Slater set to claim 9th world title in Mundaka

ASP World Tour ratings leader Kelly Slater (USA) was 7.31 points away from clinching his ninth ASP World Title when he was beaten by Australia's Adrian Buchan in their French final bout yesterday. Slater now has to secure an equal 9th finish at next week's Billabong Pro Mundaka to clinch crown No.9.

“I was one wave away [from the title],” Slater said. “One wave away is a lot closer than two heats but we'll see how we go.”

Slater won his last world title in Mundaka and will do so again this year should he advance out of Round 3. If he doesn't, and reigning ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS) or World No. 2 Taj Burrow win the event, the race will continue to Brazil. Slater will match-up with wildcards in the early rounds.

“In Mundaka for some reason I haven't had trouble in those wildcard heats but in Brazil I have before,” Slater said. “Taj and Mick haven't won this year but they've both won in Brazil and they've gotten seconds and thirds in Mundaka, so those are good contests for those guys. But worse case scenario for me, it will be narrowed down to one guy at the next event.”

Bobby Martinez (USA) has won the event for the last two years – the only two times he's competed in Mundaka. Martinez finished equal 5th in France and now sits 7th on the ratings.

“It's so tough because I just got lucky with waves and my luck is bound to run out sometime so it could be this year,” Martinez said. “Mundaka has been a cool place to me the last couple of years and it will always be cool no matter what happens but I've never done good in France and then I've done good in Spain so I'm just hoping it's not the other way around this year since I just did alright in France.”

The Billabong Pro Mundaka waiting period stretches from next Monday, September 30 to Sunday, October 12.

Top 10 ASP World Tour Ratings going into the Billabong Pro Mundaka:
1. Kelly Slater (USA) - 7852 points
2. Taj Burrow (AUS) - 6002 points
3. Bede Durbidge (AUS) – 5668 points
4. Adriano De Souza (BRA) – 5426 points
5. Joel Parkinson (AUS) - 5373 points
6. Mick Fanning (AUS) - 5310 points
7. Bobby Martinez (USA) - 5092 points
8. CJ Hobgood (USA) - 4880 points
9. Adrian Buchan (AUS) - 4719 points
10. Jeremy Flores (FRA) - 4407 points

A few Silly Wipeout pictures

Andy and Bruce Just Phoning it in!

Well if you follow the WCT you have to be thinking WTF is going on with Andy Irons? I mean Bruce is really not doing anything unless the waves are pumping, case in point, Somwhere in Indo, but he is also not trying to requalify for the tour so that is that. Andy on the other hand is just not into it at all. In trestles he was out there taking off on waves fins first etc, now in France at the Quikilver pro, he doesn't even show for his heat. Hell his trainer, doesn't even know where the hell he is. Bruce said that Andy is the kind of guy where if he cant win the whole thing he wont be in it. I can understand that, I mean there was a time not long ago when the tour seemed to start off and instantly was all about the Kelly/Andy rivalry, Now Kelly is beyond dominant and it seems that Andy has hung up his leash and given up.


Here is my problem with that, Andy is on the WCT, there are a ton of guys out there who would kill to be in his shoes and surf the tour, if he isn't going to even show up, why not make it official and let them throw in an extra wildcard at the rest of the events? With his points the way they are, he will have no issues requalifing, so why not take some time off, give another surfer their dream break, get some perspective and come back next year guns blazing? Andy's attitude at the moment, kind of reminds me of the rebel without a cause bullshit you did in High school, not the actions of one of the world best surfers and a role model for so many upcoming surfers!

The Quiksilver Pro France

THE WAVE: The main contest break of La Nord in Hossegor has been known to toss up a 10-to 12-foot face or two when autumn swells arrive. Extremely tidal, the soft sand beaches of the region offer the world's best the perfect canvass for progressive surfing and reckless abandon.

PERKS: Topless tanning, mile after mile of potentially firing beachbreaks, and locals doing their utmost to get you drunk.

PERILS: Chocolate-filled croissants, crepes mixed with oodles of red wine do not a thin man make, and you try to concentrate on your heat when you have to walk through a beach full of stunning topless babes on your way to the water. It's a trip and fall over on the fins disaster in the making.

APRES SURF: The Rock Food and Dick's Sand Bar are two of Hossegor's most happening hotspots. They virtually roll out the red carpet and treat the surfers like royalty when they come to town. That and also the fact that Spain is a short one-hour ride away can lay claim to an eve or two of good times.

WCT HISTORY: Quiksilver was granted a French ASP World Tour event license in 2001 and the rest is history. Hossegor has wailed during the autumn waiting period annually since its inception.

NOTABLE: The Irons brothers met in their first-ever man-on-man final in France in 2004. still hurting after losing his heat against little brother Bruce the event prior, Andy was more than amped to beat his brother and win the event. He repeated the win in '05 for good measure.

PAST CHAMPS:
2007: Mick Fanning ''AUS''
2006: Joel Parkinson ''AUS''
2005: Andy Irons ''HAW''
2004: Andy Irons ''HAW''
2003: Andy Irons ''AUS''
2002: Neco Padaratz ''BRA''
2001: Cancelled due to 9/11 Tragedy