Reigning ASP World Champion and current World No. 5 Mick Fanning (AUS) came into the Quiksilver Pro France as the defending event champion – he will leave with his second 33rd place result of the year. Fanning was beaten by less than a point by injury replacement surfer and former Top 45 surfer Gabe Kling (USA) in shifty conditions.

“Mick has been one of my favorite surfers and I can’t really believe that happened,” Kling said. “It was so hard out there and him needing that small of score… I just got lucky but I’ll take it. I’m stoked to win though, he’s a reigning world champion.”