Billabong Pro Stop No 5 of 11 on the 2008 ASP World Tour
Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa 10 – 20 July 2008

SUPER SLATER WINS BILLABONG PRO JEFFREYS BAY

Eight-time world champion KELLY SLATER (Coco Beach, USA) has trumped Australian MICK FANNING (Coolangatta, AUS) to win the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay for the fourth time.

The 36-year-old Floridian was on fire as the J-Bay Supertubes break turned on mind blowing 2.5m waves in early heats before deteriorating rapidly throughout the afternoon.

Both surfers struggled in the opening stages of the 35-minute final, before SLATER pounced on a clean inside wave to rack up an 8.50 score.  A series of uncharacteristic falls by reigning world champ FANNING left the door wide open for SLATER who capitalised with an 8.23 late in the match.

His combined two wave total of 16.73 to FANNING’S 9.40 was enough to clinch his fourth event victory for the year and extend his lead on the ASP World Tour Ratings.  After winning four from five events he now sits more than 1200 points clear of his closest rival Australian JOEL PARKINSON.  It was his 38th career victory and as emotions took control after the final, the best surfer of all time admitted that at 36, he feels like he is in the prime of his career.  

After blazing past defending Billabong Pro champion TAJ BURROW in the semi finals, FANNING couldn’t keep his luck rolling in the decider.  After a lacklustre start to his 2008 title defence, the man they call White Lightening has bounced back from 7th to 4th on the tour ratings with the runner up finish.  

BURROW went dangerously close to repeating his performance of 2007.  After defeating South African tour rookie JORDY SMITH in round four and then three-time world champ ANDY IRONS in the Quarter’s, his run was ended by a rampaging Fanning in the Semi’s.  

It was close to becoming an all-Aussie final after world number two JOEL PARKINSON (Coolangatta) narrowly lost to Slater in the semi’s.  Holding the heats top score of a 9.17, the stylish natural footer only needed a 5.83 score to defeat king Kelly in the dying stages.  After falling on three waves, PARKNINSON was left pondering what might have been as his opponent streamed into the final.  

Brazilian Adriano De Souza couldn’t turn the tables on SLATER in the Quarter Finals, going down to the eventual champion for the 9th consecutive time.  Despite the loss, the 21-year-old secured another equal 5th place finish, his second for the season, and sits in 6th place on the asp tour ratings.  The fast surfing natural footer is on track to becoming the highest placed Brazilian on the tour since retired pro VICTOR RIBAS finished 3rd in 1999.  

French surfer JEREMY FLORES was eliminated by ANDY IRONS in round four.  In a low scoring heat, the world number 11 only managed a total heat score of 5.23.