To the Nines: Fanning's High-Scoring Year

Fanning finished Round 5 with a near-perfect heat total after earning a second nine-point ride -- a 9.23.

Fanning scored a 9.67 at the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach to avoid a Round 3 elimination.

Fanning went on to earn a 9.43 in the Bells Semifinals. He advanced to the Final and won the event.

After two contests without a nine-point ride, Fanning found two in the crucial final moments of the J-Bay Open. The first was a 9.00 in the event's Semifinals.

Fanning's second nine-pointer was a 9.00 during the Final. the score put him ahead of good friend and countryman Joel Parkinson.

Hot off his win at Jeffery's Bay, Fanning stormed into his opening heat of the Billabong Pro Tahiti, scoring a 9.03 early in Round 1.

After scoring a second nine-pointer -- a 9.13 -- on his last wave, Fanning finished Round 1 with a near-perfect heat total.

During the next event, the Hurley Pro at Trestles, Fanning won a tight Round 4 heat against Ace Buchan (AUS) and Michel Bourez (PYF) with a 9.07.

Fanning scored a 9.20 in Round 2 of the Quiksilver Pro France.

Fanning kept up his momentum, earning a 9.27 in the next round.

At the Moche Rip Curl Pro Portugal, the next Men's WCT contest, Fanning earned five nine-point rides on his way to a third event title. His first nine-pointer of the event was a 9.43 in Round 2.

His next was another 9.43, this time on his first wave, to kick off Round 3.

In the heat that followed, Fanning found another nine on his first wave: He opened Round 4 with a 9.57.

Fanning wouldn't let up. He scored another 9.57 in his Quarterfinal heat to eliminate Filipe Toledo (BRA) and move on to the Semifinals.