Kieren Perrow emerges triumphant over Mick Fanning in Round 1 of Rip Curl Pro Portugal
Australia’s Kieren Perrow made it through into the third round of Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the eighth of ten stops on the 2012 Association of Surfing Professionals (ASP) World Championship Tour, after claiming top honours in the fourth heat of Round 1 that
went down at Supertubos in Peniche, Portugal, on Saturday, October 13, 2012.
Perrow got his hands on the win by getting the better of his fellow countryperson Mick Fanning and Hawaii’s Dusty Payne, sending both the rivals into the second round to surf again for the Round 3 spot.
With the top surfers from around the globe in contention for the coveted event title, there was no doubt over the intensity of the action that awaited the fans in Supertubos, thus attracting a large crowd at the main event site on the opening day of the
competition, whereas the global fans of the sport managed to catch every second of the action through live webcast.
Perrow had not been in the best of forms at the latest edition of the ASP World Tour, making it to only one quarter-final in the last seven events.
Since the equal-fifth finish came at recently concluded Quiksilver Pro France, he had plenty of reason to feel confident as he arrived in Peniche for the eighth stop of the season.
Pitted against him in the opening round was the former two-time ASP World Champion and current No.3 Fanning.
The Australian surfer had been leading the race for the coveted ASP World Title before the French event, but an early exit resulted in him dropping two places.
He was expected to make amends in the latest event, thus promising a series of thrilling performances.
Payne was also part of the three-man battle for the Round 3 spot, with his work clearly cut out for him.
As the battle got underway, Perrow went through a series of average scores before eventually getting his hands on an impressive 6.33-point ride.
Adding another 3.37 points to his account in the dying minutes of the heat, the Australian surfer finished with a heat-total of 9.70 points.
Fanning got himself in a perfect position to take the win after earning a 7.50 off his first business-wave, but was unable to back it up with another impressive wave.
Scoring a 2.17 off his second business-wave, he eventually finished with a heat-total of 9.67 points, consequently having to settle for second place.
Struggling to find his rhythm Payne only managed to earn a 1.33 and 1.00 off his best-two waves, thus finishing with a dismal heat-total of 2.33 points.
Fanning and Payne still have a pretty solid opportunity to extend their life in the competition, though that id only possible through a strong Round 2 performance.
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