South African Jordy Smith, 21, rocketed to No. 3 on the 2009 ASP World Tour rankings thanks to a career best third place finish in the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach in Australia. Smith was on fire throughout the event, posting the highest scores on Day 1 and advancing to the semifinals before losing a close decision to eventual event winner and current ASP No. 1 Joel Parkinson (AUS).
Jordy is into his second season on the ASP World Tour. The powerful natural-footer eliminated 2007 ASP World Champion Mick Fanning in the quarterfinals with scores of 9.17 and 6.33 for a 15.50 to 15.17 point victory.
Parkinson’s win makes it two out of two sofar on the 2009 ASP World Tour , cementing putting him in a strong position in the title race.
South Africans David Weare (Durban) and Greg Emslie (East London) placed 17th and 33rd respectively in the event. Rosanne Hodge (East London) ended 9th in the Rip Curl Women’s Pro Bells Beach earlier in the week.
Highlights from Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach pres. by Snickers is available via www.live.ripcurl.com
For more information, log onto www.aspworldtour.com
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach final results:
1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 17.40
2 – Adam Robertson (AUS) 13.37
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach semifinal results:
SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.24
SF 2: Adam Robertson (AUS) 13.87 def. Fred Patacchia (HAW) 12.73
Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach quaterfinal results:
QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 13.17 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 8.66
QF 2: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 15.50 def. Mick Fanning (AUS) 15.16
QF 3: Adam Robertson (AUS) 14.26 def. Kekoa Bacalso (HAW) 12.33
QF 4: Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 14.13 def. Kieren Perrow (AUS) 12.17
ASP World Tour Rankings (After event No. 2 – Bells Beach)
1. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 2400
2. Mick Fanning (AUS) 1608
3. Fredrick Patacchia (HAW) 1476
3. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 1476
5. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 1464
6. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 1442
7. Taj Burrow (AUS) 1286
South Africans
24. David Weare (ZAF) 820
29. Greg Emslie (ZAF) 635
The next stop on the 2009 ASP World Tour will be the Billabong Pro Teahupoo from May 9 – 20, 2009.
