OK, I shouldn't have to tell anyone that Parko beat Fanning for the Rip Curl Pro title yesterday. The surf at Bells grew through the day reaching 6-8 foot come finals time, providing the canvas for one of the all-time finals days.

In a showdown that will be remembered with the same reverence and nostalgia as Occy v Curren in '86, Parko put on a flawless display of rail surfing clinching the final with a ten point ride on the hooter. I'm getting goosebumps just thinking about it again. It was sport as theatre on the grandest scale and the viewing public - live and in webcast world - were moved to ovation. At least I was...

Steve Arklay is another theatre lover and he caught all the emotion from the epic day on film. Starting with the Davo scowl and ending with Parko's painted face jubilation. Here's to an incredible contest and the beginning of a great Title race.

All photos by Steve Arklay. Click 'enlarge' for full size viewing. //STUART NETTLE

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH FINAL RESULTS: 1 – Joel Parkinson (AUS) 18.53 2 – Mick Fanning (AUS) 13.26

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH SEMIFINAL RESULTS: SF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.33 def. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 12.00 SF 2: Mick Fanning (AUS) 18.87 def. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 17.23

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH QUARTERFINAL RESULTS: QF 1: Joel Parkinson (AUS) 16.66 def. Owen Wright (AUS) 13.16 QF 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 18.00 def. Kelly Slater (USA) 11.24 QF 3: Jordy Smith (ZAF) 14.16 def. Chris Davidson (AUS) 11.10 QF 4: Mick Fanning (AUS) 17.46 def. Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.03

RIP CURL PRO BELLS BEACH ROUND 5 RESULTS: Heat 1: Owen Wright (AUS) 14.17 def. Bede Durbidge (AUS) 9.26 Heat 2: Adriano de Souza (BRA) 13.97 def. C.J. Hobgood (USA) 13.66 Heat 3: Chris Davidson (AUS) 16.03 def. Michel Bourez (PYF) 15.37 Heat 4: Jadson Andre (BRA) 14.37 def. Tiago Pires (PRT) 13.93

ASP WORLD TITLE RATINGS (After Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach): 1. Kelly Slater (USA) 15,200 pts 2. Joel Parkinson (AUS) 14,000 pts 3. Jordy Smith (ZAF) 13,000 pts 4. Adriano de Souza (BRA) 10,500 pts 4. Tiago Pires (PRT) 10,500 pts