Rip Curl Pro Portugal pres. by Moche
Event No. 9 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT)
Supertubos, Peniche/Portugal
October 9 – 20, 2013
Kai Otton (AUS), Winner of the Rip Curl Pro Portugal pres. by Moche.
Kai Otton (AUS), 33, has won the Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Moche in a hard-fought final over rookie Nat Young (USA), 22, in three-to-five foot (1 – 1.5 metre) waves at the primary venue of Supertubos.
Stop No. 9 of 10 on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Rip Curl Pro Portugal presented by Moche completed five rounds of action packed competition, sending the 2013 ASP World Title Race to Hawaii before crowning Otton as event winner.
Otton’s victory would come at the hands of a wave-starved 30-minute final. The Australian would kick off the battle with the heat’s high score on his opening ride, building momentum in the tactical affair to eventually defeat Young in his first career ASP WCT event win.
Otton, who now sits at No. 7 on the ASP WCT Rankings following the victory, has been one of the most consistent surfers in 2013 and his road to victory in Portugal saw the Australian best a flock of the world’s best surfers. The goofy-footer was unstoppable on the final day of competition, defeating Hawaiian prodigy John John Florence (HAW), 20, two-time ASP World Champion and current rankings leader Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, and reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 32, en route to the final.
Nat Young, who secured the ASP Rookie of the Year title on his way to the final, had a stellar run throughout the event, earning his second final berth of the 2013 season. The Californian would stay busy in his 35 minute clash, but was unable to maintain his rhythm to surpass Otton and would finish runner-up.
Young’s road to the final was also impressive, with the rookie topping Australian fly-boy Josh Kerr (AUS), 29, in the Semifinals and Jordy Smith (ZAF), 25, in the Quarterfinals. The result propels Young into the Top 10 before the final event at Pipeline.
Josh Kerr was dominant on the final day of competition, posting two incredible rides while attaining the event’s high heat-total of 18.40 out of 20 in a Round 5 win over Taj Burrow (AUS), 35. Kerr managed to navigate through a tricky Quarterfinal heat, but would eventually fall to Young in the Semifinals.
Joel Parkinson, reigning ASP World Champion, put in some solid heats to make his way to the Semifinals, defeating form surfers Julian Wilson (AUS), 24, and Matt Wilkinson (AUS), 25. Parkinson however was unable to put a stop to Otton’s efforts, and with an equal third place in Portugal, is officially out of the 2013 ASP World Title Race.
Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, further solidified his lead on the World Title Race, collecting a 5th place at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal pres. by Moche. Fanning looked poised to secure a third crown at Supertubos, but was unable to clinch an early third ASP World Title when he was defeated by Kai Otton in the Quarterfinals.
Entering the final stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour, Mick Fanning and Kelly Slater (USA), 41, remain in contention for the ASP World Title. Following Fanning’s fifth place at the Rip Curl Pro Portugal, Slater must win the Pipe Masters to surpass Fanning for the ASP World Title. If Slater is to win the event, Fanning must place 3rd or better to claim the title for himself.
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL FINAL RESULTS:
1 – Kai Otton (AUS) 12.23
2 – Nat Young (USA) 11.03
RIP CURL PRO PORTUGAL SEMI-FINALS RESULTS:
SF 1: Kai Otton (AUS) 14.83 def. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 12.23
SF 2: Nat Young (USA) 14.07 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 10.66
All results, photos, videos and heats on-demand available via www.live.ripcurl.com. For additional ASP information log on to www.aspworldtour.com.
Source: Press release ASP International
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