Next Previous

Mick wins the Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach

After an 11-year hiatus, Mick Fanning has re-claimed the Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach title. He beat Kelly Slater in the final in front of a throbbing crowd. Kelly, who threw one of the best full-rotes ever seen in competition during the battle, now leads the ratings for the title race. Y’can kiss goodbye any doubt about whether the champ was gonna stay on tour this year.

Mick rarely put a foot wrong during the event, clocking frequent nines and combo’ing everyone he faced. An MP dedication and face full of champagne later and he’s back in the zone after a bumpy 12 months – props to the man. “I’m so pumped,” said Mick. “Kelly did that Hail Mary for the 10 and I thought, ‘oh, here we go.’ I just caught waves and I’m stoked it all paid off. I’m really at a loss for words and I’m just pumped. It doesn’t get any sweeter. The crowd’s been amazing with the whole amphitheater and the history that comes with it. I always picture this event and have had some seconds over the years, so to get this one, I’m so pumped.”

Read the full story over here.

Photographer profile

Ryan Miller

Ryan Miller, 33 years old, does not know how to write a bad email. Your pals at Stab have learnt to live vicariously through Miller’s red wine-fuelled letters from the road. His travels take him to some dreamy locales and, in those places, he scores all-time photos: “My favourite photo I’ve shot was of Benny Bourgeois in the Caribbean, with a fisheye. Often I just take photos, but rarely do I get to make one.” In an age of tail-highs and released fins, Ryan still most likes to shoot someone who can lay-down a big backside turn. Namely: Jordy Smith, Dane Reynolds, Gabe Kling, Kekoa Bacalso, Damien Hobgood and Peter Mendia. Like most photogs, Miller misses Scott Aichner’s work. But, as far as contemporary inspiration? “Trying to see things through my daughter’s eyes. It’s wild to think about someone experiencing something totally new on almost a daily basis when, as adults, we rarely get to experience something truly new.”

More photos from Ryan Miller
Visit Ryan Miller's site here