecutive ASP Dream Tour event, winning the 2009 Quiksilver Pro France over fellow finalist Bede Durbidge in punchy one-to-three foot waves at Les Bourdaines. Quiksilver Pro officials opted to utilize Sunday's swell to complete the event given the grim surf forecast for the remainder of the waiting period. Despite the challenging conditions, the world's best surfers blended their rapid-fire approach with progressive fin-free and aerial surfing.

Photo: Willbailey/Quiksilver
The champ being carried to the beach.

To everyone's dismay, current number one Joel Parkinson bowed out early to local wildcard, Patrick Beven. It seems like Parko is almost trying to give away his world title hopes by posting 17ths in the past two contests. With the win, Mick further cements himself in second position on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, cutting the distance between himself and Parko from 936 points (pre-France) to a scant 146 points heading into Spain.

Photo: Willbailey/Quiksilver
Mick could get used to these celebrations.

"It's back on," Fanning said. "Everyone thought Joel (Parkinson) was going to run away with it and it's unfortunate for him that he fell out early, but I've put in a lot of work to get these last two wins and I'm just psyched on heading into the rest of the season."

Photo: Chauche/Quiksilver
Jordy getting weird.

Durbidge was his typically consistent self throughout the final day of competition, eliminating Dane Reynolds, Ben Dunn and local Patrick Beven en route to the Final. Although he surfed well, Bede couldn't overcome Fanning's speed in the trying conditions. Durbidge's Runner-Up finish rockets him from 7th to 4th on the 2009 ASP World Tour ratings, placing him in solid position heading into the remainder of the year.

Photo: Rabejac/Quiksilver
Taj boosting backside.

"That's good news (ratings jump) but my goal is just to finish the year off good and be in a good position to start next year," Durbidge said. "I would like to finish the year inside the Top 5 for sure so I hope to keep things rolling."

Tiago Pires halted what many considered to be the event favorite when he eliminated nine-time ASP World Champion Kelly Slater in the Quarterfinals. While the Floridian opened up with some fluid-yet-explosive surfing on his backhand to amass a daunting 17.43 out of a possible 20 heat total, it was Pires who would answer back with a 9.57 followed by a 8.13 to take the heat.

Photo: Rabejac/Quiksilver
Bede en route to a 2nd place finish.

The hunt for the 2009 ASP World Title has become even more interesting with the early elimination of frontrunner Parkinson and the win from Fanning. They'll battle other top seeds C.J. Hobgood, Durbidge and Slater as the ASP Dream Tour continues the European leg at the Billabong Pro in Mundaka, Spain, running October 5-17.

Photo: Willbailey/Quiksilver
Kelly threw down too.