Surfing: Fanning into third round

Reigning world surfing champion Mick Fanning led a charge of four Australians directly into the third round of the Quiksilver Pro France in barrelling 2m waves at Hossegor yesterday.

Fanning, who is also the defending event champion, was a standout with the highest single-wave score, 8.33 points out of a possible 10, to easily win his heat against Americans Taylor Knox and Gabe Kling.