Classic Pipeline conditions held up for the last day of the Pipeline Masters and final day of competition for the 2013 ASP World Tour with no lack of excitement as Kelly Slater wins and claimed the Pipe Masters win, John John Florence took the Triple Crown title and Mick Fanning secured the ASP World Title for the third time in his career.
It all comes down to the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing on the north shore of O’ahu at the end of the year – The ASP World Title, the Pipeline Masters, and the Triple Crown of Surfing title. Although every heat and contest throughout the ASP World Tour hold weight, the year always seems to come down to the wire at the final competition held at Pipe.
“The world title is something that takes a whole year, but sometimes it can feel like it boils down to the final day and the final heats,” Fanning said. “I’m sure I gave my wife Karissa and my mum enough stress today to last a lifetime. I was never worried myself now that I think of it. I knew what I needed to do and if the opportunity came, I knew I could do it. That opportunity came in both heats today. It’s an incredible feeling. I’ve been having fun all year and to clinch on a day like this at Pipeline makes it that much more special.”
The forecast showed Saturday as the day for a solid swell, so the contest remained on hold for the days leading up to December 14th. The sun rose to reveal the swell that the contest director had anticipated, and so the final day of the contest was called on.
The world title was still up in the air, either going to Kelly Slater for the 12th time, or to Mick Fanning for his third world title. Each heat presented cut-throat competition. Yadin Nicol needed to defeat Mick Fanning in order to re-qualify for the ASP World Tour, while Fanning needed it for the title. Nicol scored a 9.33 tube ride followed by a 7.57 to back it up. But Fanning wasn’t going to let Yadin’s wave go unanswered, and caught a classic Pipeline tube ride to defeat Nicol and secure the ASP World Title.
John John Florence finished runner-up at the Pipe Masters and secured the 2013 Triple Crown title. It’s the second time Florence has won the title in his surfing career.
“This is my second Triple Crown but it feels pretty special,” Florence said. “The first year, I wasn’t really thinking about it. I was young and just having fun. This year, I came into the Triple Crown wanting to win it, but I honestly didn’t think I had a chance until we got to the final day at Pipe. This result has me motivated for next year. It’s eating my inside how close I was, but I’m still stoked.”
Although Slater didn’t go home with another world title, he did add another Pipeline Masters victory to his surfing career and put on a world class show for the crowd at Pipe.
“I’m excited for Mick (Fanning) – it was an exciting finish,” Slater said. “Mick has been focused all year. It’s hard for me to pinpoint exactly where my year didn’t stack up. I got hurt in Tahiti and probably should have rehabbed more before Trestles. I didn’t surf very well through Europe. A world title is a yearlong thing. It was a great year for surfing and I’m excited we get to wrap up in great waves at Pipeline.”
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kelly Slater (USA) 16.37
2 – John John Florence (HAW) 15.90
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS SEMIFINAL RESULTS:
SF 1: John John Florence (HAW) 18.30 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 5.00
SF 2: Kelly Slater (USA) 19.63 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.84
BILLABONG PIPE MASTERS QUARTERFINAL RESULTS:
QF 1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.03 def. Yadin Nicol (AUS) 16.90
QF 2: John John Florence (HAW) 16.77 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 13.00
QF 3: Kelly Slater (USA) 18.80 def. Sebastian Zietz (HAW) 7.80
QF 4: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.83 def. Miguel Pupo (BRA) 6.00