Fanning top and Jordy fourth

Joel Parkinson of Australia, 32, has won the inaugural Oakley Pro Bali over Michel Bourez (PYF), 27, via an impressive come-from-behind effort in four-to-six foot (2 metre) waves at the iconic Balinese right-hander of Keramas.

Stop No. 5 of 10 on the ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Oakley Pro Bali hosted a historic high-performance showdown including perfect heats and next level progression from the world’s best surfers, culminating with Parkinson’s hard-fought victory over Bourez in the final.

Parkinson was quick to adapt to the changing conditions on the final day of action, overcoming fellow countrymen Taj Burrow (AUS), 35, and Josh Kerr (AUS), 29, en route to the final. The reigning ASP World Champion got off to a slow start on his road to victory, but an impressive series of fully-committed forehand combinations on a steep right-hand wall that saw him surpass the Tahitian in the final minutes for the win.

“That was amazing,” Parkinson said. “That was the coolest experience coming up the sand. It wasn’t the greatest of the finals and I knew it wasn’t over. I figured if I got the best wave towards the end figured I’d have a chance. Michel (Bourez) ripped and was probably the most in form surfer of the event. I dropped off my four fin back to my three fin and just didn’t get a good pump in that one good barrel and was hoping it didn’t lose me the final. From then on I knew I had to go to do turns.”

The Oakley Pro Bali marks Parkinson’s first ASP WCT victory of the season, vaulting the stylish Australian to No. 3 on the rankings and within striking distance of the 2013 ASP World Title.

“This gives me heaps of motivation moving forward,” Parkinson said. “I’ve had two bad results and I knew I could change it around, but I’m glad I did it now rather than later. This win is so special because the event had such a good vibe around the event and such good energy about it. This was huge. The event lived up to the hype because guys were going absolutely crazy. It was one of the best events I’ve been involved in.”

Michel Bourez attacked the flawless waves of Keramas with incredible power, defeating two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, and dangerous rookie Nat Young (USA), 22, on his way to the final. Bourez held the lead throughout the majority of the final, but was unable to block Parkinson’s late-heat charge, taking both a runner-up finish and the best ASP WCT result of his career.

“It’s really good just to make the final and it was my first final ever,” Bourez said. “This event has been great for everyone with barrels every day. The culture and people of Bali are amazing and I’m just happy to put Tahiti on the podium. I feel confident going in to Tahiti (the next stop on the WCT) and want to go there relaxed and do my thing.”

Nat Young (USA), 22, ASP WCT Rookie, continued to impress in Bali, threading excellent barrels and igniting deadly backhand turns at Keramas en route to a semi-final finish. The Santa Cruz native was on the way to his second final appearance of the season, but was stopped short by a rampaging Michel Bourez, finishing equal 3rd overall.

Josh Kerr (AUS), 29, was deadly at the Oakley Pro Bali, reveling in the technical barrels and Balinese walls of Keramas. Kerr looked fit for a final following an incredible quarter-final victory over former ASP World Champion C.J. Hobgood (USA), 33, but was unable to find rhythm in his semi-final match up against Parkinson, finishing equal 3rd. The result marks Kerr’s best result of the season.

With an equal 5th place finish at the Oakley Pro Bali, two-time ASP World Champion Mick Fanning (AUS), 32, has overtaken then rankings leader Kelly Slater (USA), 41, for the front-runner position for the 2013 ASP World Title. While Fanning has been incredibly consistent throughout the season, he hopes to ramp up his performances through the back half of the year in an attempt to take a third crown.

“I’m happy with the result,” Fanning said. “It felt like I didn’t get waves, but things fired pretty well for me overall. It would have been good to get some more points, but it’s still a result. I’ve got five out of five now and just go for it towards back half of the year. I’ve got two throwaways, but I don’t have a big lead because the other guys got wins and now it’s about putting it together.”

South Africa’s Jordy Smith finished equal 13th and dropped one spot to No. 4 in the rankings after starting with a strong Round1 victory before stumbling against alternate Frederick Patacchia (HAW) in Round 3.

Compatriot Travis Logie did not compete in Bali as he was at home in California recovering from injuries suffered at the last WCT event in Fiji. He too dropped one place in the rankings to No. 21

The next stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour will be the Billabong Pro Teahupoo from August 15 – 26, 2013.

For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com

OAKLEY PRO BALI FINAL RESULTS:

1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.86

2 – Michel Bourez (PYF) 12.67

OAKLEY PRO BALI SEMI-FINAL RESULTS:

SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14.43 def. Josh Kerr (AUS) 5.33

SF 2: Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.50 def. Nat Young (USA) 14.97

OAKLEY PRO BALI QUARTER-FINAL RESULTS:

QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.17 def. Taj Burrow (AUS) 3.13

QF 2: Josh Kerr (AUS) 17.44 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.83

QF 3: Nat Young (USA) 17.03 def. Julian Wilson (AUS) 15.57

QF 4: Michel Bourez (PYF) 16.27 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 12.50

ASP WCT TOP 5 (After Oakley Pro Bali):

1. Mick Fanning (AUS) 31,400 points

2. Kelly Slater (USA) 30,950

3. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 26,700

4. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 25,200

5. Taj Burrow (AUS) 24,900

(File Photo:Gallo Images)

- ASP Africa

Twitter - @SportswaveAndre