Nice Shredding, Bro... I mean, Monsieur

Mick Fanning wins the Quiksilver Pro, France and gives him the chance to clinch the overall ASP Tour title at the next event in Spain...

Viva La Revolution!

French fries are truly better than Freedom Fries for Mick, as he comes back from an early bump out at Trestles to head over the pond and take top honors at the Quiksilver Pro, France. This places the Red Bull shredder atop the leader board for the ASP Tour Championship.

“I’m just so stoked to have another win under my belt,” Fanning, who also won the first event of the year on the Gold Coast of Australia, said. “I’m pumped! After the semis I really realized that you had to have the best waves to win, so that’s what I did. I just sat and waited for the whole time.”

Fanning caught four waves to Emslie’s 12, but garnered his winning heat total of 18.43 (out of 20.00) with his first two rides – the second of which he scored a near perfect 9.93 (out of 10) for.

“That wave just sat up really, really nicely and I was able to get some good turns off,” Fanning said. “I’m just stoked, that’s about all I can say.”

If Mick can continue to crush through the heats, he will be in good position for a title in Spanish waters. If he finishes 2nd in Spain, Slater and Burrow have to post a 5th place or better to keep their title aspirations alive.

“There’s no pressure at all in Mundaka for the title,” Fanning said. “I’m just doing what I’ve been doing, taking it heat by heat. You can’t win in the final if you don’t win the first round, so yeah, you’ve just got to take it heat by heat.”

Emslie’s final berth against Fanning’s was not only the best result of his eight-year elite-tour career, it was also the first Foster’s ASP World Tour final a South African has made in 20 years. Emslie surfed amazingly through out the event, but was no match for the current World No. 1.

The next ASP World Tour event (Stop 8 of 10 on this year’s tour) is in Mundaka, Spain. Watch as Mick looks to seal the deal in Espana!. The window for waves is Oct. 1-14.

Watch all the action from Spain at www.billabongpro.com

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Quiksilver Pro France Final Results:
Final: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.43 def. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 11.63

Quiksilver Pro France Semifinal Results:
Heat 1: Greg Emslie (ZAF) 17.43 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 15.97
Heat 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.67 def. Troy Brooks (AUS) 15.40

Foster’s ASP World Tour Ratings after Event No. 7 of 10, the Quiksilver Pro France:
1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 6470 points
2. Kelly Slater (USA) 5450 points
3. Taj Burrow (AUS) 5243 points
4. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 4905 points
5. Andy Irons (HAW) 4741 points
6. Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 4062 points
7. Damien Hobgood (USA) 4049 points
8. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3692 points
9. Dean Morrison (AUS) 3658 points
10. Taylor Knox (USA) 3392 points