ASP World Tour Update

Well, last month, with two events left on the 2008 ASP World Tour, Kelly Slater, USA, finally secured a record ninth ASP World Title, securing a sufficient points lead in the title rankings after advancing out of Round 3 of the Billabong Pro Mundaka, Spain.
The event went on to be won by C.J. Hobgood (USA), who defeated Joel Parkinson (AUS) in three-foot (one meter) barreling waves.

Now, Australian Bede Durbidge, has taken the Hang Loose Santa Catarina Pro in Imbituba, Brazil, over France's Jeremy Flores.

The win moves Durbidge to the World No. 2 position, while fellow Australian Taj Burrow follows in third. At position four, Joel Parkinson completes the Ausie trio in the top five of the ASP world rankings, while C.J. Hobgood trails in fifth place.

Slater Still Waiting

Kelly Slater (USA) is still waiting to clinch a historic ninth ASP World Title. He had it in his sights but Adrian Buchan (AUS) pipped him 15.73 to 15.16, to take the Quiksilver Pro France, in a tight final held at Les Bourdaines.

Kelly now has to move across the border to Mundaka in the Basque Country of Spain, for the ninth stop of the ASP World Tour, where appropriately, if he finishes ninth or better, he will be declared world champion for the ninth time.

Nine is considered a good number in Chinese culture and is the most exalted number because it sounds the same as the Chinese word for "longlasting". Coincidence?

Mulanovich wins in Spain

Sofia Mulanovich (PER) has won the Rip Curl Girls Festival in Liencres Spain by defeating Silvana Lima (BRA ) to take maximum points at Stop No. 4 of 7 on surfing's elite ASP Women's World Tour.

This moves the 2004 ASP World Champion to three on the ASP Ratings, while Silvana, securing her second consecutive second place result this year, now occupies the number two spot. Top honours on the closely packed ratings goes to Samantha Cornish (AUS), who finished equal third when she was ousted by Mulanovich in their semifinal.

It means that Stephanie Gilmore (AUS), who was rated World No. 1 going into this event has lost her ratings lead, dropping to World No. 4 after a disappointing equal 9th place finish. However, it is very close at the top and anything can happen in the next three events,