Mick Fanning Wins 2012 Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach

“I do airs!” joked Mick Fanning in the commentators box, after winning the 2012 Rip Curl Pro, Bells Beach and ascending the winding Bells stairs. Wedged between Sean Doherty and Taylor Knox, Mick laughed as he watched himself do a double-grab in the shorebreak of Bells – a closing move on his first scoring ride. And, one that’d eventually take him to victory over Kelly Slater.

And Kelly wasn’t so happy, immediately following the heat. After throwing a full-rote (pictured below) for a perfect 10, then backing up with a fistful of wraps and a shorepound reverse on his next scoring ride, Kelly thought he’d done enough. But, the judges liked Mick’s backup better. And on the way in, Kelly asked Stephen Bell, “What they fuck?” before jamming the nose of his board into the stair handrail. A rare show of anger from the champ but an oddly pleasing one – he’s totally human!

“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.”

Despite two making two finals since, Mick ain’t rang the Bell for 11 years. After a rough campaign last year, how glorious d’you think the champagne will taste tonight for the Cooly Kid? “I’m just stoked because it’s been so long,” he continued. “It doesn’t seem strange that it’s taken so long to win another one when you’ve got guys like Joel, Jordy and Kelly on tour and I usually come up just a bit short. Usually against Joel, but I got him today!”

And afer the minute’s silence the crowd observed for MP pre-final, Mick was emotional: “I was on the verge of tears out the back. I just sat out the back before the Final and just took in the whole crowd. It’s not everyday you’ve got the crowd cheering and I could have paddled in after that, but I’m glad I didn’t.”

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.80
2 – Kelly Slater (USA) 18.07

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.10 def. Jeremy Flores (FRA) 7.83
SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) def. Joel Parkinson (AUS)

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.06 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.66
QF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.97 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 16.10
QF 3: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.00 def. Kai Otton (AUS) 10.27
QF 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.63 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.63

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 5 RESULTS:
Heat 1: Jeremy Flores (FRA) 14.93 def. John John Florence (HAW) 14.00
Heat 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.40 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 15.36
Heat 3: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.27 def. Brett Simpson (USA) 12.90
Heat 4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.27 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 9.04