Mick Fanning beats Kelly Slater at Bells Beach
Thursday, April 5, 2012
BELLS BEACH, Victoria (AP) -- Australia's Mick Fanning won the Rip Curl Pro on Friday, beating 11-time world surfing champion Kelly Slater in the final.
Fanning overcame a perfect 10 ride by the 40-year-old American superstar to claim his first Bells Beach victory since he won as a teenage wildcard in 2001.
Fanning's scores of 9.7 and 9.1 denied Slater, who scored a 10 and an 8.07, a record fifth title at the iconic Victorian beach.
Earlier Fanning had disposed of Australian duo Kai Otton in the quarterfinals and defending champion Joel Parkinson in the semis.
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