Mick fanning wins the 2013 asp world tour

Translation: Heido Sundstrom

Australian surfer, Mick Fanning, wins his third world title and reaches the top of the world rankings of the 2013 ASP tour, scoring the points necessary to become champion at this year’s final event of the tour, the Billabong Pipe Masters (in memory of Andy Irons), in a tight competition against Kelly Slater.

Fanning faced the fifth round against American surfer, CJ Hobgood, and the quarterfinals defined his title against compatriot, Yadin Nicol, closing his campaign for this year’s world surfing crown.

In an interview, Fanning referred to the fifth round in his bout with Hobgood: “It wasn’t easy, if you want to win the world title, you have to put everything on the line, which is basically what I did during the full 28 minutes of the heat. I heard all guys whistling on the beach and I knew it was going to be a good year, I waited for the right time and without a doubt, it was a magical moment for me.”

When faced against his compatriot Nicol in the decisive quarterfinals, Fanning found himself at a disadvantage early on against his Australian opponent, who had accumulated a series of high scores in Pipeline. Fanning needed an excellent score in the final moments of the heat in order to achieve his goal. He suddenly dropped in on a second set of waves and rode a tremendously deep barrel before being spit out of the canal. With a crowd of fans and media applauding from shore, Fanning awaited the judgment of his final wave—a 9.70 out 10! The score was just what he needed to win the heat and the highly sought after 2013 ASP World Title.

“The World Title is something that takes an entire year, but sometimes it can feel like it comes down to the final day and the final heats,” Fanning said. “I’m sure I gave my wife and mom, Karissa, enough stress today to last the rest of their lives. I never worried about what I thought or myself. I knew what I had to do and if the opportunity came, I knew I could do it. That opportunity came in both heats today. It’s an amazing feeling. I’ve been having fun all year and to have a day like this in Pipeline makes it that much more special.”

FANNING’S 2013 ASP WORLD TOUR RESULTS:

Quiksilver Gold Coast Pro: 3rd Place
Rip Curl Bells Beach Pro: 5th Place
Billabong Rio Pro: 3rd Place
Volcom Fiji Pro: Runner -Up
Oakley Bali Pro: 5th Place
Billabong Tahiti Pro: 3rd Place
Hurley Trestles Pro: 9th Place
Quiksilver France Pro: WINNER
Portugal Rip Curl: 5th Place
Billabong Pipe Masters: