Rip Curl Pro - Bells Beach 2012

DAY ONE MEN’S HIGHLIGHTS

The second stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach culminates the crucial, season-opening Australian leg for the world’s best surfers and today saw the top seeds dominate the opening round affairs in variable conditions.

DAY ONE WOMEN’S HIGHLIGHTS

Running in conjunction with the men’s event, Round 1 of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta was completed this morning in clean three-to-four foot (1 metre) waves at Bells Beach.

DAY TWO MEN’S HIGHLIGHTS

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger, the second stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, roared back to life today with clean three-to-five foot (1—1.5 metre) waves gracing the Rincon and Bowl sections from dawn to dusk.

DAY TWO WOMEN’S HIGHLIGHTS

Following the completion of the men’s Rounds 1 and 2, the world’s best female surfers took to the water for Round 2 of the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta.

DAY THREE MEN’S HIGHLIGHTS

The Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Ranger, the second stop on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour, enjoyed another full day of action with the world’s best surfers lighting up the clean four-to-six foot (1.5—2 metre) waves on offer at Bells Beach.

DAY THREE WOMEN’S HIGHLIGHTS

Following the completion of the men’s Round 3 and 4, the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta saw the girls smash up the solid waves on offer at the Bells Bowl for the non-elimination Round 3.

MEN’S QUARTER FINALS

HEAT ONE

1st Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.06
2nd Owen Wright (AUS) 13.66

HEAT TWO

1st Kelly Slater (USA) 17.97
2nd Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.10

HEAT THREE

1st Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.00
2nd Kai Otton (AUS) 10.27

HEAT FOUR

1st Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.63
2nd Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.63

MEN’S SEMI FINALS

HEAT ONE

1st Kelly Slater (USA) 15.10
2nd Jeremy Flores (FRA) 7.83

HEAT TWO

1st Mick Fanning (AUS)
2nd Joel Parkinson (AUS)

MEN’S FINAL

The Australian Mick Fanning and American Kelly Slater went blow for blow throughout the 35-minute bout, exchanging massive scores and the lead several times before the dust settled.

1st Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.80
2nd Kelly Slater (USA) 18.07

MICK FANNING WINS 2012 RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH

Torquay, AUSTRALIA (April 6th, 2012) - In off-shore three-to-five foot waves, Dragon’s Mick Fanning today triumphed over Kelly Slater to win the 2012 Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro. Fanning and Slater kept the intensity high in an epic final that some are calling the best in event history, exchanging massive scores and the lead several times throughout. Kelly fought back from Mick’s early major score postings with an incredible full-rotation aerial, scoring a Perfect 10. In the end, however, Mick’s consistently solid rides proved too strong, posting an overall score of 18.80 over Kelly’s 18.07 in event No. 2 of the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour.

“I’m so pumped,” Fanning said. “I’m really at a loss for words. It doesn’t get any sweeter. The crowd’s 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’m so pumped.”

Today’s win is Fanning’s 14th elite tour win and his first win at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach since 2001. Mick has been part of the Dragon family for over ten years and last year launched his signature sunglass, the Mick Fanning Shield.

Along with Mick Fanning, Dragon’s surf team family includes ASP standouts, Owen Wright, Brett Simpson, Ace Buchan and Taylor Knox, as well as next generation surfers Evan Geiselman, Noa Deane and Beau Foster.

WOMEN’S FINAL HIGHLIGHTS

Sally Fitzgibbons (AUS), 21, has claimed victory at the 2012 Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach presented by Ford Fiesta over Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), 24, in offshore four-to-five foot (1.5 metre) waves at Bells Beach…