Six Weeks on the Rock

Wednesday 23 October 2013 We can thank the judges at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal that the world title battle goes to Pipeline, and with a low score of 4.10 on top of that. Craig Jarvis looks ahead to six weeks on the Rock.

In Portugal, if the judges were to have given Mick Fanning more for that wave in which he gave it two big backhand cracks, we would not be talking about Hawaii with such excitement. The fact that he scored a 4.10 meant that the world tour went to Pipeline, and now the numbers can be crunched into their finality, and all the options can be discussed ad infinitum.

In a nutshell Slater needs to win, but if Fanning places third or higher than Slater is out of the game. It’s not going to happen. Fanning is not going to get a third or higher, so Mick needs to hope that Kelly gets knocked out earlier than him, leaving him with a route to the crown.

Historically Slater is without peer at Pipeline. He knows the reef so well, and he dominates it at every opportunity he gets. He will be a tough nut to crack and Fanning knows this. He knew it on the beach in Portugal. His bitter disappointment was clear to everyone present.

Pipe offers another massive complication, and that’s the inclusion of a large number of Pipe specialists into the equation. While this doesn’t faze Slater, a few local boys giving him a hard time in macking Pipe could easily rattle Fanning.

We no longer bet on this sport and this game, but if we did there are quite good odds on Slater taking this. Plus he thrives on pressure. Plus he wants to retire on a high note at some stage. Plus he has a massive, massive bonus pending on a world title I would not want to be in Mick’s Reef Brazil’s right now.

The wild card story at Pipe is worthy of a full investigative piece as well, why the one event totally skews the point and system of a professional tour because the contest organizers are held ransom by local surfers and local governing bodies.

No other sporting tour in the world gives special allowances to lesser athletes just because they live near the event location. Be that as it may, we won’t be seeing the ultimate Pipe specialist Jamie O’Brien in the event seen as he was banned by the ASP for punching Brazilian surfer Ricardo Dos Santos during the Billabong Pro Tahiti trials at Chopes.

“I can’t surf any of the Triple Crown events, or the Pipe Masters. I can’t surf in an ASP event until the end of the year,” said Jamie in a recent www.stabmag.com interview. Jamie puts the blame squarely on Ricardo’s head for his ban. “The way I look at it, I don’t just make my living at Pipeline. I live at Pipeline and all my friends are from Pipeline. So, it’s a bit of a mistake by him. It’s all good. I’m not going anywhere, I live here. It’s his problem now.”

The Triple Crown is an incredible title and a great way to finish off the year. Jordy is making no bones about his hunger for a Triple Crown win. “I’m definitely going for it this year,” said Jordy of his Triple Crown goals. “Last year I was injured, so I’m looking forward to having a go at my first Triple Crown. I’m really looking forward to spending 6 weeks on the North Shore.”