SURFING SOAPBOX:Fanning still manning the top

So it was, on the last day of the surfing competition waiting period, that the infamous Billabong Pro ? held at the legendary Jeffery’s Bay ? was completed with an all-Australian final held in good five-to six-foot waves. Taking the win in an extremely close final was Mick Fanning, just edging out an equally in-form surfer, Taj Burrow.

Losing out in the semi-finals was none other than surfing superman Kelly Slater and the young unheralded wild card Jordy Smith, who hails from South Africa.

The Assn. of Surfing Professionals World Tour has just passed the halfway point with five events to go and sees the same man standing atop of the world rankings much as he has for more than a decade now as he sets his sights on an eighth world title.

Following in second place in the rankings is Taj Burrow; with Andy Irons, Bobby Martinez and Taylor Know rounding out the world’s top five.

Also going on this week in Huntington Beach is the U.S. Open, which is a six-star rated event on the World Qualifying Series qualifying tour.

Making it through the early rounds of the main event so far include former Pipeline Master Champion (2000) and Laguna local Mike Todd. Todd sits 24 on the World Qualifying Series tour, and is looking for a big result here to catapult him into the top 10 on the qualifying tour and into qualification for the World Championship Tour ? known as the top 44, for those who make it.

Other surfers slated to surf in the U.S. Open of Surfing include 2000 world champion Sunny Garcia, Damien Hobgood, Tim Curran and Santa Barbara’s Bobby Martinez.

Absent from this year’s U.S. Open is last year’s champion and former three-time world champion Andy Irons. With small conditions forecasted through the week and into the weekend, look for veteran surfer Rob Machado to be vying for this year’s U.S. Open title.

Till next week, stay healthy ? keep surfing.

Peace.