Fanning stays alive as Pro finals beckon

THE Rip Curl Pro was called off for the day yesterday (Wednesday) with improved conditions projected for an exciting Finals Day today (Thursday) at Bells Beach, and the retiring Mick Fanning is still in the hunt.

World Surf League (WSL) commissioner Kieren Perrow said some clean waves came through yesterday but more promising conditions were on the horizon.

“There are only 10 heats remaining, so we want to ensure they are run in the best possible conditions, and we believe that those conditions will come on Thursday.

“Tune in today as we look to crown our two event winners in great waves at the Bells Bowl.”

In the second stop on the WSL Championship Tour (CT), Caroline Marks – the youngest competitor to ever qualify for the CT – will surf the biggest heat of her life when the 16-year-old takes on six-time WSL Champion Stephanie Gilmore in semifinal two.

2009 Bells winner Silvana Lima will battle to continue her epic form when she takes on event standout Tatiana Weston-Webb in semifinal one.

Men’s quarterfinal two will see a bittersweet result for Aussie surf fans and Fanning, the outgoing legend and three-time World Champion, who comes up against countryman and good friend Owen Wright.

2014 WSL Champion Gabriel Medina wants a solid result when he takes on Frederico Morais in the last heat of the men’s quarterfinals.

Event organisers will reconvene this morning at 6.15am for a possible 6.30am start.

On Tuesday, all but three of the WSL World Champions were dispatched, with John John Florence, Joel Parkinson, Adriano de Souza, and Carissa Moore knocked out.

Fanning took to the water at Winkipop in Round 4 Heat 2 to edge closer to a fairytale fifth Bells trophy in the last event of his competitive career. He fought off fellow Rip Curl surfer Matt Wilkinson and comeback kid Patrick Gudauskas, and is now the only surfer left in the men’s draw that has rung the bell before.

“The heat wasn’t too nerve-racking as I was out there with my mates,” he said. “I knew if I lost, at least I was surrounded by some good mates.

“I made that bad decision early giving Wilko (Matt Wilkinson) that wave, but I’m stoked I started to get some good waves after that. I’m really enjoying what I’m doing and getting to surf against my friends has been great. I don’t mind when I go out, just as long as I’m getting waves.”