Fanning wins world championship

Australian surfer Mick Fanning.

AAP

SURFING: Mick Fanninghas claims to being one of Australia’s greatest ever surfers of the past three decades after securing his second world championship after locking in the 2009 title at Pipeline in Hawaii yesterday.

Fanning, 28, has become just the fourth Australian to win multiple titles since the ASP Tour began in 1976. Fanning won his first world championship in 2007. 

Byron Bay’s Kieren Perrow was one of several competitors who scored a perfect 10 at Pipeline, but the local surfer suffered a round 4 elimination at the hands of Bede Durbidge.

Australians Dean Morrison, Durbidge and Taj Burrow are still in the mix to win the Pipeline event after moving into the last eight while veteran Kelly Slater eyes his seventh title at the famous break.