KIRRA, Queensland/Australia (Wednesday, March 13, 2013) - Kelly Slater (USA), 41, 11-time ASP World Champion and 2012 ASP World Runner-Up, has claimed the 2013 Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast in firing three-to-five foot (1 - 1.5 metre) barrels at Kirra over reigning ASP World Champion Joel Parkinson (AUS), 31, in front of a capacity crowd on the Gold Coast..The opening stop on the 2013 ASP World Championship Tour (WCT), the Quiksilver Gold Coast culminated in fine fashion today with a tube-riding shootout between two of the sport's greatest champions..Slater and Parkinson opened their 40-minute Final bout with a rapid-fire exchange of tube-riding displays, vaulting the lead back and forth before Slater nailed a 9.93 for an incredibly-deep barrel punctuated by a full-velocity forehand gaff..Today win marks Slater's 52nd elite tour victory of his career, but the iconic Floridian admits that it's a long season ahead in terms of the hunt for the 2013 ASP World Title...Parkinson looked unbeatable on the final day of the event, collecting a Perfect 10 in his morning Semifinal before posting an excellent 17.47 in his Final against Slater. However, the impressive scoreline would prove insufficient against the American's onslaught and the reigning ASP World Champion would post a Runner-Up finish in the opening event of the year..Mick Fanning (AUS), 31, two-time ASP World Champion (2007, 2009), went down in a barrel shootout this morning with Slater. Despite opening up with an impressive scoreline and an early lead, the Kirra local would ultimately fall to Slater in the dying moments of the heat - 18.60 to 19.37..Fanning collects an Equal 3rd place finish in the opening event of the season..Michel Bourez (PYF), 27, opened up this morning's action with a Semifinal bout against Parkinson. Despite being universally-celebrated as one of the most powerful surfers throughout the event, the Tahitian found himself at odds this morning after the Australian's quick start to their clash...Ph
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