RIP CURL PRO SEARCH 2010
"Somewhere"

WCT EVENT #9
Oct 19-28, 2010
Western Australia

RIP CURL PRO SEARCH 2010 Surf Contest Headlines

Wednesday, October 28, 2009) – Mick Fanning (AUS), 28, former ASP World Champion (2007) and current ASP World No. 1, has claimed the 2010 Rip Curl Pro Search at Supertubos in Portugal, defeating fellow Finalist Bede Durbidge (AUS), 26, and cementing his lead in the now two-horse race for the 2010 ASP World Title.

Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2010 ASP World Tour, the Rip Curl Pro Search ran a gamut of conditions and venues ranging from two-foot righthand wedges at Molhe Leste, four-foot offshore lefthanders at Lagido, punchy four-foot peaks at Belgas and death-defying six-to-eight foot barrels at Supertubos yesterday before culminating a dramatic end to competition.

Fanning, who won the inaugural Rip Curl Pro Search at Reunion Island (2005) and was a standout in yesterday’s massive barrels, readjusted to today’s smaller conditions and was dominant in his Final against Durbidge. With conditions deteriorating, Fanning lacerated the punchy wedges on his forehand to net a solid 6.67 and a 6.00 that would prove unbeatable for his opponent.

More Rip Curl Pro Search News and Results...

Pro Surfing:

TIME DIFFERENCE: Unknown

COORDINATES: TBD

BAGGAGE CLAIM: TBD

TRANSPORTATION: TBD

ATTITUDE: Two words: The Search. Rip Curl’s longstanding campaign to seek out and find the best surf possible in the most remote regions on Earth has finally translated to the ASP World Tour. With event locations shrouded in mystery, it’s really anybody’s game, and the competitors are transformed into nervous, excited grommets again.

THE WAVE: In 2005, it was a beautiful, coral-reef lefhander that offered high-performance conditions for all skill levels. Working from three to 12 feet and beyond, the break of St. Leu on Reunion Island was an ideal location for the inaugural Rip Curl Search ASP World Tour event. In 2006, Rip Curl scored what many have considered "the best ASP World Tour event ever" as "La Jolla" spun reeling righthand barrels for three days straight before vanishing. While the tight-lipped crew at Rip Curl has continued their mysterious reign of terror in ’07, the collective surfing community knows that the event will be held somewhere in Chile. With the country’s penchant for jaw-dropping lefthanders, look for the continued success of the Rip Curl Search event to excel this season.

PERKS: At St Leu, the waves, the beautiful backdrop, and the hospitality of the people made the groundbreaking event even more special. Last season’s jaunt down in Mexico transformed the entire ASP Top 45 into frothing grommets as the feasted on an endless buffet of sand-bottom barrels. Huey only knows what will become of the event this year, but the anticipation is a perk in its own right.

PERILS: At St Leu, it was the occasional frisky shark, and the more than occasional pesky urchin. In Mexico, the only perils were the bone-crunching sandbar and the fierce heat. In Chile, it was volcano barnacles and suplexing barrels. 2008 is anyone’s guess. Perhaps giant squids, vampiric mermaids or ghost ships, who knows? But we might as well throw the world’s best out there first to be the guinea pigs.

APRES SURF: In St Leu all you had to do was exit the water and bask in the island’s beauty or enjoy the hospitality of the locals - helped if you spoke French though. In Mexico, margaritas and aloe vera were the call after gorging yourself on barrels all day. Chile had more culture than you can shake a stick at, and this season’s event will undoubtedly bring its own brand of off session activities.

ASP WORLD TOUR HISTORY: Rip Curl held its inaugural Search ASP World Tour event in 2005 at the famed lefthander of St Leu in Reunion Island. The second event took the ASP Top 45 into deepest, darkest Mexico. Last season’s event put the fear of Huey into the world’s best, when they tackled the mutant "El Gringo" in remote Chile. This year’s venue is in Oz, so buckle up.

NOTABLE: The Rip Curl Search event is the first ASP World Tour event where the licensee is opting to change the location every year. Rip Curl teamrider and Australian phenomenon Mick Fanning won the inaugural event in 2005 in his first season back after a near career-ending injury. The past two Rip Curl Search events have been taken by former three-time ASP World Champion Andy Irons in Mexico and Chile.

NEWS & PHOTOS FOR ARCHIVED EVENTS

2008 Rip Curl Search "Somewhere in Indonesia"

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