The Surf Blog Spot

ASP Kirstin/ Covered Images

The contest is over and Kelly Slater has won again.  He defeated Mick Fanning in the finals to take home his fourth 2008 ASP tour stop title and his fourth J-Bay title.  Kelly Slater, 36-years-young, brought his “A” game to Supertubes Thursday and showed why he is the best surfer in the world.  He earned his 38th ASP World Tour victory while downing Mick Fanning in 4-6 foot J-Bay.  Winning is Slater’s middle name (not really) and after 14 years on the ASP World Tour, he still has the motivation to win.  He wants to be known as the BEST surfer ever!!

Slater beat Fanning 16.73 to 9.40 in the Billabong finals.  The start of Thursday morning competition was very clean and as the contest continued, the conditions started to deteriorate with the onshore winds.  The officials were worried about the North winds that tend to blow out the faces of J-Bay, which made the final round a little difficult.  But this did not stop Slater and his victory drive.  Slater now has a 1262 point lead on the World number 2 Joel Parkinson and now has such a large lead that his 9th World Title is in his sights.

The next event on the 2008 ASP World Tour remains a mystery. The “Search” event will be held July 30-August 10, 2008, “Somewhere.”

ASP World Tour Ratings after Stop No. 5 – the Billabong Pro Jeffreys Bay
1. Kelly Slater (USA)  5210 points
2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 3948 points
3. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 3782 points
4. Mick Fanning (AUS)  3753 points
5. Taj Burrow (AUS)  3638 points
6. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 3540 points
7. C.J. Hobgood (USA)  3460 points
8. Andy Irons (HAW)  3338 points
9. Bobby Martinez (USA) 3028 points
10.  Adrian Buchan (AUS) 2884 points