Three-time World Surf League champion Mick Fanning has narrowly missed out on a final event win, with a loss to Brazilian Italo Ferreira in the Bells Beach Rip Curl Pro.
The Aussie surfer had reached the final for a record 7th time being previously successful in four out of six events. However, he failed to produce the scintillating form giving him a chance to ring the bell one last time.
Ferreira surfed beautifully scoring a 15.66 outdoing Fanning’s final score of 12.83, meaning that the Brazilian claimed his first Bells Beach win.
Congratulations @Mick_Fanning on an incredible career #CheersMick pic.twitter.com/QwLyaj8zns
— World Surf League (@wsl) April 5, 2018
Fanning was in good spirits however, with a strong show of sportsmanship, embracing Ferreira before the final buzzer.
The Penrith-born surfer was looking for a record 5th title at Bells Beach but will have to settle on four as he retires from competitive world surfing.
The 36-year-old finishes his surfing career with 22 event wins and 3 world titles in 2007, 2009 and 2013.
Meanwhile in the women’s comp, fellow Australian Stephanie Gilmore has claimed her third Bells Beach title, defeating Hawaiian Tatiana Weston-Webb in the final.
Gilmore just squeezed through winning by 0.23 points, with a heart in the mouth moment as the scores were decided after the buzzer.
This means that Gilmore will move to the top of the rankings. She will be looking to carry on her form to claim her seventh world title, equalling fellow Australian Layne Beachley’s record.
However, there are many more points still to surf for in this season's WSL, with the next event being Western Australia’s Margaret River Pro on April the 11th.