Billabong Pro
Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour:  Event #6 of 11
Supertubes, Jeffreys Bay, South Africa
12 – 22 July 2006

Fanning on fire in phenomenal final at Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay, Jordy Smith places third in first ever WCT event

Mick Fanning produced an awesome display of high performance power surfing to clinch a narrow but deserved second Billabong Pro victory in excellent 1.5 to two metre (4-6 foot) surf at Supertubes in Jeffreys Bay on Sunday. Fanning and fellow Aussie Taj Burrow matched each other wave after amazing wave during the 35 minutes final with 25 year-old “White Lightening” getting a 16.90 to 16.0 point verdict from the judges for his fully committed rail carves, slashing cutbacks and vertical lip bashes. Burrow’s cutting edge repertoire of manoeuvres kept him in contention until the dying moments when the disadvantage of being in the lower half of the draw through the four rounds contested on the final day became evident as he fell on his last two waves when chasing the 8.41 score needed for victory. Fanning pocketed US $30 000 (approx R200 000) and 1 200 invaluable rating points to climb to eighth on the latest ASP rankings list, which is still led by reigning seven time world champ Kelly Slater who placed third overall after being ousted by Fanning in the semis. Burrow has leapfrogged Andy Irons and Bobby Martinez into a season high third place. In an historic feat, 18 year old Durbanite Jordy Smith placing third overall to match the best result by a South African in the Billabong Pro since it became a Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour event in 1996.

Competing in the first event of his career at this level, Smith served notice on the world’s top surfers that he is going to be a super star. He defeated Burrow in round one then eliminated current world #5 Taylor Knox (USA), compatriot Travis Logie and last year’s semi-finalist Tim Reyes (USA) before being ousted by Burrow in their semi-final. Logie and East London’s Greg Emslie were the next best of the record setting six man SA contingent in the event, finishing equal ninth after round four defeats. Rookie WCT campaigner David Weare (Durban) and wildcards Sean Holmes (Jeffreys Bay) and Damien Fahrenfort (Cape Town) placed equal 17th overall.

Billabong Pro J-Bay Results

Final
Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.90 def Taj Burrow (AUS) 16.00

Semi-Finals
Semi1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 16.90 def Kelly Slater (USA) 14.50
Semi2: Taj Burrow (AUS) 15.67 def Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.17

Quarter Finals
Quarter1: Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.33 def Adriano de Souza (BRA) 9.30
Quarter2: Kelly Slater (USA) 15.34 def Peterson Rosa (BRA) 13.97
Quarter3: Taj Burrow (AUS) 17.50 def Tom Whitaker (AUS) 12.50
Quarter4: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 18.00 def Tim Reyes (USA) 13.66

Round Four
H1: Fanning (AUS) 15.00 def Greg Emslie (ZAF) 7.83
H2: Adriano Souza (BRA) 12.83 def Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.50
H3: Peterson Rosa (BRA) 15.33 def Phillip MacDonald (AUS) 13.50
H4: Kelly Slater (USA) 17.16 def Nathan Hedge (AUS) 11.17
H5: Taj Burrow (AUS) 18.34 def Pancho Sullivan (HAW) 10.8
H6: Tom Whitaker (AUS) 16.83 def Daniel Wills (AUS) 15.17
H7: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.83 def Travis Logie (ZAF) 10.33
H8: Tim Reyes (USA) 14.67 def Mark Occhilupo (AUS) 14.67

Foster’s ASP Men’s World Tour
Ratings after event #6 - Jeffreys Bay
1. Kelly Slater (USA) 5109
2. Taj Burrow (AUS) 4682
3. Andy Irons (HAW) 4365
4. Bobby Martinez (USA) 4233
5. Taylor Knox (USA) 4060
6. Damien Hobgood (USA) 3767
7. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3652
8. Mick Fanning (AUS) 3577
9. Tim Reyes (USA) 3575
10. Tom Whitaker (AUS) 3299
14. Greg Emslie (East London) 3030
26. Travis Logie (Durban) 2470
39. David Weare (Durban) 1905

The Von Zipper Wildcard Trials and the Billabong Pro are proudly supported by South African Airways; Von Zipper; Kustom; Mrs Palmers; Kouga Municipality; True Technologies; Blackfoot Productions; Dirk Ellis Motors; Canon; Telkom SA; Bonaqua and Malibu.