Perhaps the whole world right now has seen, digested and joked about Mick Fanning punching a shark, the attack, the response, if it was an attack and so on. Yes it was horrific to watch and Mick was very lucky, we are all happy that he is okay. The competition was stopped and both finalists were given second place points.
Here is how it went down.
Enough time has gone passed now that we can talk about the competition before that, the results and the world title race as it stands.
The biggest movers are Kelly and Garbriel both grab okay results that see them skip 5 places up the table. Kelly now sits in 6th place and Gabriel in 15th. Ace Buchan jumps up 10 places to sit at 20th after a semifinal finish.
The Top 5 Players
Pre-final.
There really is nothing seperating the top five as regards to points at the moment, the playing field has been levelled. Mick and Julian have been slowly creeping up the leader board and with joint 2nd place finish due to the shark incident they now find themselves within easy striking distance of the number 1 spot. Adriano and Filipe seem to have just stuttered a bit and with Teahupoo being the next event on tour I think we could be looking at a lead change if the waves look solid.
The injury count - We had three injuries in this event, Jeremy Flores who kissed the reef bit too hard during a free surf in Indo, John John with the same ankle and knee free surfing injury and Matt Banting, the rookie who had a foot slip off his board during a free surf. Hopefully we will see all these guy back for Tahiti.
Don't forget to tune in for, fingers crossed, classic, all time conditions at Teahupoo. Oh and quick nod to the man upstairs for sparing Mick, and I hope both him and Julian a speedy mental recovery. I for one will be looking over my shoulder when I surf this morning.
Pre-final.
The Top 5 as it stands.
J Bay Speed