From big upsets to Mick Fanning's (AUS) triumph, the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal shook up the World Title race. It now comes down to the wire and the final event of the year, the Billabong Pipe Masters, where three surfers - Gabriel Medina, Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater - will have a chance to win professional surfing's most coveted prize.
The World No. 1 reflects on the heat, Title race implications, and what's next.
The 2014 Title race scenarios are now as follows:
If Medina finishes 2nd or better at the Billabong Pipe Masters, he will clinch the 2014 ASP World Title.
If Medina finishes 3rd at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 5th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 9th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to finish 2nd or better and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 13th or 25th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to finish 3rd to win or 5th to send the title race into a one-heat “surf-off†between himself and Medina.
If Medina finishes 13th or 25th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to finish third or better, and Slater will need to win the event.
Note: The 2014 ASP World Championship Tour rankings are based on a surfer's best nine results out of 11 events.
The Moche Rip Curl Pro dealt some heavy blows to the Tour's top two surfers. Rankings leader Gabriel Medina (BRA) suffered an early exit at the hands of Brett Simpson in Round 3, ending his chance of claiming a historic World Championship in Portugal, and sending the Title race to Pipe. World No. 2 Kelly Slater (USA) was knocked out in the very next heat, by Spaniard Aritz Aranburu.
Fanning's event win, meanwhile, bumps Kelly Slater (USA) back a spot in the rankings from World No. 2 to No. 3. While he couldn't capitalize on Medina's loss in Peniche, Slater remains in contention to claim his 12th World Title in Hawaii.
The 11-time World Champ comments on his early exit at the Moche Rip Curl Pro.
In addition to Medina and Slater's eliminations, current ASP World No. 4 Joel Parkinson (AUS) was also knocked out of the competition in the Round 3 at the hands Adam Melling (AUS), ending the 2012 ASP World Champion's run at a second Title this season. John John Florence (HAW), Taj Burrow (AUS) and Michel Bourez (PYF) are also out of the race after their respective results.
Joel Parkinson talks to Rosy Hodge about his Round 3 elimination at the Moche Rip Curl Pro.
The event window for the Billabong Pipe Masters is December 8-20, 2014. Tune in to catch all the action LIVE.
Men's World Title Scenarios
WSL
From big upsets to Mick Fanning's (AUS) triumph, the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal shook up the World Title race. It now comes down to the wire and the final event of the year, the Billabong Pipe Masters, where three surfers - Gabriel Medina, Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater - will have a chance to win professional surfing's most coveted prize.
The 2014 Title race scenarios are now as follows:
If Medina finishes 2nd or better at the Billabong Pipe Masters, he will clinch the 2014 ASP World Title.
If Medina finishes 3rd at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 5th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to win the event and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 9th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to finish 2nd or better and Slater will be out of contention.
If Medina finishes 13th or 25th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to finish 3rd to win or 5th to send the title race into a one-heat “surf-off†between himself and Medina.
If Medina finishes 13th or 25th at the Billabong Pipe Masters, Fanning will need to finish third or better, and Slater will need to win the event.
Note: The 2014 ASP World Championship Tour rankings are based on a surfer's best nine results out of 11 events.
The Moche Rip Curl Pro dealt some heavy blows to the Tour's top two surfers. Rankings leader Gabriel Medina (BRA) suffered an early exit at the hands of Brett Simpson in Round 3, ending his chance of claiming a historic World Championship in Portugal, and sending the Title race to Pipe. World No. 2 Kelly Slater (USA) was knocked out in the very next heat, by Spaniard Aritz Aranburu.
Fanning's event win, meanwhile, bumps Kelly Slater (USA) back a spot in the rankings from World No. 2 to No. 3. While he couldn't capitalize on Medina's loss in Peniche, Slater remains in contention to claim his 12th World Title in Hawaii.
In addition to Medina and Slater's eliminations, current ASP World No. 4 Joel Parkinson (AUS) was also knocked out of the competition in the Round 3 at the hands Adam Melling (AUS), ending the 2012 ASP World Champion's run at a second Title this season. John John Florence (HAW), Taj Burrow (AUS) and Michel Bourez (PYF) are also out of the race after their respective results.
The event window for the Billabong Pipe Masters is December 8-20, 2014. Tune in to catch all the action LIVE.
Mick Fanning
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