Photos of 2012 Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach

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11xASP World Champion Kelly Slater of the United States of America (pictured) has finished runner-up at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach, clinching the ASP World No. 1 position after just two events on the 2012 ASP World Championship Tour. Slater fought back from an early combination situation against Fanning in Fridays final, completing an incredible full-rotation aerial for a Perfect 10. The legendary natural-footer backed it up moments later with an 8.07 to take the lead, but would only hold it briefly after an assault from Fanning left in second place finishing on 18.07 (out of 20.00) to Fannings 18.80. ASP/Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS)

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winner

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Kelly Slater (USA)

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Winner 2012 Rip Curl Pro

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Mick Fanning (AUS)

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Mick Fanning (AUS) rings the bell. ASP/ Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) is chaired up the beach as the Rip Curl Pro Champion. ASP/ Robertson

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Mick Fanning (AUS) chaired up the beach. ASP/Kirstin

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Mick Fanning (AUS) congratulated by the crowd as he returns to the beach the 2012 Champion. ASP/Kirstin

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Im so pumped, Fanning said. Kelly (Slater) did that Hail Mary for the 10 and I thought, oh, here we go. I just caught waves and Im stoked it all paid off. Im really at a loss for words and Im just pumped. It doesnt get any sweeter. The crowds been amazing with the whole amphitheater and the history that comes with it. I always picture this event and have had some seconds over the years, so to get this one, Im so pumped. ASP/Kirstin

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Jordy Smith (RSA) placed equal fifth, narrowly eliminated by Joel Parkinson. ASP/Kirstin

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Jordy Smith (RSA) equal fifth place. ASP/Kirstin

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Jordy Smith (RSA) finished equal fifth. ASP/Kirstin

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Into the final.

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Equal 3rd placed

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Mick Fanning (AUS) takes on Joel Parkinson (AUS) in the semifinals. ASP/Kirstin

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Josh Kerr (AUS) boosts his way to an equal fifth place. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater (USA) carving his way into the semifinals. ASP/Kirstin

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Contest site packed to capacity. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater (USA) advanced into the semifinals in fine form. ASP/Kirstin

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Josh Kerr (AUS) doing his surfing above the lip during the quarterfinals. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater (USA) looking smooth in the Bells Bowl. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater (USA)

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Kai Otton (AUS)

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Owen Wright (AUS) eliminated by Jeremy Flores in the quarterfinals. ASP/Kirstin

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Jeremy Flores (FRA) advanced into the semifinals. ASP/Kirstin

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Equal 9th placed

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Jordy Smith (ZAF) suffered a disappointing quarterfinal finish. ASP/Kirstin

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Josh Kerr finished in equal 5th

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Sunrise at Bells

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Roani Monteiro (BRA) was eliminated during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Jordy Smith (RSA) lands an incredible superman maneuver to win his round three heat. ASP/Kirstin

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Gabriel Medina (BRA) narrowly lost out to CJ Hobgood (USA) during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater winning round three

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Mick Fanning (AUS) looking lightening fast during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Taj Burrow (AUS) suffered a shock elimination during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Kelly Slater of the United States of America took an amazing round three heat win over local surfer Nic Muscroft (AUS) at the Rip Curl Pro at Bells Beach on Thursday April 5, 2012. The 11 X ASP World Champion, who snapped his surfboard mid heat and had to change boards, was losing the heat until the final eight seconds when. Still needing an excellent 8.5 plus score to win, Slater rode his final wave, completing a high degree difficulty aerial manuever to score a 9.23, stealing the win from Muscroft. Final scores Slater 17.00 to Muscroft on 16.30. ASP/Kirstin

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Jeremy Flores (FRA) carves across a Bells wall. ASP/Kirstin

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Jeremy Flores (FRA) wining his round three heat ASP/Kirstin

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Owen Wight impressively winning round three

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Bede Durbidge (AUS) was eliminated during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Josh Kerr (AUS) packing power into his turns. ASP/Kirstin

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Jeremy Flores (FRA) winning his round three heat. ASP/Kirstin

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Florence winning round three

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Tiago Pires (POR) eliminated during round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Winning round three

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Owen Wright (AUS) setting up perfectly. ASP/Kirstin

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Line Up Day 3

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Surfers arrive at dawn. ASP/Kirstin

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Early Morning Bells

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Eliminated in round two by Josh Kerr

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Tiago Pires of Ericeira, Portugal (pictured) advanced into round three of the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach defeating Adrian Buchan (AUS) with a pair of great 7-point rides. ASP/ Kirstin

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Raoni Monteiro (BRA) packs up after a good day at the office. ASP/Kirstin

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Kolohe Andino (USA)

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Michel Bourez (PYF) was eliminated by Fred Patacchia (HAW). ASP/Kirstin

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Josh Kerr (AUS) boosts into round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Classic bottom turn at Bells.

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Patrick Gudauskas (USA) eliminated in equal 25th place. ASP/Kirstin

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Gabriel Medina (BRA) edged out tour veteran Taylor Knox (USA) during round two. ASP/Kirstin

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Kai Otton (AUS) opted to surf the Bells Bowl, a strategy that paid off handsomely when he defeated Bells. ASP/ Kirstin

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Kai Otton (AUS) bottom turns on a Bells Beauty. ASP/Kirstin

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Julian Wilson (AUS) fins free in the shorebreak. ASP/Kirstin

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Alejo Muniz (Brazil)

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John John Florence (Hawaii)

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Matt Wilkinson (AUS) hits the lip on his backhand during round two. ASP/Kirstin

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Michel Bourez eliminated in round two of the Rip Curl Pro going down to Hawaiian Fred Patacchia.

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Alejo Muniz (BRA) carves across a buttery smooth Bells Beach wall. ASP/Kirstin

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Tiago Pires (POR) floats the section into round three. ASP/Kirstin

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John John Florence (HAW) putting it all on the rail to advance into round three. ASP/Kirstin

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Damien Hobgood (USA) advanced into round three in first place. ASP/Kirstin

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CJ Hobgood (USA) placed second during round 1. ASP/Kirstin

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Line-up

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Damien Hobgood (USA) advanced into round two ahead of his brother CJ. ASP/Kirstin

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Winkipop looking fun at dawn. ASP/Kirstin

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Sunrise Bells

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Cars pour into the Bells Beach car park at Dawn. ASP/Kirstin