Adrian Buchan (Avoca, Australia) won  the Quiksilver Pro France presented by Orange today over 8-time ASP world  champion Kelly Slater (Cocoa Beach, USA) in a thrilling and closely fought  final.  Buchan's win, the first WCT victory of his career, took away  Slater's chance at clinching an unprecedented 9th world title at this event.  Slater moves on to the next event in Mundaka, Spainwhere he needs only a 9th place  finish to win the title.   His 2nd place result, coming on the heels  of 5 tour wins this year, pushed him even farther ahead of his closest rivals,  Taj Burrow (Yallingup, Australia) and Bede Durbidge (Currumbin, Australia.) Brazil's Adriano De Souza (Guaruja, Brazil) and American Damien Hobgood (Satellite Beach, USA) finished in equal 3rd.  De  Souza's result rocketed him to 3rd in the world and equaled his career best  result.  Hobgood's finish helped him improve upon what has been an injury  marred season. Rookie Dane Reynolds (Ventura, USA) whose explosive surfing stood  out throughout the event, took a solid 5th place.  He beat world #2 Taj  Burrow in Round 4 and moved to the lead in the race for rookie of the year  honors.  Tahitian wildcard, Michel Bourez (Papara, French Polynesia), also made the quarterfinals and was  very impressive in every heat he surfed.  The waves remained in the  1-2  meterrange and the weather was ideal at LesEstagnotBeachin Hossegor and the world's best  surfers put on quite a show during the four days of competition.  

The ASP World Tour moves on next  week to Mundaka,  Spainand all  eyes will again be on Kelly Slater in his quest for world title  #9