The world title race just got very interesting after Mick Fanning (AUS) cruised to victory over Jordy Smith (ZAF) in the final of the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal. The win is Mick’s third on tour this year, which equals current ratings leader Gabriel Medina’s tally for the season. The result has also given him a genuine shot at the title with just the Billabong Pipeline Masters left to contest. To clinch his fourth world title, Mick will be hoping that both Kelly Slater (USA) and Gabriel (BRA) lose early – like they did in Portugal – and that he goes on to record a solid result at Pipe. The latter is exactly what the reigning ASP champ did last year to clinch his third.
Jordy Smith has been on fire in the back half of the 2014 season.
In the final, Jordy only managed to register one scoring ride. That doesn’t tell the whole story though, because if one more good looking bump had come his way then victory could have been his. So Jordy waited for a wave that he could grab a good score on (he needed a 7.84), but it unfortunately never came. The ocean is impossible to control and sometimes you get lucky, while other times you don’t. Jordy didn’t in this case.
He did combo John John Florence in the semi-finals though, which was about as big a statement you could make apart from winning the event. The Hawaiian had been the talk of the contest throughout as he bagged Perfect 10 point ride after Perfect 10 point ride, but Jordy had his number in the semis. That semi final win did ensure that Jordy claimed the Cascais trophy for his performance in both the Cascais Billabong Pro Prime event and the Moche Rip Curl Pro. It’s kinda like the Portuguese triple crown, except it’s just two events. The win netted Jordy US$50 000, which made second place a lot easier to swallow.
Kai Otten secured his spot on next year’s tour with another solid performance in Portugal.
Reigning Moche Rip Curl Pro champ, Kai Otten (AUS) almost made it into back-to-back finals. He was another standout throughout the event and got barrelled all the way into the semi finals, where he was eventually beaten by Mick Fanning. The result secured his spot on the Dream Tour for next season, so he’ll definitely be stoked on that performance.
For all the heat reviews, results and highlights from the Moche Rip Curl Pro go to aspworldtour.com
Fanning’s 9.00 in the final was a joke. It was nothing more than a 7.5. That said, Jordy was idle and could have been more active. There is something wrong with the asp judging if Fanning wins the title. Fanning’s surfing hasn’t changed in years and lacks the scoring criteria set out by the asp. Fanning is the new Damian Hardmann.
“That doesn’t tell the whole story though, because if one more good looking bump had come his way then victory could have been his”
What shite… in those conditions an 8 was few and far between.
Letting Fanning get the winning wave whilst Smith had priority was his downfall… and that was the second time in comp he played the priority game poorly…
That said… congrats on the last quarter revival Jordy… it has been awesome…
Now let’s go and dominate in some waves of consequence which has always been the Achilles heel…