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American crowned 2007 Pro Tahiti champion
by George Mojo
17/05/2007:// American Damien Hobgood has been crowned the 2007 Billabong Pro Tahiti Champion after beating Foster’s ASP World Tour ratings leader Australian Mick in a last-minute victory at Teahupoo.
Hobgood bowed out of the 2005 Billabong Pro Tahiti Final halfway through after dislocating his shoulder – a circumstance which made his win today that much more meaningful.
Hobgood took off on a set wave needing an excellent scoring ride of 8.21 with one minute remaining. Fanning caught the wave behind but came up short in the exchange – Hobgood’s 8.60 won him the heat.
“It’s insane – I was stoked to have another chance at it,” Hobgood said. "I feel that things happen for a reason and I did my best out here in 2005 and came up short. I replayed that wave in my mind a hundred times going, ‘I should have tried to stay in that barrel and not come out doggy-door,' but I feel like I can put that out of my mind now.
“Even though there was only a minute left, I was still holding on and thinking I could do it. I was able to just barely pull it off but the heat was so close – Mick put on a great performance,” added Hobgood.
Hobgood and Fanning met in a Foster’s ASP World Tour final in Brazil last year that produced an outcome opposite to today’s. Even though Fanning led for the majority of the heat, he was humble in his recognition of Hobgood’s accomplishments today.
“There’s nothing you can do,” Fanning said. “You pray and hope that he falls, but in the same sense, you want to see someone get a good barrel. It’s all good. I got him last year in Brazil so he got me back.”
Fanning’s second place result at the Billabong Pro Tahiti has seen him pull away from the pack on the official ASP World Tour ratings.
Having already featured in two out of three finals on this year’s Foster’s ASP World Tour, Fanning is well and truly in pursuit of his maiden world title. He finished third in the world in 2005 and 2006.
“I always feel comfortable at home (on the Gold Coast) and in Bells,” Fanning said. “I never really had a good result here at Teahupoo so I’m stoked to get one and put it towards the World Title. This year, I’ve had a few results at the start of the year – in the past I’ve always seemed to do well the second half of the year. ”
Fanning peaked in his semi-final against rookie Kai Otton, earning the only perfect 10.00 wave score of the event.
Otton posted the second highest wave score of the event - a 9.90 - in his quarter-final against American Cory Lopez, but lost to Fanning after making a critical priority mistake by giving the ratings leader the wave of the day.
Otton has moved to 10th on the Foster’s ASP Ratings with this result; right behind French rookie Jeremy Flores who now sits 9th in the world.
Australian Joel Parkison has moved to fourth on the world ratings after his equal third place finish. Parkinson lost to Hobgood in the first semi-final.
“The set came through and it had this big lump and it came to a peak and went straight to Damien and he got a 9.0 on it,” Parkinson said.
“I was 10 feet too deep and sometimes that’s all it takes. I knew I needed to be patient but it never really happened for me after that. I’m happy with the result though, a 3rd is great.” he added
The next stop on the Foster’s ASP World Tour will be event number four …. the Rip Curl Pro Chile, from June 20 to July 1, 2007.
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